Job 23
Amplified Bible
Job Says He Longs for God
23 Then Job answered and said,
2
“Even today my complaint is contentious;
His hand is heavy despite my groaning.
3
“Oh, that I knew where I might find Him,
That I might [even] come to His seat!
4
“I would present my cause before Him
And fill my mouth with arguments.
5
“I would learn the words which He would answer,
And understand what He would say to me.
6
“Would He contend against me with His great power?
No, surely He would give attention to me.(A)
7
“There the righteous and upright could reason with Him;
So I would be acquitted forever by my Judge.
8
“Behold, I go forward (to the east), but He is not there;
I go backward (to the west), but I cannot perceive Him;
9
To the left (north) He turns, but I cannot behold Him;
He turns to the right hand (south), but I cannot see Him.
10
“But He knows the way that I take [and He pays attention to it].
When He has tried me, I will come forth as [refined] gold [pure and luminous].(B)
11
“My feet have carefully followed His steps;
I have kept His ways and not turned aside.
12
“I have not departed from the commandment of His lips;
I have kept the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
13
“But He is unique and unchangeable, and who can turn Him?
And what His soul desires, that He does.
14
“For He performs what is planned (appointed) for me,
And He is mindful of many such things.
15
“Therefore I would be terrified at His presence;
When I consider [all of this], I tremble in dread of Him.
16
“For God has made my heart faint,
And the Almighty has terrified me,
17
But I am not silenced by the darkness [of these woes that fell on me],
Nor by the thick darkness which covers my face.
Job 23
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Job’s Reply to Eliphaz
23 Then Job answered:
2 Today also my complaint is bitter.[a](A)
His[b] hand is heavy despite my groaning.
3 If only I knew how to find Him,
so that I could go to His throne.
4 I would plead my case before Him(B)
and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would learn how[c] He would answer me;
and understand what He would say to me.
6 Would He prosecute(C) me forcefully?
No, He will certainly pay attention to me.
7 Then an upright man could reason(D) with Him,
and I would escape from my Judge(E) forever.
8 If I go east, He is not there,
and if I go west, I cannot perceive Him.(F)
9 When He is at work to the north, I cannot see Him;
when He turns south, I cannot find Him.
10 Yet He knows the way I have taken;[d]
when He has tested me,(G) I will emerge as pure gold.
11 My feet have followed in His tracks;
I have kept to His way(H) and not turned aside.
12 I have not departed from the commands of His lips;
I have treasured[e] the words(I) of His mouth
more than my daily food.
13 But He is unchangeable; who can oppose Him?
He does what He desires.(J)
14 He will certainly accomplish what He has decreed for me,
and He has many more things like these in mind.[f]
15 Therefore I am terrified(K) in His presence;
when I consider this, I am afraid of Him.
16 God has made my heart faint;(L)
the Almighty has terrified me.
17 Yet I am not destroyed[g] by the darkness,(M)
by the thick darkness that covers my face.
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