Job 23
King James Version
23 Then Job answered and said,
2 Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.
7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:
10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
14 For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.
15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.
16 For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.
Job 23
New King James Version
Job Proclaims God’s Righteous Judgments
23 Then Job answered and said:
2 “Even today my (A)complaint is bitter;
[a]My hand is listless because of my groaning.
3 (B)Oh, that I knew where I might find Him,
That I might come to His seat!
4 I would present my case before Him,
And fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know the words which He would answer me,
And understand what He would say to me.
6 (C)Would He contend with me in His great power?
No! But He would take note of me.
7 There the upright could reason with Him,
And I would be delivered forever from my Judge.
8 “Look,(D) I go forward, but He is not there,
And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
9 When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him;
When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him.
10 But (E)He knows the way that I take;
When (F)He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 (G)My foot has held fast to His steps;
I have kept His way and not turned aside.
12 I have not departed from the (H)commandment of His lips;
(I)I have treasured the words of His mouth
More than my [b]necessary food.
13 “But He is unique, and who can make Him change?
And whatever (J)His soul desires, that He does.
14 For He performs what is (K)appointed for me,
And many such things are with Him.
15 Therefore I am terrified at His presence;
When I consider this, I am afraid of Him.
16 For God (L)made my heart weak,
And the Almighty terrifies me;
17 Because I was not (M)cut off [c]from the presence of darkness,
And He did not hide deep darkness from my face.
Job 23
Svenska 1917
23 Därefter tog Job till orda och sade:
2 Också i dag vill min klaga göra uppror. Min hand kännes matt för min suckans skull.
3 Om jag blott visste huru jag skulle finna honom, huru jag kunde komma dit där han bor!
4 Jag skulle då lägga fram för honom min sak och fylla min mun med bevis.
5 Jag ville väl höra vad han kunde svara mig, och förnimma vad han skulle säga till mig.
6 Icke med övermakt finge han bekämpa mig, nej, han borde allenast lyssna till mig.
7 Då skulle hans motpart stå här såsom en redlig man, ja, då skulle jag för alltid komma undan min domare.
8 Men går jag mot öster, så är han icke där; går jag mot väster, så varsnar jag honom ej;
9 har han något att skaffa i norr, jag skådar honom icke; döljer han sig i söder, jag ser honom ej heller där.
10 Han vet ju vilken väg jag har vandrat; han har prövat mig, och jag har befunnits lik guld.
11 Vid hans spår har min for hållit fast, hans väg har jag följt, utan att vika av.
12 Från hans läppars bud har jag icke gjort något avsteg; mer än egna rådslut har jag aktat hans muns tal.
13 Men hans vilja är orygglig; vem kan hindra honom? Vad honom lyster, det gör han ock.
14 Ja, han giver mig fullt upp min beskärda del, och mycket av samma slag har han ännu i förvar.
15 Därför gripes jag av förskräckelse för hans ansikte; när jag betänker det, fruktar jag för honom.
16 Det är Gud som har gjort mitt hjärta försagt, den Allsmäktige är det som har vållat min förskräckelse,
17 ty jag fick icke förgås, innan mörkret kom, dödsnatten undanhöll han mig.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
