Job 23
Revised Geneva Translation
23 But Job answered, and said,
2 “Though my talk be in bitterness today, and my plague greater than my groaning,
3 “I wish that I knew how to find Him. I would enter into His place.
4 “I would plead the cause before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 “I would know the Words He would answer me and would understand what He would say to me.
6 “Would He plead against me with His great power? No, He would surely acknowledge me.
7 “There the righteous might reason with Him. So I would be delivered forever from my Judge.
8 “Behold, if I go to the East, He is not there. If to the West, yet I cannot perceive Him.
9 “If to the North where He works, yet I cannot see Him. He will hide Himself in the South, and I cannot behold Him.
10 “But He knows my way, and tries me. I shall come forth like gold.
11 “My foot has followed His steps. I have kept His way, and have not declined.
12 “Nor have I departed from the Commandment of His Lips. I have treasured the Words of His Mouth more than my appointed food.
13 “Yet, He is One and who can turn Him? Yea, He does what His Mind desires.
14 “For He will perform that which is decreed for me. And many such things are with Him.
15 “Therefore, I am troubled at His presence. And in considering it, I am afraid of Him.
16 “For God has softened my heart. And the Almighty has terrified me.
17 “For I am not cut off in darkness. But He has hidden the darkness from my face.”
Job 23
English Standard Version
Job Replies: Where Is God?
23 Then Job answered and said:
2 “Today also my (A)complaint is bitter;[a]
my (B)hand is heavy on account of my groaning.
3 Oh, (C)that I knew where I might find him,
that I might come even to his (D)seat!
4 I would (E)lay my case before him
and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know what he would answer me
and understand what he would say to me.
6 Would he (F)contend with me in the greatness of his power?
No; he would pay attention to me.
7 There an upright man could argue with him,
and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.
8 “Behold, (G)I go forward, but he is not there,
and backward, but I do not perceive him;
9 on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him;
he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.
10 But he (H)knows (I)the way that I (J)take;
when he has (K)tried me, I shall come out as gold.
11 My foot (L)has held fast to his steps;
I have kept his way and have (M)not turned aside.
12 I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;
I have (N)treasured the words of his mouth more than my (O)portion of food.
13 But he is unchangeable,[b] and (P)who can turn him back?
What he (Q)desires, that he does.
14 For he will complete what he (R)appoints for me,
and many such things are (S)in his mind.
15 Therefore I am terrified at his presence;
when I consider, I am in dread of him.
16 God has made my (T)heart faint;
the Almighty has terrified me;
17 yet I am not silenced because of the darkness,
nor because thick darkness covers my face.
Job 23
World English Bible
23 Then Job answered,
2 “Even today my complaint is rebellious.
His hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.
3 Oh that I knew where I might find him!
That I might come even to his seat!
4 I would set my cause in order before him,
and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know the words which he would answer me,
and understand what he would tell me.
6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?
No, but he would listen to me.
7 There the upright might reason with him,
so I should be delivered forever from my judge.
8 “If I go east, he is not there.
If I go west, I can’t find him.
9 He works to the north, but I can’t see him.
He turns south, but I can’t catch a glimpse of him.
10 But he knows the way that I take.
When he has tried me, I will come out like gold.
11 My foot has held fast to his steps.
I have kept his way, and not turned away.
12 I haven’t gone back from the commandment of his lips.
I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
13 But he stands alone, and who can oppose him?
What his soul desires, even that he does.
14 For he performs that which is appointed for me.
Many such things are with him.
15 Therefore I am terrified at his presence.
When I consider, I am afraid of him.
16 For God has made my heart faint.
The Almighty has terrified me.
17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness,
neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.
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