Job 23

¹Then Job answered and said :

²Today also my complaint is bitter ; my hand is heavy on account of my groaning .

³Oh , that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat !

⁴I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments .

⁵I would know what he would answer me and understand what he would say to me.

⁶Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power ? No ; he would pay attention to me.

⁷There an upright man could argue with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge .

⁸Behold , I go forward , but he is not there, and backward , but I do not perceive him;

⁹on the left hand when he is working , I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand , but I do not see him.

¹⁰But he knows the way that I take ; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold .

¹¹My foot has held fast to his steps ; I have kept his way and have not turned aside .

¹²I have not departed from the commandment of his lips ; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.

¹³But he is unchangeable , and who can turn him back? What he desires , that he does .

¹⁴For he will complete what he appoints for me, and many such things are in his mind .

¹⁵Therefore I am terrified at his presence ; when I consider , I am in dread of him.

¹⁶God has made my heart faint ; the Almighty has terrified me;

¹⁷yet I am not silenced because of the darkness , nor because thick darkness covers my face .