Job 23

¹Then Job answered by saying

²Now again my conversation is in bitterness, and the force of my scourging weighs more heavily on me because of my mourning

³Who will grant me that I might know and find him, and that I may approach even to his throne

⁴I would place judgment before his eye, and my mouth would fill with criticism

⁵so that I may know the words that he will answer me and understand what he will say to me

⁶I do not want him to contend with me with much strength, nor to overwhelm me with the bulk of his greatness

⁷Let him show fairness in response to me, and let my judgment reach to victory

⁸If I go to the east, he does not appear; if I go to the west, I will not understand him

⁹If I turn to the left, what can I do? I will not take hold of him. If I turn myself to the right, I will not see him

¹⁰Truly, he knows my way and has tested me like gold that passes through fire

¹¹My feet have been following his footsteps; I have kept to his way and have not strayed from it

¹²I have not withdrawn from the commands of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hidden in my sinews

¹³For he is alone, and no one is able to disturb his intention; and whatever his spirit wills, that he accomplishes

¹⁴And when he fulfills his will in me, many other similar ones will also be present with him

¹⁵And, for this reason, I have been troubled at his presence, and, when I consider him, I am approached by fear

¹⁶God has weakened my heart, and the Almighty has confused me

¹⁷Yet I have not perished because of the threatening darkness, nor has gloom covered my face