Job 23

Berean Standard Bible

JPS Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)

1Then Job answered:

1Then Job answered and said:

2“Even today my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning.

2Even to-day is my complaint bitter; my hand is become heavy because of my groaning.

3If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat.

3Oh that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come even to His seat!

4I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.

4I would order my cause before Him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

5I would learn how He would answer, and consider what He would say.

5I would know the words which He would answer me, and understand what He would say unto me.

6Would He contend with me in His great power? No, He would certainly take note of me.

6Would He contend with me in His great power? Nay; but He would give heed unto me.

7Then an upright man could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

7There the upright might reason with Him; so should I be delivered for ever from my Judge.

8If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot find Him.

8Behold, I go forward, but He is not there, and backward, but I cannot perceive Him;

9When He is at work in the north, I cannot behold Him; when He turns to the south, I cannot see Him.

9On the left hand, when He doth work, but I cannot behold Him, He turneth Himself to the right hand, but I cannot see Him.

10Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

10For He knoweth the way that I take; when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

11My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept His way without turning aside.

11My foot hath held fast to His steps, His way have I kept, and turned not aside.

12I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.

12I have not gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured up the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

13But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.

13But He is at one with Himself, and who can turn Him? And what His soul desireth, even that He doeth.

14For He carries out His decree against me, and He has many such plans.

14For He will perform that which is appointed for me; and many such things are with Him.

15Therefore I am terrified in His presence; when I consider this, I fear Him.

15Therefore am I affrighted at His presence; when I consider, I am afraid of Him.

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

16Yea, God hath made my heart faint, and the Almighty hath affrighted me;

17Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.

17Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did He cover the thick darkness from my face.

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