1 Then Job replied:

2 “Even today my complaint is bitter;

his hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.

3 If only I knew where to find him;

if only I could go to his dwelling!

4 I would state my case before him

and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I would find out what he would answer me,

and consider what he would say to me.

6 Would he vigorously oppose me?

No, he would not press charges against me.

7 There the upright can establish their innocence before him,

and there I would be delivered forever from my judge.

8 “But if I go to the east, he is not there;

if I go to the west, I do not find him.

9 When he is at work in the north, I do not see him;

when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.

10 But he knows the way that I take;

when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

1 Then Job answered and said:

2 “Today also my complaint is bitter;

my hand is heavy on account of my groaning.

3 Oh, that I knew where I might find him,

that I might come even to his seat!

4 I would 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 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, 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 knows the way that I take;

when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.

1 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.

1 Then Job spoke again:

2 “My complaint today is still a bitter one,

and I try hard not to groan aloud.

3 If only I knew where to find God,

I would go to his court.

4 I would lay out my case

and present my arguments.

5 Then I would listen to his reply

and understand what he says to me.

6 Would he use his great power to argue with me?

No, he would give me a fair hearing.

7 Honest people can reason with him,

so I would be forever acquitted by my judge.

8 I go east, but he is not there.

I go west, but I cannot find him.

9 I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden.

I look to the south, but he is concealed.

10 “But he knows where I am going.

And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.

1 Then Job answered:

2 “My complaint is still bitter today.

I groan because God’s heavy hand is on me.

3 I wish I knew where to find God

so I could go to where he lives.

4 I would present my case before him

and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I would learn how he would answer me

and would think about what he would say.

6 Would he not argue strongly against me?

No, he would really listen to me.

7 Then an honest person could present his case to God,

and I would be saved forever by my judge.

8 “If I go to the east, God is not there;

if I go to the west, I do not see him.

9 When he is at work in the north, I catch no sight of him;

when he turns to the south, I cannot see him.

10 But God knows the way that I take,

and when he has tested me, I will come out like gold.

1 Then Job answered and said,

2 Even to-day is my complaint rebellious:

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 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 say unto me.

6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?

Nay; but he would give heed unto me.

7 There the upright might reason 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, when 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.

1 And 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 to his seat! 4 I would order the cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments; 5 I would know the words he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me. 6 Would he plead against me with his great power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me. 7 There would an upright man reason with him; and I should be delivered for ever from my judge.

8 Lo, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I do not perceive him; 9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I behold him not; he hideth himself on the right hand, and I see him not. 10 But he knoweth the way that I take; he trieth me, I shall come forth as gold.

1 Then Job replied ⸤to his friends⸥, 

2 “My complaint is bitter again today. 

I try hard to control my sighing. 

3 “If only I knew where I could find God! 

I would go where he lives. 

4 I would present ⸤my⸥ case to him. 

I would have a mouthful of arguments. 

5 I want to know the words he would use to answer me. 

I want to understand the things he would say to me. 

6 Would he sue me and hide behind great legal maneuvers? 

No, he certainly would press charges against me. 

7 Then decent people could argue with him, 

and I would escape my judgment forever. 

8 However, if I go east, he isn’t there. 

If I go west, I can’t find him. 

9 If I go northward, where he is at work, I can’t observe him. 

If I turn southward, I can’t see him. 

10 ⸤I can’t find him⸥ because he knows the road I take. 

When he tests me, 

I’ll come out as pure as gold. 

1 Then Job answered:

2 Today also my complaint is bitter.

His hand is heavy despite my groaning.

3 If only I knew how to find Him,

so that I could go to His throne.

4 I would plead my case before Him

and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I would learn how He would answer me;

and understand what He would say to me.

6 Would He prosecute me forcefully?

No, He will certainly pay attention to me.

7 Then an upright man could reason with Him,

and I would escape from my Judge forever.

8 If I go east, He is not there,

and if I go west, I cannot perceive Him.

9 When He is at work to the north, I cannot see Him;

when He turns south, I cannot find Him.

10 Yet He knows the way I have taken;

when He has tested me, I will emerge as pure gold.

1 Then Job answered:

2 “Today also my complaint is bitter;

his hand is heavy despite my groaning.

3 Oh, that I knew where I might find him,

that I might come even to his dwelling!

4 I would lay my case before him,

and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I would learn what he would answer me,

and understand what he would say to me.

6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?

No; but he would give heed to me.

7 There an upright person could reason with him,

and I should be acquitted forever by my judge.

8 “If I go forward, he is not there;

or backward, I cannot perceive him;

9 on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him;

I turn to the right, but I cannot see him.

10 But he knows the way that I take;

when he has tested me, I shall come out like gold.

1 Then Job answered and said,

2 “Even today my complaint is bitter;

my hand is heavy in addition to my groaning.

3 O that I knew and that I might find him;

O that I might come to his dwelling.

4 I would lay my case before him,

and I would fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I want to know the words with which he would answer me,

and I want to understand what he would say to me.

6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his strength?

No, but he himself would give heed to me.

7 There an upright person could reason with him,

and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

8 “When I go forward, he is not there,

or backward, I cannot see him.

9 When he works on the left, I cannot perceive him;

he turns to the right, but I cannot see him.

10 But he knows the way that I take;

he tests me—I shall come out like gold.

1 Job replied,

2 “Even today my problems are more than I can handle.

In spite of my groans, God’s hand is heavy on me.

3 I wish I knew where I could find him!

I wish I could go to the place where he lives!

4 I would state my case to him.

I’d give him all of my arguments.

5 I’d find out what his answers would be.

I’d think about what he would say.

6 Would he oppose me with his great power?

No. He wouldn’t bring charges against me.

7 I’m an honest person. I could state my case to him.

Then my Judge would tell me once and for all that I’m not guilty.

8 “But if I go to the east, God isn’t there.

If I go to the west, I don’t find him.

9 When he’s working in the north, I don’t see him there.

When he turns to the south, I don’t see him there either.

10 But he knows every step I take.

When he has put me to the test,

I’ll come out as pure as gold.

1 Then Job replied,

2 “Even today my complaint is rebellion;

His hand is heavy despite my groaning.

3 “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 learn the words which He would answer,

And perceive what He would say to me.

6 “Would He contend with me by the greatness of His power?

No, surely He would pay attention to me.

7 “There the upright would reason with Him;

And I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

8 “Behold, I go forward but He is not there,

And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;

9 When He acts on the left, I cannot behold Him;

He turns on the right, I cannot see Him.

10 “But He knows the way I take;

When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.