Job Replies: Where Is God?

23 Then Job answered and said:

2  “Today also my rcomplaint is bitter;1

my shand is heavy on account of my groaning.

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

that I might come even to his useat!

4  I would vlay 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 wcontend 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, xI 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 yknows zthe way that I atake;

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

11  My foot chas held fast to his steps;

I have kept his way and have dnot turned aside.

12  I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;

I have etreasured the words of his mouth more than my fportion of food.

13  But he is unchangeable,2 and gwho can turn him back?

What he hdesires, that he does.

14  For he will complete what he iappoints for me,

and many such things are jin his mind.

15  Therefore I am terrified at his presence;

when I consider, I am in dread of him.

16  God has made my kheart faint;

the Almighty has terrified me;

17  yet I am not silenced because of the darkness,

nor because thick darkness covers my face.