Job 23:8–14

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.

11 My feet have closely followed his steps;

I have kept to his way without turning aside.

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

I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.

13 “But he stands alone, and who can oppose him?

He does whatever he pleases.

14 He carries out his decree against me,

and many such plans he still has in store.

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.

11 My foot hath held his steps,

His way have I kept, and not declined.

12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips;

I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him?

And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

14 For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me:

And many such things are with him.

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.

11 For I have stayed on God’s paths;

I have followed his ways and not turned aside.

12 I have not departed from his commands,

but have treasured his words more than daily food.

13 But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind?

Whatever he wants to do, he does.

14 So he will do to me whatever he has planned.

He controls my destiny.

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

And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;

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

When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him.

10 But He knows the way that I take;

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

11 My foot has held fast to His steps;

I have kept His way and not turned aside.

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

I have treasured the words of His mouth

More than my necessary food.

13 “But He is unique, and who can make Him change?

And whatever His soul desires, that He does.

14 For He performs what is appointed for me,

And many such things are with Him.

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.

11 My feet have closely followed his steps;

I have stayed in his way;

I did not turn aside.

12 I have never left the commands he has spoken;

I have treasured his words more than my own.

13 “But he is the only God.

Who can come against him?

He does anything he wants.

14 He will do to me what he said he would do,

and he has many plans like this.

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.

11 My foot hath held fast to his steps;

His way have I kept, and turned not aside.

12 I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips;

I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him?

And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

14 For he performeth that which is appointed for me:

And many such things are with him.

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. 11 My foot hath held to his steps; his way have I kept, and not turned aside. 12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have laid up the words of his mouth more than the purpose of my own heart.

13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, that will he do. 14 For he will perform what is appointed for me; and many such things are with him.

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. 

11 I have followed his footsteps closely. 

I have stayed on his path and did not turn from it. 

12 I have not left his commands behind. 

I have treasured his words in my heart. 

13 “But God is one of a kind. 

Who can make him change his mind? 

He does whatever he wants! 

14 He will carry out ⸤his⸥ orders concerning me 

as he does with so many other things. 

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.

11 My feet have followed in His tracks;

I have kept to His way and not turned aside.

12 I have not departed from the commands of His lips;

I have treasured the words of His mouth

more than my daily food.

13 But He is unchangeable; who can oppose Him?

He does what He desires.

14 He will certainly accomplish what He has decreed for me,

and He has many more things like these in mind.

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.

11 My foot has held fast to his steps;

I have kept his way and have not turned aside.

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

I have treasured his words in my bosom.

13 But he stands alone, and who can dissuade him?

What he desires, that he does.

14 For he will complete what he appoints for me,

and many such things are in his mind.

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.

11 My foot has held on to his steps;

I have kept his way, and I have not turned aside.

12 From the commandment of his lips, indeed I have not departed;

I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily food.

13 “But he is alone, and who can dissuade him?

And whatever he desires, indeed, he does it.

14 For he will carry out what he appoints for me,

and many things like these are with him.

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.

11 My feet have closely followed his steps.

I’ve stayed on his path without turning away.

12 I haven’t disobeyed his commands.

I’ve treasured his words more than my daily bread.

13 “But he’s the only God. Who can oppose him?

He does anything he wants to do.

14 He carries out his plans against me.

And he still has many other plans just like them.

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.

11 “My foot has held fast to His path;

I have kept His way and not turned aside.

12 “I have not departed from the command of His lips;

I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

13 “But He is unique and who can turn Him?

And what His soul desires, that He does.

14 “For He performs what is appointed for me,

And many such decrees are with Him.