Logos Bible Study

Job 23:3–7

The Lexham English BibleOther versions

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

O that I might come to his dwelling.

4I would lay my case before him,c

and I would fill my mouth with arguments.

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

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

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

No, but he himselfd would give heed to me.

7There an upright person could reason with him,

and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

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Footnotes

  1. bLiterally “Who shall give”
  2. cLiterally “to his face”
  3. dEmphatic personal pronoun

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Oh, that I knew where I might find him,

that I might come even to his seat!

I would lay my case before him

and fill my mouth with arguments.

I would know what he would answer me

and understand what he would say to me.

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

No; he would pay attention to me.

There an upright man could argue with him,

and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

If only I knew where to find him;

if only I could go to his dwelling!

I would state my case before him

and fill my mouth with arguments.

I would find out what he would answer me,

and consider what he would say to me.

Would he vigorously oppose me?

No, he would not press charges against me.

There the upright can establish their innocence before him,

and there I would be delivered forever from my judge.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

If only I knew how to find him,

so that I could go to his throne.

I would plead my case before him

and fill my mouth with arguments.

I would learn how he would answer me;

and understand what he would say to me.

Would he prosecute me forcefully?

No, he would certainly pay attention to me.

Then an upright man could reason with him,

and I would escape from my Judge forever.

NLTNew Living Translation

If only I knew where to find God,

I would go to his court.

I would lay out my case

and present my arguments.

Then I would listen to his reply

and understand what he says to me.

Would he use his great power to argue with me?

No, he would give me a fair hearing.

Honest people can reason with him,

so I would be forever acquitted by my judge.

KJV 1900King James Version

Oh that I knew where I might find him!

That I might come even to his seat!

I would order my cause before him,

And fill my mouth with arguments.

I would know the words which he would answer me,

And understand what he would say unto me.

Will he plead against me with his great power?

No; but he would put strength in me.

There the righteous might dispute with him;

So should I be delivered for ever from my judge.