Chapter 23

Job Says He Longs for God

1 Then Job 1replied,

2 “Even today my acomplaint is rebellion;

1His hand is bheavy despite my groaning.

3 “Oh that I knew where I might find Him,

That I might come to His seat!

4 “I would apresent my case before Him

And fill my mouth with arguments.

5 “I would learn the words which He would 1answer,

And perceive what He would say to me.

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

No, surely He would pay attention to me.

7 “There the upright would areason with Him;

And I 1would be bdelivered forever from my Judge.

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

And backward, but I acannot 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 1way I take;

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

11 “My foot has aheld 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 awords of His mouth 1more than my 2necessary 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.

15 “Therefore, I would be dismayed at His presence;

When I consider, I am terrified of Him.

16 “It is God who has made my aheart faint,

And the Almighty who has dismayed me,

17 But I aam not silenced by the darkness,

Nor bdeep gloom which covers me.