4 The optative here is again expressed with the verbal clause, “who will give [that] I knew.…”
5 The form in Hebrew is וְאֶמְצָאֵהוּ (vé’emtsa’ehu), simply “and I will find him.” But in the optative clause this verb is subordinated to the preceding verb: “O that I knew where [and] I might find him.” It is not unusual to have the perfect verb followed by the imperfect in such coordinate clauses (see §120.e). This could also be translated making the second verb a complementary infinitive: “knew how to find him.” H. H. Rowley (Job [], 159) quotes Strahan without reference: “It is the chief distinction between Job and his friends that he desires to meet God and they do not.”
6 This verb also depends on מִי־יִתֵּן (mi-yitten, “who will give”) of the first part, forming an additional clause in the wish formula.
7 Or “his place of judgment.” The word is from כּוּן (kun, “to prepare; to arrange”) in the Polel and the Hiphil conjugations. The noun refers to a prepared place, a throne, a seat, or a sanctuary. A. B. Davidson (Job, 169) and others take the word to mean “judgment seat” or “tribunal” in this context.
8 The word מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat) is normally “judgment; decision.” But in these contexts it refers to the legal case that Job will bring before God. With the verb עָרַךְ (’arakh, “to set in order; to lay out”) the whole image of drawing up a lawsuit is complete.
9 Heb “the words he would answer me.”
10 The verb is now רִיב (riv) and not יָכַח (yakhakh, “contend”); רִיב (riv) means “to quarrel; to dispute; to contend,” often in a legal context. Here it is still part of Job’s questioning about this hypothetical meeting—would God contend with all his power?
11 The verbal clause יָשִׂם בִּי (yasim bi) has been translated “he would pay [attention] to me.” Job is saying that God will not need all his power—he will just have pay attention to Job’s complaint. Job does not need the display of power—he just wants a hearing.
12 The adverb “there” has the sense of “then”—there in the future.
13 The form of the verb is the Niphal נוֹכָח (nokkakh, “argue, present a case”). E. Dhorme (Job, 346) is troubled by this verbal form and so changes it and other things in the line to say, “he would observe the upright man who argues with him.” The Niphal is used for “engaging discussion,” “arguing a case,” and “settling a dispute.”

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.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

O that I knew and that I might find him;

O that I might come to his dwelling.

I would lay my case before him,

and I would fill my mouth with arguments.

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

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

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

No, but he himself would give heed to me.

There an upright person could reason with him,

and I would be acquitted forever 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.

Public Domain