Job 23

Job

Then Job replied:

“Even today my complaint^a is bitter;^b

his hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.^c

If only I knew where to find him;

if only I could go to his dwelling!^d

I would state my case^e before him

and fill my mouth with arguments.^f

I would find out what he would answer me,^g

and consider what he would say to me.

Would he vigorously oppose me?^h

No, he would not press charges against me.ⁱ

There the upright^j can establish their innocence before him,^k

and there I would be delivered forever from my judge.^l

“But if I go to the east, he is not there;

if I go to the west, I do not find him.

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.^m

But he knows the way that I take;ⁿ

when he has tested me,^o I will come forth as gold.^p

My feet have closely followed his steps;^q

I have kept to his way without turning aside.^r

I have not departed from the commands of his lips;^s

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

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

He does whatever he pleases.^v

He carries out his decree against me,

and many such plans he still has in store.^w

That is why I am terrified before him;^x

when I think of all this, I fear him.^y

God has made my heart faint;^z

the Almighty^a has terrified me.^b

Yet I am not silenced by the darkness,^c

by the thick darkness that covers my face.