Job’s Reply to Eliphaz

23 Then Job answered:

2 Today also my complaint is bitter. w x

His y hand is heavy despite my groaning.

3 If only I knew how to find Him,

so that I could go to His throne.

4 I would plead my case before Him z

and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I would learn how a He would answer me;

and understand what He would say to me.

6 Would He prosecute b me forcefully?

No, He will certainly pay attention to me.

7 Then an upright man could reason c with Him,

and I would escape from my Judge d forever.

8 If I go east, He is not there,

and if I go west, I cannot perceive Him. e

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; f

when He has tested me, g I will emerge as pure gold.

11 My feet have followed in His tracks;

I have kept to His way h and not turned aside.

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

I have treasured i the words j of His mouth

more than my daily food.

13 But He is unchangeable; who can oppose Him?

He does what He desires. k

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

and He has many more things like these in mind. l

15 Therefore I am terrified m in His presence;

when I consider this, I am afraid of Him.

16 God has made my heart faint; n

the * Almighty has terrified me.

17 Yet I am not destroyed o by the darkness, p

by the thick darkness that covers my face.