1 T hen Job answered and said,

Then Job replied,

2 E ven to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

“Even today my complaint is rebellion; His hand is heavy despite my groaning.

3 O h that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!

“Oh that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come to His seat!

4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

“I would present my case before Him And fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

“I would learn the words which He would answer, And perceive what He would say to me.

6 W ill he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.

“Would He contend with me by the greatness of His power? No, surely He would pay attention to me.

7 T here the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

“There the upright would reason with Him; And I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

8 B ehold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

“Behold, I go forward but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;

9 o n the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

When He acts on the left, I cannot behold Him; He turns on the right, I cannot see Him.

10 B ut he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

“But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

11 M y foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

“My foot has held fast to His path; I have kept His way and not turned aside.

12 N either have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

“I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

13 B ut he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

“But He is unique and who can turn Him? And what His soul desires, that He does.

14 F or he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

“For He performs what is appointed for me, And many such decrees are with Him.

15 T herefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

“Therefore, I would be dismayed at His presence; When I consider, I am terrified of Him.

16 F or God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:

“ It is God who has made my heart faint, And the Almighty who has dismayed me,

17 b ecause I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.

But I am not silenced by the darkness, Nor deep gloom which covers me.