1 T hen Job answered,

Then Job answered and said,

2 E ven today is my complaint rebellious and bitter; my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than 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 even to his seat!

4 I would lay my cause before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.

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

5 I would learn what He would answer me, and understand what He would say to me.

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

6 W ould He plead against me with His great power? No, He would give heed to me.

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

7 T here the righteous could reason with Him; so I should be acquitted by my Judge forever.

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

8 B ehold, I go forward, but He is not there; I go 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 works, but I cannot behold Him; He turns Himself to the right hand, but I cannot see Him.

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

10 B ut He knows the way that I take. When He has tried me, I shall come forth as refined gold.

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

11 M y foot has held fast to His steps; His ways have I kept and not turned aside.

My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

12 I have not gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have esteemed and treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

13 B ut He is unchangeable, and who can turn Him? And what He wants to do, that He does.

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

14 F or He performs planned for me, and of many such matters He is mindful.

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

15 T herefore am I troubled and terrified at His presence; when I consider, I am in dread and afraid of Him.

Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

16 F or God has made my heart faint, timid, and broken, and the Almighty has terrified me,

For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:

17 B ecause I was not cut off before the darkness, neither has He covered the thick darkness from my face.

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