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.

Today I will also speak with bitterness; 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 judgment 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 rather he would put it 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; and should I escape for ever from the one who condemns me.

8 B ehold, I go forward, but He is not there; I go backward, but I cannot perceive Him;

¶ Behold, I shall go to the east and not find him; and to the west, 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.

if he is working to the north, I shall not see him; to the south, he hides himself, that I shall not 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 has known the way that I take; he has tried me, and I have come forth as gold.

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

My feet have held to his steps, I have kept his way, and have not departed.

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 separated myself 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 if he determines something, who can turn him? His soul desired it, and he did it.

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

Therefore, he will finish that which is necessary for me; and there are many such things in him.

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

Therefore, I shall fear before his face; I shall consider, and I shall fear him.

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

For God has made my heart tender, and the Almighty has frightened me.

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

Why was I not cut off before the darkness, neither has he covered my face with the darkness.