1 T hen Job answered,

And Job answereth and saith: --

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

Also -- to-day my complaint bitter, My hand hath been heavy because of my sighing.

3 O h, that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come even to His seat!

O that I had known -- and I find Him, I come in unto His seat,

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

I arrange before Him the cause, And my mouth fill arguments.

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

I know the words He doth answer me, And understand what He saith to me.

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

In the abundance of power doth He strive with me? No! surely He putteth in me.

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

There the upright doth reason with Him, And I escape for ever from my judge.

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

Lo, forward I go -- and He is not, And backward -- and I perceive him not.

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.

the left in His working -- and I see not, He is covered the right, and I behold not.

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

For He hath known the way with me, He hath tried me -- as gold I go forth.

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

On His step hath my foot laid hold, His way I have kept, and turn not aside,

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.

The command of His lips, and I depart not. Above my allotted portion I have laid up The sayings of His mouth.

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

And He in one, And who doth turn Him back? And His soul hath desired -- and He doth.

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

For He doth complete my portion, And many such things 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, from His presence I am troubled, I consider, and am afraid of Him.

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

And God hath made my heart soft, And the Mighty hath troubled me.

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

For I have not been cut off before darkness, And before me He covered thick darkness.