1 A nd Job answered and said,

Then Job answered and said:

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

“Even today my complaint is bitter; My hand is listless because of my groaning.

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

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

4 I would order the 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 he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

I would know the words which He would answer me, And understand what He would say to me.

6 W ould he plead against me with great power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me.

Would He contend with me in His great power? No! But He would take note of me.

7 T here would an upright man reason with him; and I should be delivered for ever from my judge.

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

8 L o, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I do not perceive him;

“Look, 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 behold not; he hideth himself on the right hand, and I see not.

When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him.

10 B ut he knoweth the way that I take; he trieth me, I shall come forth as gold.

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

11 M y foot hath held to his steps; his way have I kept, and not turned aside.

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

12 N either have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have laid up the words of his mouth more than the purpose of my own heart.

I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food.

13 B ut he is in one, and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, that will he do.

“But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does.

14 F or he will perform is appointed for me; and many such things are with him.

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

15 T herefore am I troubled at his presence; I consider, and I am afraid of him.

Therefore I am terrified at His presence; When I consider this, I am afraid of Him.

16 F or God hath made my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me;

For God made my heart weak, And the Almighty terrifies me;

17 B ecause I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he hidden the gloom from me.

Because I was not cut off from the presence of darkness, And He did not hide deep darkness from my face.