1 T hen Job answered and said,

Then Job answered,

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

Even today is my complaint rebellious and 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 order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

I would lay my cause 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 what He would answer me, and understand 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 plead against me with His great power? No, He would give heed to me.

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

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

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; I go 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:

On the left hand where He works, but I cannot behold Him; He turns Himself to the right hand, but 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 that I take. When He has tried me, I shall come forth as refined gold.

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

My foot has held fast to His steps; His ways have I kept 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 gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have esteemed and 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 unchangeable, and who can turn Him? And what He wants to do, 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 planned for me, and of many such matters He is mindful.

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

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

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

For God has made my heart faint, timid, and broken, and the Almighty has terrified me,

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

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