1 T hen Job replied,

And Job answereth and saith: --

2 “ Even today my complaint is rebellion; His hand is heavy despite my groaning.

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

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

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

4 “ I would present my case before Him And fill my mouth with arguments.

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

5 “ I would learn the words which He would answer, And perceive what He would say to me.

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

6 “ Would He contend with me by the greatness of His power? No, surely He would pay attention to me.

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

7 “ There the upright would reason with Him; And I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

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

8 “ Behold, I go forward but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;

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

9 W hen He acts on the left, I cannot behold Him; He turns on the right, I cannot see Him.

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

10 “ But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

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

11 “ My foot has held fast to His path; I have kept His way 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 departed from the command of His lips; I have 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 “ But He is unique and who can turn Him? And what His soul desires, that He does.

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

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

For He doth complete my portion, And many such things with Him.

15 “ Therefore, I would be dismayed at His presence; When I consider, I am terrified of Him.

Therefore, from His presence I am troubled, I consider, and am afraid of Him.

16 “ It is God who has made my heart faint, And the Almighty who has dismayed me,

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

17 B ut I am not silenced by the darkness, Nor deep gloom which covers me.

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