1 T hen Job answered and said:

¶ Then Job answered and said,

2 “ Even today my complaint is bitter; My hand is listless because of 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 to His seat!

Oh, that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!

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

I would order judgment 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 to me.

I would know the words which he would answer me and understand what he would say unto me.

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

Will he plead against me with his great power? No, but rather he would put it in me.

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

There the righteous might dispute with him; and should I escape for ever from the one who condemns me.

8 “ Look, I go forward, but He is not there, And 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 W hen He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right hand, 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 tested me, I shall come forth as 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; I have kept His way and not turned aside.

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

12 I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have 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 “ But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, 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 what is appointed for me, And many such things are with Him.

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

15 T herefore I am terrified at His presence; When I consider this, I am afraid of Him.

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

16 F or God made my heart weak, And the Almighty terrifies me;

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

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

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