1 T hen Job answered and said:

Then Job replied,

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

“Even today my complaint is rebellion; His hand is heavy despite 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 present my case 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 which He would answer me, And understand what He would say to me.

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Behold, I go forward but He is not there, And backward, 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.

When He acts on the left, I cannot behold Him; He turns on the right, I cannot 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 knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

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

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

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

“I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured 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 He is unique and who can turn Him? And what His soul desires, that He does.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But I am not silenced by the darkness, Nor deep gloom which covers me.