1 T hen Job answered and said:

Then Job answered,

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

“Even today my complaint is rebellious. His hand is heavy in spite 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 even to his seat!

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

I would set my cause in order 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 tell 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 in the greatness of his power? No, but he would listen to me.

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

There the upright might reason with him, so I should be delivered forever from my judge.

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

“If I go east, he is not there; if west, I can’t find 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.

He works to the north, but I can’t see him. He turns south, but I can’t catch a glimpse of 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 that I take. When he has tried me, I shall come out like 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 steps. 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 haven’t gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured up 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 stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does.

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

For he performs that which is appointed for me. Many such things are with him.

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

Therefore I am terrified at his presence. When I consider, I am afraid of him.

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

For God has made my heart faint. The Almighty has terrified me.

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

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.