1 A nd Job answereth and saith: --

Then Job answered and said,

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

Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

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

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

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

I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

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

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

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

Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.

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

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

8 L o, forward I go -- and He is not, And backward -- and I perceive him not.

Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

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

on the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

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

But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

11 O n His step hath my foot laid hold, His way I have kept, and turn not aside,

My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

12 T he command of His lips, and I depart not. Above my allotted portion I have laid up The sayings of His mouth.

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

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

But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

14 F or He doth complete my portion, And many such things with Him.

For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

15 T herefore, from His presence I am troubled, I consider, and am afraid of Him.

Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

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

For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:

17 F or I have not been cut off before darkness, And before me He covered thick darkness.

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