Chapter 23

¹And Job answered and said, ²Even to-day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning. ³Oh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come to his seat! ⁴I would order the cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments; ⁵I would know the words he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me. ⁶Would he plead against me with [his] great power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me. ⁷There would an upright man reason with him; and I should be delivered for ever from my judge. ⁸Lo, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I do not perceive him; ⁹On the left hand, where he doth work, but I behold [him] not; he hideth himself on the right hand, and I see [him] not. ¹⁰But he knoweth the way that I take; he trieth me, I shall come forth as gold. ¹¹My foot hath held to his steps; his way have I kept, and not turned aside. ¹²Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have laid up the words of his mouth more than the purpose of my own heart. ¹³But he is in one [mind], and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, that will he do. ¹⁴For he will perform [what] is appointed for me; and many such things are with him. ¹⁵Therefore am I troubled at his presence; I consider, and I am afraid of him. ¹⁶For God hath made my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me; ¹⁷Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he hidden the gloom from me.