Chapter 23

¹Then Job answered, and said: ²Now also my words are in bitterness, and the hand of my scourge is more grievous than my mourning. ³Who will grant me that I might know and find him, and come even to his throne? ⁴I would set judgment before him, and would fill my mouth with complaints. ⁵That I might know the words that he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me. ⁶I would not that he should contend with me with much strength, nor overwhelm me with the weight of his greatness. ⁷Let him propose equity against me, and let my judgment come to victory. ⁸But if I go to the east, he appeareth not; if to the west, I shall not understand him. ⁹If to the left hand, what shall I do? I shall not take hold on him: if I turn myself to the right hand, I shall not see him. ¹⁰But he knoweth my way, and has tried me as gold that passeth through the fire: ¹¹My foot hath followed his steps, I have kept his way, and have not declined from it. ¹²I have not departed from the commandments of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hid in my bosom. ¹³For he is alone, and no man can turn away his thought: and whatsoever is soul hath desired, that hath he done. ¹⁴And when he shall have fulfilled his will in me, many other like things are also at hand with him. ¹⁵And therefore I am troubled at his presence, and when I consider him I am made pensive with fear. ¹⁶God hath softened my heart, and the Almighty hath troubled me. ¹⁷For I have not perished because of the darkness that hangs over me, neither hath the mist covered my face.