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23. Job Replies

    ² “Even today my complaint is bitter;
   his hand Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew / the hand on me is heavy in spite of Or heavy on me in my groaning.
³ If only I knew where to find him;
   if only I could go to his dwelling!
⁴ I would state my case before him
   and fill my mouth with arguments.
⁵ I would find out what he would answer me,
   and consider what he would say to me.
⁶ Would he vigorously oppose me?
   No, he would not press charges against me.
⁷ There the upright can establish their innocence before him,
   and there I would be delivered forever from my judge.

    ⁸ “But if I go to the east, he is not there;
   if I go to the west, I do not find him.
⁹ When he is at work in the north, I do not see him;
   when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.
¹⁰ But he knows the way that I take;
   when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
¹¹ My feet have closely followed his steps;
   I have kept to his way without turning aside.
¹² I have not departed from the commands of his lips;
   I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.

    ¹³ “But he stands alone, and who can oppose him?
   He does whatever he pleases.
¹⁴ He carries out his decree against me,
   and many such plans he still has in store.
¹⁵ That is why I am terrified before him;
   when I think of all this, I fear him.
¹⁶ God has made my heart faint;
   the Almighty has terrified me.
¹⁷ Yet I am not silenced by the darkness,
   by the thick darkness that covers my face.