JOB 23 [†]Then Job answered and said:

2[†] “Today also my  r complaint is bitter; [1]

my  s hand is heavy on account of my groaning.

3[†] Oh,  t that I knew where I might find him,

that I might come even to his  u seat!

4 I would  v lay my case before him

and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I would know what he would answer me

and understand what he would say to me.

6 Would he  w contend with me in the greatness of his power?

No; he would pay attention to me.

7[^] There an upright man could argue with him,

and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

8 “Behold,  x I go forward, but he is not there,

and backward, but I do not perceive him;

9 on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him;

he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.

10[†] But he  y knows  z the way that I  a take;

when he has  b tried me, I shall come out as gold.

11 My foot  c has held fast to his steps;

I have kept his way and have  d not turned aside.

12 I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;

I have  e treasured the words of his mouth more than my  f portion of food.

13[†] But he is unchangeable, [2] and  g who can turn him back?

What he  h desires, that he does.

14 For he will complete what he  i appoints for me,

and many such things are  j in his mind.

15 Therefore I am terrified at his presence;

when I consider, I am in dread of him.

16 God has made my  k heart faint;

the Almighty has terrified me;

17 yet I am not silenced because of the darkness,

nor because thick darkness covers my face.