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Job’s Reply

23 Job replied,

“Even today my problems are more than I can handle.
    In spite of my groans, God’s hand is heavy on me.
I wish I knew where I could find him!
    I wish I could go to the place where he lives!
I would state my case to him.
    I’d give him all my arguments.
I’d find out what his answers would be.
    I’d think about what he would say to me.
Would he strongly oppose me?
    No. He wouldn’t bring charges against me.
There honest people can prove to him they’re not guilty.
    There my Judge would tell me once and for all that I’m not guilty.

“But if I go to the east, God isn’t there.
    If I go to the west, I don’t find him.
When he’s working in the north, I don’t see him there.
    When he turns to the south, I don’t see him there either.
10 But he knows every step I take.
    When he has tested me,
    I’ll come out as pure as gold.
11 My feet have closely followed his steps.
    I’ve stayed on his path without turning away.
12 I haven’t disobeyed his commands.
    I’ve treasured his words more than my daily bread.

13 “But he’s the only God. Who can oppose him?
    He does anything he wants to do.
14 He carries out his plans against me.
    And he still has many other plans just like them.
15 That’s why I’m so terrified.
    When I think about all of this, I’m afraid of him.
16 God has made my heart weak.
    The Mighty One has filled me with terror.
17 But even the darkness of death won’t make me silent.
    When the darkness of the grave covers my face, I won’t be quiet.

Job

23 Then Job replied:

“Even today my complaint(A) is bitter;(B)
    his hand[a] is heavy in spite of[b] my groaning.(C)
If only I knew where to find him;
    if only I could go to his dwelling!(D)
I would state my case(E) before him
    and fill my mouth with arguments.(F)
I would find out what he would answer me,(G)
    and consider what he would say to me.
Would he vigorously oppose me?(H)
    No, he would not press charges against me.(I)
There the upright(J) can establish their innocence before him,(K)
    and there I would be delivered forever from my judge.(L)

“But if I go to the east, he is not there;
    if I go to the west, I do not find him.
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.(M)
10 But he knows the way that I take;(N)
    when he has tested me,(O) I will come forth as gold.(P)
11 My feet have closely followed his steps;(Q)
    I have kept to his way without turning aside.(R)
12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips;(S)
    I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.(T)

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

Footnotes

  1. Job 23:2 Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew / the hand on me
  2. Job 23:2 Or heavy on me in

23 Then Job answered and said,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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