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Job Answers

23 Then Job answered:

“I am still complaining today.
    I groan because God is still making me suffer.
I wish I knew where to find him.
    I wish I knew how to go to where he lives.
I would present my case to him.
    I would make my arguments to show that I am innocent.
He could give his response, and I would understand.
    I would listen closely to what he says.
Would God use his power against me?
    No, he would listen to me!
Since I am an honest man, he would let me tell my story.
    Then my Judge would set me free!

“If I go to the east, God is not there.
    If I go to the west, I still don’t see him.
When he is working in the north, I don’t see him.
    When he turns to the south, I still don’t see him.
10 But God knows me.
    He is testing me and will see that I am as pure as gold.
11 I have always lived the way God wants.
    I have never stopped following him.
12 I always obey his commands.
    I love the words from his mouth more than I love my food.

13 “But God never changes,
    and who can stand against him?
    He does anything he wants.
14 He will do to me what he planned,
    and he has many other plans for me.
15 That is why I am terrified to stand before him.
    Just thinking about it makes me afraid.
16 The fear of God has made me lose my courage.
    God All-Powerful makes me afraid.
17 What has happened to me is like a dark cloud over my face.
    But the darkness will not keep me 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