Job 23

Job Replies: Where Is God?

1 Then Job answered and said:

2  "Today also my complaint is bitter;t
my hand is heavy on account of my groaning.
3  Oh, that I knew where I might find him,
that I might come even to his seat!
4  I would 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 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, 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 knows the way that I take;
when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
11  My foot has held fast to his steps;
I have kept his way and have not turned aside.
12  I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.
13  But he is unchangeable,t and who can turn him back?
What he desires, that he does.
14  For he will complete what he appoints for me,
and many such things are 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 heart faint;
the Almighty has terrified me;
17  yet I am not silenced because of the darkness,
nor because thick darkness covers my face.

Job 23

Job’s Reply to Eliphaz

1 Then Job answered:

2 “Even today my complaint is still bitter;s
hiss hand is heavy despitet my groaning.

3 O that I knewt where I might find him,ts
that I could comet to his place of residence!t

4 I would lay out my caset before him
and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I would know with what wordst he would answer me,
and understand what he would say to me.

6 Would he contendt with me with great power?
No, he would only pay attention to me.t

7 Theret an upright person
could present his caset before him,
and I would be delivered forever from my judge.

The Inaccessibility and Power of God

8 “If I go to the east, he is not there,
and to the west, yet I do not perceive him.

9 In the norths when he is at work,s
I do not see him;t
when he turnst to the south,
I see no trace of him.

10 But he knows the pathway that I take;t
if he tested me, I would come forth like gold.t

11 My feett have followedt his steps closely;
I have kept to his way and have not turned aside.t

12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips;
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my allotted portion.s

13 But he is unchangeable,s and who can changet him?
Whatever het has desired, he does.

14 For he fulfills his decree against me,t
and many such things are his plans.ts

15 That is why I am terrified in his presence;
when I consider, I am afraid because of him.

16 Indeed, God has made my heart faint;t
the Almighty has terrified me.

17 Yet I have not been silent because of the darkness,
because of the thick darkness
that covered my face.t