Job 23

¹ Job spoke next. He said:

² My lament is still rebellious, that heavy hand of his drags groans from me.

³ If only I knew how to reach him, or how to travel to his dwelling!

⁴ I should set out my case to him, my mouth would not want for arguments.

⁵ Then I could learn his defence, every word of it, taking note of everything he said to me.

⁶ Would he use all his strength in this debate with me? No, he would have to give me a hearing.

⁷ He would see he was contending with an honest man, and I should surely win my case.

⁸ If I go eastward, he is not there; or westward – still I cannot see him.

⁹ If I seek him in the north, he is not to be found, invisible still when I turn to the south.

¹⁰ And yet he knows of every step I take! Let him test me in the crucible: I shall come out pure gold.

¹¹ My footsteps have followed close in his, I have walked in his way without swerving;

¹² I have kept every commandment of his lips, cherishing the words from his mouth in my breast.

¹³ But once he has decided, who can change his mind? Whatever he plans, he carries out.

¹⁴ No doubt, then, but he will carry out my sentence, like so many other decrees that he has made.

¹⁵ That is why I am full of fear before him, and the more I think, the greater grows my dread of him.

¹⁶ God has made my heart sink, Shaddai has filled me with fear.

¹⁷ For darkness hides me from him, and the gloom veils his presence from me.