Job 23

1And Job made answer and said,

1And Job answered and said,

1Then Job answered, and said:

1And Job answereth and saith: --

2Even today my outcry is bitter; his hand is hard on my sorrow.

2Even to-day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

2Now also my words are in bitterness, and the hand of my scourge is more grievous than my mourning.

2Also--to-day <FI>is<Fi> my complaint bitter, My hand hath been heavy because of my sighing.

3If only I had knowledge of where he might be seen, so that I might come even to his seat!

3Oh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come to his seat!

3Who will grant me that I might know and find him, and come even to his throne?

3O that I had known--and I find Him, I come in unto His seat,

4I would put my cause in order before him, and my mouth would be full of arguments.

4I would order the cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments;

4I would set judgment before him, and would fill my mouth with complaints.

4I arrange before Him the cause, And my mouth fill <FI>with<Fi> arguments.

5I would see what his answers would be, and have knowledge of what he would say to me.

5I would know the words he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

5That I might know the words that he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.

5I know the words He doth answer me, And understand what He saith to me.

6Would he make use of his great power to overcome me? No, but he would give attention to me.

6Would he plead against me with [his] great power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me.

6I would not that he should contend with me with much strength, nor overwhelm me with the weight of his greatness.

6In the abundance of power doth He strive with me? No! surely He putteth <FI>it<Fi> in me.

7There an upright man might put his cause before him; and I would be free for ever from my judge.

7There would an upright man reason with him; and I should be delivered for ever from my judge.

7Let him propose equity against me, and let my judgment come to victory.

7There the upright doth reason with Him, And I escape for ever from my judge.

8See, I go forward, but he is not there; and back, but I do not see him;

8Lo, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I do not perceive him;

8But if I go to the east, he appeareth not; if to the west, I shall not understand him.

8Lo, forward I go--and He is not, And backward--and I perceive him not.

9I am looking for him on the left hand, but there is no sign of him; and turning to the right, I am not able to see him.

9On the left hand, where he doth work, but I behold [him] not; he hideth himself on the right hand, and I see [him] not.

9If to the left hand, what shall I do? I shall not take hold on him: if I turn myself to the right hand, I shall not see him.

9<FI> To<Fi> the left in His working--and I see not, He is covered <FI>on<Fi> the right, and I behold not.

10For he has knowledge of the way I take; after I have been tested I will come out like gold.

10But he knoweth the way that I take; he trieth me, I shall come forth as gold.

10But he knoweth my way, and has tried me as gold that passeth through the fire:

10For He hath known the way with me, He hath tried me--as gold I go forth.

11My feet have gone in his steps; I have kept in his way, without turning to one side or to the other.

11My foot hath held to his steps; his way have I kept, and not turned aside.

11My foot hath followed his steps, I have kept his way, and have not declined from it.

11On His step hath my foot laid hold, His way I have kept, and turn not aside,

12I have never gone against the orders of his lips; the words of his mouth have been stored up in my heart.

12Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have laid up the words of his mouth more than the purpose of my own heart.

12I have not departed from the commandments of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hid in my bosom.

12The command of His lips, and I depart not. Above my allotted portion I have laid up The sayings of His mouth.

13But his purpose is fixed and there is no changing it; and he gives effect to the desire of his soul.

13But he is in one [mind], and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, that will he do.

13For he is alone, and no man can turn away his thought: and whatsoever his soul hath desired, that hath he done.

13And He <FI>is<Fi> in one <FI>mind<Fi> , And who doth turn Him back? And His soul hath desired--and He doth <FI>it<Fi> .

14For what has been ordered for me by him will be gone through to the end: and his mind is full of such designs.

14For he will perform [what] is appointed for me; and many such things are with him.

14And when he shall have fulfilled his will in me, many other like things are also at hand with him.

14For He doth complete my portion, And many such things <FI>are<Fi> with Him.

15For this cause I am in fear before him, my thoughts of him overcome me.

15Therefore am I troubled at his presence; I consider, and I am afraid of him.

15And therefore I am troubled at his presence, and when I consider him, I am made pensive with fear.

15Therefore, from His presence I am troubled, I consider, and am afraid of Him.

16For God has made my heart feeble, and my mind is troubled before the Ruler of all.

16ForGod hath made my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me;

16God hath softened my heart, and the Almighty hath troubled me.

16And God hath made my heart soft, And the Mighty hath troubled me.

17For I am overcome by the dark, and by the black night which is covering my face.

17Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he hidden the gloom from me.

17For I have not perished because of the darkness that hangs over me, neither hath the mist covered my face.

17For I have not been cut off before darkness, And before me He covered thick darkness.