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Job replies to Eliphaz[a]

23 Then Job replied. This is what he said:

‘I continue to complain against God
    because I am still angry today.
God continues to punish me
    even when I cry in pain.
I would like to know where to find him.
    Then I could go to the place where he lives.
I would tell him why I am not guilty.
    I would say many things to explain this to him.
Then I would know how he would answer me.
    I would understand what he would say to me.
Would God use his great power to argue against me?
    No! He would listen carefully to me.
Honest people can explain things to him.
    So he would judge me in a fair way.
    He would let me go free.

I look for God in the east, but he is not there.
    I do not find him in the west either.
When he does his work in the north,
    I do not see him.
When he moves to the south,
    I still cannot find him anywhere.
10 But he knows the way that I live.
When he has finished testing me,
    he will see that I am pure.
    I will be as pure as gold.
11 I have always lived in the way that God showed me.
    I have obeyed him faithfully.
    I have not turned away from his teaching.
12 I have been careful to obey his commands.
    His words are more important to me than my food.
13 But he is always true to himself.
    Nobody can change him.
Whatever he wants to do, he does.
14 He will do to me everything that he has decided to do.
    He has plans to do many things like this.
15 Because of that,
    I am afraid of him.
When I think about all these things,
    I am very afraid.
16 God has made me become weak with fear.
    Almighty God has frightened me.
17 Because of all my troubles,
    I seem to be in a very dark place.
The darkness seems to cover me.
    But I will not be afraid to speak.

Footnotes

  1. 23:1 In chapter 23, Job says that he wants to find God. God seems to be very far away. But God sees everything that Job does. Job knows that. And Job has tried to obey God and to live in the right way. But still he is afraid of God.

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