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Job Answers

23 Then Job answered:

“My ·complaint [or speech] is still ·bitter [or rebellious] today.
    ·I groan because God’s heavy hand is on me [or My hand is heavy with groaning].
I wish I knew where to find God
    so I could go to ·where he lives [L his place].
I would present my case before him
    and fill my mouth with ·arguments [or reprimands; reproofs].
I would learn ·how [L the words by which] he would answer me
    and would think about what he would say.
Would he not ·argue [present his case] ·strongly [L with great power] against me?
    No, he would really listen to me.
·Then [L There] an ·honest [virtuous] person could ·present his case to God [reprimand/reprove him],
    and I would ·be saved [escape] forever ·by [or from] my judge.

“If I go to the east, God is not there;
    if I go to the west, I do not ·see [perceive] him.
When he ·is at work [acts] in the north, I catch no ·sight [glimpse] of him;
    when he ·turns to [L wraps himself up in] the south, I cannot see him.
10 But God knows the way that I take,
    and when he has tested me, I will come out like gold [Ps. 139:23–24].
11 My feet have ·closely followed [L held fast to] his steps;
    I have stayed in his ·way [path; Prov. 4:10–11];
    I did not turn aside.
12 I have never ·left [departed from] the commands ·he has spoken [L of his lips];
    I have ·treasured his words more than my own [L stored up in my bosom the speeches of his mouth].

13 “But he is ·the only God [unique].
    Who can ·come against him [L turn him back]?
    He does anything he wants.
14 He will do to me what he ·said he would do [has designated for me],
    and he ·has [or may have] many plans like this.
15 That is why I am ·frightened [terrified] of ·him [L his presence];
    when I ·think of [reflect on] this, I am ·afraid [in dread] of him.
16 God has made ·me afraid [L my heart timid];
    ·the Almighty [L Shaddai] terrifies me.
17 But I am not ·hidden [silenced] by the darkness,
    by the thick darkness that covers my face [C though afraid, Job still seeks to set God straight].

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