Job 23
New Century Version
Job Answers
23 Then Job answered:
2 “My complaint is still bitter today.
I groan because God’s heavy hand is on me.
3 I wish I knew where to find God
so I could go to where he lives.
4 I would present my case before him
and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would learn how he would answer me
and would think about what he would say.
6 Would he not argue strongly against me?
No, he would really listen to me.
7 Then an honest person could present his case to God,
and I would be saved forever by my judge.
8 “If I go to the east, God is not there;
if I go to the west, I do not see him.
9 When he is at work in the north, I catch no sight of him;
when he turns to 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.
11 My feet have closely followed his steps;
I have stayed in his way;
I did not turn aside.
12 I have never left the commands he has spoken;
I have treasured his words more than my own.
13 “But he is the only God.
Who can come against him?
He does anything he wants.
14 He will do to me what he said he would do,
and he has many plans like this.
15 That is why I am frightened of him;
when I think of this, I am afraid of him.
16 God has made me afraid;
the Almighty terrifies me.
17 But I am not hidden by the darkness,
by the thick darkness that covers my face.
Job 23
King James Version
23 Then Job answered and said,
2 Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.
7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:
10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
14 For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.
15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.
16 For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
