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Job’s Argument with God

23 Then Job answered:

“Even today my complaint is rebellious;
    His hand is heavy despite my groaning.
If only I knew where to find Him;
    if only I could go to His dwelling.
I would lay out my case before Him
    and fill my mouth with arguments.
I would know with what words He would answer me,
    and understand what He would say to me.
Would He oppose me with great power?
    No, He would only pay attention to me.
There the upright can reason with Him,
    and there I would forever be delivered from my Judge.
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 in the north, I cannot perceive Him;
When He turns south, I do not see Him.
10 Yet He knows the way that I take;
    if He tested me, I would come out as gold.
11 My foot has held closely to His steps;
    I have kept to His way and have not strayed.
12 I have not departed from the commands of His lips.
I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.
13 He is unchangeable, and who can change Him?
Whatever His soul desires, He does.
14 For He fulfills the decree against me,
    and many such things are with Him.
15 That is why I am terrified at His presence;
    when I consider this, I fear Him.
16 God has made my heart faint;
    Shaddai has terrified me.
17 Yet I am not silenced because of the darkness,
nor by the thick darkness that covers my face.”

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