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Chapter 23

Job’s Seventh Reply. Then Job answered and said:

Today especially my complaint is bitter,
    his hand is heavy upon me in my groanings.
Would that I knew how to find him,
    that I might come to his dwelling!
I would set out my case before him,
    fill my mouth with arguments;
I would learn the words he would answer me,
    understand what he would say to me.
Would he contend against me with his great power?
    No, he himself would heed me!
There an upright man might argue with him,
    and I would once and for all be delivered from my judge.
But if I go east, he is not there;[a]
    or west, I cannot perceive him;
The north enfolds him, and I cannot catch sight of him;
    The south hides him, and I cannot see him.
10 Yet he knows my way;
    if he tested me, I should come forth like gold.(A)
11 My foot has always walked in his steps;
    I have kept his way and not turned aside.
12 From the commands of his lips I have not departed;
    the words of his mouth I have treasured in my heart.
13 But once he decides, who can contradict him?
    What he desires, that he does.(B)
14 For he will carry out what is appointed for me,
    and many such things he has in store.
15 Therefore I am terrified before him;
    when I take thought, I dread him.
16 For it is God who has made my heart faint,
    the Almighty who has terrified me.
17 Yes, would that I had vanished in darkness,
    hidden by the thick gloom before me.

Footnotes

  1. 23:8 Job’s confident desire to confront God (vv. 2–7, contrary to his fears in 9:14–20 and 13:21–27) gives way to his dark night: God’s absence (vv. 8–9), which also terrifies (vv. 13–17).

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