23:1 Then Job answered and said,
23:1 Then Job answered and said:

23:2 Even to day [is] my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
23:2 "Even today my complaint is bitter; My hand is listless because of my groaning.

23:3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! [that] I might come [even] to his seat!
23:3 Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come to His seat!

23:4 I would order [my] cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
23:4 I would present my case before Him, And fill my mouth with arguments.

23:5 I would know the words [which] he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
23:5 I would know the words which He would answer me, And understand what He would say to me.

23:6 Will he plead against me with [his] great power? No; but he would put [strength] in me.
23:6 Would He contend with me in His great power? No! But He would take note of me.

23:7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
23:7 There the upright could reason with Him, And I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

23:8 Behold, I go forward, but he [is] not [there]; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
23:8 "Look, I go forward, but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;

23:9 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]:
23:9 When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him.

23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: [when] he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
23:10 But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.

23:11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
23:11 My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside.

23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food].
23:12 I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food.

23:13 But he [is] in one [mind], and who can turn him? and [what] his soul desireth, even [that] he doeth.
23:13 "But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does.

23:14 For he performeth [the thing that is] appointed for me: and many such [things are] with him.
23:14 For He performs what is appointed for me, And many such things are with Him.

23:15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.
23:15 Therefore I am terrified at His presence; When I consider this, I am afraid of Him.

23:16 For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
23:16 For God made my heart weak, And the Almighty terrifies me;

23:17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, [neither] hath he covered the darkness from my face.
23:17 Because I was not cut off from the presence of darkness, And He did not hide deep darkness from my face.