Job 23
23
Job Says He Longs for God
1Then Job answered and said,
2“Even today my complaint is contentious;
His hand is heavy despite my groaning.
3“Oh, that I knew where I might find Him,
That I might [even] come to His seat!
4“I would present my cause before Him
And fill my mouth with arguments.
5“I would learn the words which He would answer,
And understand what He would say to me.
6“Would He contend against me with His great power?
No, surely He would give attention to me. [Is 27:4, 5; 57:16]
7“There the righteous and upright could reason with Him;
So I would be acquitted forever by my Judge.
8¶“Behold, I go forward (to the east), but He is not there;
I go backward (to the west), but I cannot perceive Him;
9To the left (north) He turns, but I cannot behold Him;
He turns to the right hand (south), but I cannot see Him.
10“But He knows the way that I take [and He pays attention to it].
When He has tried me, I will come forth as [refined] gold [pure and luminous]. [Ps 17:3; 66:10; James 1:12]
11“My feet have carefully followed His steps;
I have kept His ways and not turned aside.
12“I have not departed from the commandment of His lips;
I have kept the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
13“But He is unique and unchangeable, and who can turn Him?
And what His soul desires, that He does.
14“For He performs what is planned (appointed) for me,
And He is mindful of many such things.
15“Therefore I would be terrified at His presence;
When I consider [all of this], I tremble in dread of Him.
16“For God has made my heart faint,
And the Almighty has terrified me,
17But I am not silenced by the darkness [of these woes that fell on me],
Nor by the thick darkness which covers my face.
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Job 23: AMP
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Job 23
23
1Then Job answered:
2“Today also my complaint is bitter,#23.2 Syr Vg Tg: Heb rebellious
his#23.2 Gk Syr: Heb my hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.
3Oh, that I knew where I might find him,
that I might come even to his seat!
4I would lay my case before him
and fill my mouth with arguments.
5I would learn what he would answer me,
and understand what he would say to me.
6Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?
No; he would give heed to me.
7There an upright man could reason with him,
and I should be acquitted for ever by my judge.
8“Behold, I go forward, but he is not there;
and backward, but I cannot perceive him;
9on the left hand I seek him,#23.9 Compare Syr: Heb on the left hand when he works but I cannot behold him;
I#23.9 Syr Vg: Heb he turn to the right hand, but I cannot see him.
10But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11My foot has held fast to his steps;
I have kept his way and have not turned aside.
12I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;
I have treasured in#23.12 Gk Vg: Heb from my bosom the words of his mouth.
13But he is unchangeable and who can turn him?
What he desires, that he does.
14For he will complete what he appoints for me;
and many such things are in his mind.
15Therefore I am terrified at his presence;
when I consider, I am in dread of him.
16God has made my heart faint;
the Almighty has terrified me;
17for I am#23.17 With one Ms: Heb am not hemmed in by darkness,
and thick darkness covers my face.#23.17 Vg: Heb from my face
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