Job 23:2-9 - Compare All Versions

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“Even today my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy in spite of my groaning. If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling! I would state my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would find out what he would answer me, and consider what he would say to me. Would he vigorously oppose me? No, he would not press charges against me. There the upright can establish their innocence before him, and there I would be delivered forever 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 at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.

“Today also my complaint is bitter; my hand is heavy on account of my groaning. Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat! I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know what he would answer me and understand what he would say to me. Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; he would pay attention to me. There an upright man could argue with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge. “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him; on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.

“My complaint today is still a bitter one, and I try hard not to groan aloud. If only I knew where to find God, I would go to his court. I would lay out my case and present my arguments. Then I would listen to his reply and understand what he says to me. Would he use his great power to argue with me? No, he would give me a fair hearing. Honest people can reason with him, so I would be forever acquitted by my judge. I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him. I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I look to the south, but he is concealed.

Today also my complaint is bitter.  , His  hand is heavy despite my groaning. If only I knew how to find him, so that I could go to his throne. I would plead my case before him  and fill my mouth with arguments. I would learn how  he would answer me; and understand what he would say to me. Would he prosecute  me forcefully? No, he would certainly pay attention to me. Then an upright man could reason  with him, and I would escape from my Judge  ,  forever. If I go east, he is not there, and if I go west, I cannot perceive him.  When he is at work to the north, I cannot see him; when he turns south, I cannot find him.

Even to day is my complaint bitter: My stroke is heavier than my groaning. Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat! I would order my cause before him, And fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which he would answer me, And understand what he would say unto me. Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. There the righteous might dispute with him; So should I be delivered for ever from my judge. Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; And backward, but I cannot perceive him: 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

“Even today my complaint is bitter; My hand is listless because of my groaning. Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come to His seat! I would present my case before Him, And fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which He would answer me, And understand what He would say to me. Would He contend with me in His great power? No! But He would take note of me. There the upright could reason with Him, And I would be delivered forever from my Judge. “Look, I go forward, but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him; When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him.

Job replied: “I’m not letting up—I’m standing my ground. My complaint is legitimate. God has no right to treat me like this— it isn’t fair! If I knew where on earth to find him, I’d go straight to him. I’d lay my case before him face-to-face, give him all my arguments firsthand. I’d find out exactly what he’s thinking, discover what’s going on in his head. Do you think he’d dismiss me or bully me? No, he’d take me seriously. He’d see a straight-living man standing before him; my Judge would acquit me for good of all charges. “I travel East looking for him—I find no one; then West, but not a trace; I go North, but he’s hidden his tracks; then South, but not even a glimpse.

“Even today my complaint is rebellion; His hand is heavy despite my groaning. “Oh that I knew how to find Him, That I might come to His home! “I would present my case before Him And fill my mouth with arguments. “I would learn the words which He would answer, And perceive what He would tell me. “Would He contend with me by the greatness of His power? No, surely He would pay attention to me. “There the upright would argue with Him; And I would be free of my Judge forever. ¶“Behold, I go forward but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him; When He acts on the left, I cannot see Him; He turns to the right, but I cannot see Him.

“Even today my complaint is contentious; His hand is heavy despite my groaning. “Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, That I might [even] come to His seat! “I would present my cause before Him And fill my mouth with arguments. “I would learn the words which He would answer, And understand what He would say to me. “Would He contend against me with His great power? No, surely He would give attention to me. [Is 27:4, 5; 57:16] “There the righteous and upright could reason with Him; So I would be acquitted forever by my Judge. ¶“Behold, I go forward (to the east), but He is not there; I go backward (to the west), but I cannot perceive Him; To the left (north) He turns, but I cannot behold Him; He turns to the right hand (south), but I cannot see Him.

“Even today my complaint is still bitter; his hand is heavy despite my groaning. O that I knew where I might find him, that I could come to his place of residence! 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 contend with me with great power? No, he would only pay attention to me. There an upright person could present his case before him, and I would be delivered forever from my judge. “If I go to the east, he is not there, and to the west, yet I do not perceive him. In the north when he is at work, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I see no trace of him.