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Job Answers

23 Then Job answered:

“My ·complaint [or speech] is still ·bitter [or rebellious] today.
    ·I groan because God’s heavy hand is on me [or My hand is heavy with groaning].
I wish I knew where to find God
    so I could go to ·where he lives [L his place].
I would present my case before him
    and fill my mouth with ·arguments [or reprimands; reproofs].
I would learn ·how [L the words by which] he would answer me
    and would think about what he would say.
Would he not ·argue [present his case] ·strongly [L with great power] against me?
    No, he would really listen to me.
·Then [L There] an ·honest [virtuous] person could ·present his case to God [reprimand/reprove him],
    and I would ·be saved [escape] forever ·by [or from] my judge.

“If I go to the east, God is not there;
    if I go to the west, I do not ·see [perceive] him.
When he ·is at work [acts] in the north, I catch no ·sight [glimpse] of him;
    when he ·turns to [L wraps himself up in] the south, I cannot see him.
10 But God knows the way that I take,
    and when he has tested me, I will come out like gold [Ps. 139:23–24].
11 My feet have ·closely followed [L held fast to] his steps;
    I have stayed in his ·way [path; Prov. 4:10–11];
    I did not turn aside.
12 I have never ·left [departed from] the commands ·he has spoken [L of his lips];
    I have ·treasured his words more than my own [L stored up in my bosom the speeches of his mouth].

13 “But he is ·the only God [unique].
    Who can ·come against him [L turn him back]?
    He does anything he wants.
14 He will do to me what he ·said he would do [has designated for me],
    and he ·has [or may have] many plans like this.
15 That is why I am ·frightened [terrified] of ·him [L his presence];
    when I ·think of [reflect on] this, I am ·afraid [in dread] of him.
16 God has made ·me afraid [L my heart timid];
    ·the Almighty [L Shaddai] terrifies me.
17 But I am not ·hidden [silenced] by the darkness,
    by the thick darkness that covers my face [C though afraid, Job still seeks to set God straight].

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