Job 23
1599 Geneva Bible
23 Job affirmeth that he both knoweth and feareth the power and sentence of the Judge, 10 And that he is not punished only for his sins.
1 But Job answered, and said,
2 Though my talk be this day in [a]bitterness, and my plague greater than my groaning,
3 Would God yet I knew how to find him, I would enter unto his place.
4 I would plead the cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know the words, that he would answer me, and would understand what he would say unto me.
6 Would he [b]plead against me with his great power? No, but he would [c]put strength in me.
7 [d]There the righteous might reason with him, so I should be delivered forever from my Judge.
8 [e]Behold, if I go to the East, he is not there: if to the West, yet I cannot perceive him:
9 If to the North where he worketh, yet I cannot see him: he will hide himself in the South, and I cannot behold him.
10 But he knoweth my [f]way, and trieth me, and I shall come forth like gold.
11 My foot hath followed his steps: his way have I kept, and have not declined:
12 Neither have I departed from the commandment of his lips, and I have [g]esteemed the words of his mouth more than mine appointed food.
13 Yet he is in one mind, and who can [h]turn him? yea, he doeth what his mind desireth.
14 For he will perform that which is decreed of me, and [i]many such things are with him.
15 Therefore I am troubled at his presence, and in considering it, I am afraid of him.
16 For [j]God hath softened mine heart, and the Almighty hath troubled me.
17 For I am not cut off in [k]darkness, but he hath hid the darkness from my face.
Footnotes
- Job 23:2 He showeth the just cause of his complaining, and as touching that Eliphaz had exhorteth him to return to God, Job 22:21, he declareth that he desireth nothing more, but it seemed that God would not be found of him.
- Job 23:6 Using his absolute power, and saying, because I am God, I may do what I will.
- Job 23:6 Of his mercy he would give me power to answer him.
- Job 23:7 When he of his mercy hath given strength to maintain their cause.
- Job 23:8 Meaning, that if he consider God’s justice, he is not able to comprehend his judgments on what side or what part soever he turneth himself.
- Job 23:10 God hath this preeminence about me, that he knoweth my way: to wit, that I am innocent, and I am not able to judge of his works: he showeth also his confidence, that God doth use him for his profit.
- Job 23:12 His word is more precious unto me, than the meat wherewith the body is sustained.
- Job 23:13 Job confesseth that at this present he felt not God’s favor, and yet was assured that he had appointed him to a good end.
- Job 23:14 In many points man is not able to attain to God’s judgments.
- Job 23:16 That I should not be without fear.
- Job 23:17 He showeth the cause of his fear, which is, that he being in trouble seeth none end, neither yet knoweth the cause.
Job 23
King James Version
23 Then Job answered and said,
2 Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.
7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
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:
10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
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.
13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
14 For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.
15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.
16 For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
