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Job Answers

23 Then Job answered:

“My complaint is still strong today.
    God’s hand is heavy against me even though I am groaning.
I wish I knew where to find God.
    I wish I could go to where he lives.
I would present my case before him.
    I would fill my mouth with arguments.
I would know the words of his answer.
    And I would think about what he would say.
He would not come against me with great power.
    He would really listen to me.
Then an honest person could present his case to God.
    And I would be saved forever from my judge.

“If I go to the east, God is not there.
    And if I go to the west, I do not see him there.
When he is at work in the north, I catch no sight of him.
    And when he turns to the south, I cannot see him.
10 But God knows the way that I take.
    When he has tested me, I will come out pure as gold.
11 My feet have closely followed his steps.
    I have stayed in his way without turning aside.
12 I have never left the commands he has spoken.
    I have treasured his words more than my food.

13 “But he is the only God.
    No one can come against him.
    He does anything he wants.
14 He will do to me what he said he would do.
    And he has many plans like this.
15 That is why I am so afraid before him.
    When I think of all this, I am afraid of him.
16 God has made me afraid.
    God All-Powerful has made me terribly afraid.
17 But I am not cut off by the darkness,
    by the thick darkness that covers my face.

Job

23 Then Job replied:

“Even today my complaint(A) is bitter;(B)
    his hand[a] is heavy in spite of[b] my groaning.(C)
If only I knew where to find him;
    if only I could go to his dwelling!(D)
I would state my case(E) before him
    and fill my mouth with arguments.(F)
I would find out what he would answer me,(G)
    and consider what he would say to me.
Would he vigorously oppose me?(H)
    No, he would not press charges against me.(I)
There the upright(J) can establish their innocence before him,(K)
    and there I would be delivered forever from my judge.(L)

“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.(M)
10 But he knows the way that I take;(N)
    when he has tested me,(O) I will come forth as gold.(P)
11 My feet have closely followed his steps;(Q)
    I have kept to his way without turning aside.(R)
12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips;(S)
    I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.(T)

13 “But he stands alone, and who can oppose him?(U)
    He does whatever he pleases.(V)
14 He carries out his decree against me,
    and many such plans he still has in store.(W)
15 That is why I am terrified before him;(X)
    when I think of all this, I fear him.(Y)
16 God has made my heart faint;(Z)
    the Almighty(AA) has terrified me.(AB)
17 Yet I am not silenced by the darkness,(AC)
    by the thick darkness that covers my face.

Footnotes

  1. Job 23:2 Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew / the hand on me
  2. Job 23:2 Or heavy on me in