JobChapter 23

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¹Then Job answered: ²"Even today my complaint is bitter.
God's hand is heavy on me, even though I groan. ³If only I knew where to find him!
Then I could go to the place where he sits. ⁴I would lay out my case before him.
I would fill my mouth with arguments. ⁵I would learn how he would answer me.
I would think about what he would say. ⁶Would he fight against me with his great power?
No, he would surely pay attention to me. ⁷Then an honest man could reason with him.
And I would be set free forever from my Judge. ⁸If I go east, he isn't there.
If I go west, I can't find him. ⁹When he is at work in the north, I can't see him.
When he turns to the south, I can't see him. ¹⁰Yet he knows the way I have taken.
When he has tested me, I will come out as gold. ¹¹My feet have followed in his steps.
I have kept to his way and not turned aside. ¹²I have not turned away from the commands of his lips.
I have treasured the words of his mouth
more than my daily bread. ¹³But he never changes. Who can stand against him?
He does whatever he wants. ¹⁴For he carries out what he has decided against me.
And he has many plans like this. ¹⁵That is why I am terrified when I am near him.
When I think about this, I am afraid of him. ¹⁶God has made my heart weak.
The Almighty has terrified me. ¹⁷Yet the darkness has not made me be quiet.
Not even the thick darkness that covers my face.