Job, 23

¹ Job said in reply:

² “Even today I will complain stubbornly;^*1 My strength is exhausted because of my sighing.

³ If only I knew where to find God! I would go to his place of dwelling.

⁴ I would present my case before him And fill my mouth with arguments;

⁵ I would learn how he would answer me And take note of what he says to me.

⁶ Would he contend with me using his great power? No, surely he would give me a hearing.

⁷ There the upright one could set matters straight with him, And I would be acquitted once and for all by my Judge.

⁸ But if I go east, he is not there; And I return and I cannot find him.

⁹ When he is working on the left, I cannot look upon him; Then he turns to the right, but I still do not see him.

¹⁰ But he knows the path I have taken. After he has tested me, I will come out as pure gold.

¹¹ My feet have closely followed his footsteps; I have kept to his way without deviating.

¹² I have not departed from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured up his sayings even more than what was required of me.^*1

¹³ When he is determined, who can resist him? When he^*1 wants to do something, he does it.

¹⁴ For he will carry out completely what has been determined^*1 for me, And he has many such things in store.

¹⁵ That is why I am anxious because of him; When I think about him, my fear grows.

¹⁶ God has made me fainthearted, And the Almighty has made me afraid.

¹⁷ But I have not yet been silenced by the darkness Nor by the gloom that has covered my face.