23:1 Then Job responded,
23:2 “Even today my complaint is rebellion;
①His hand is heavy despite my groaning.
▷ ①As in LXX and Syriac; MT My
23:3 Oh that I knew how to find Him,
That I might come to His home!
23:4 I would present my case before Him
And fill my mouth with arguments.
23:5 I would learn the words which He would ①answer,
And perceive what He would tell me.
▷ ①Lit answer me
23:6 Would He contend with me by the greatness of His power?
No, surely He would pay attention to me.
23:7 There the upright would argue with Him;
And I ①would be free of my Judge forever.
▷ ①Or bring forth my justice forever
23:8 “Behold, I go forward but He is not there,
And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
23:9 When He acts on the left, I cannot see Him;
He turns to the right, but I cannot see Him.
23:10 But He knows the ①way I take;
When He has put me to the test, I will come out as gold.
▷ ①Lit way with me
23:11 My foot has held on to His path;
I have kept His way and not turned aside.
23:12 I have not ①failed the command of His lips;
I have treasured the words of His mouth ②more than my ③necessary food.
▷ ①Lit ceased from ②Or with some ancient versions, in my breast ③Lit prescribed portion
23:13 But He is unique, and who can ①make Him turn?
Whatever His soul desires, He does it.
▷ ①Or deprive Him of anything
23:14 For He carries out what is destined for me,
And many such destinies are with Him.
23:15 Therefore, I would be terrified at His presence;
When I consider this, I am frightened of Him.
23:16 It is God who has made my heart faint,
And the Almighty who has terrified me,
23:17 But I am not destroyed by darkness,
Nor by deep gloom which covers me.