1  Then Job answered and said

2  Even to-day is my complaint bitter; my hand is become heavy because of my groaning.

2  Yea, I know that pleading is out of my reach; and his hand has been made heavy upon my groaning.

2  Now again my conversation is in bitterness, and the force of my scourging weighs more heavily on me because of my mourning.

3  Oh that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come even to His seat!

3  Who would then know that I might find him, and come to an end of the matter?

3  Who will grant me that I might know and find him, and that I may approach even to his throne?

4  I would order my cause before Him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

4  And I would plead my own cause, and he would fill my mouth with arguments.

4  I would place judgment before his eye, and my mouth would fill with criticism,

5  I would know the words which He would answer me, and understand what He would say unto me.

5  And I would know the remedies which he would speak to me, and I would perceive what he would tell me.

5  so that I may know the words that he will answer me and understand what he will say to me.

6  Would He contend with me in His great power? Nay; but He would give heed unto me.

6  Though he should come on me in his great strength, then he would not threaten me;

6  I do not want him to contend with me with much strength, nor to overwhelm me with the bulk of his greatness.

7  There the upright might reason with Him; so should I be delivered for ever from my Judge.

7  There I might contend justly with him; and I might be justified and acquitted.

8  Behold, I go forward, but He is not there, and backward, but I cannot perceive Him;

8  For if I shall go first, and exist no longer, still what do I know concerning the latter end?

8  If I go to the east, he does not appear; if I go to the west, I will not understand him.

9  On the left hand, when He doth work, but I cannot behold Him, He turneth Himself to the right hand, but I cannot see Him.

9  If I turn to the left, what can I do? I will not take hold of him. If I turn myself to the right, I will not see him.

10  For He knoweth the way that I take; when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

10  Truly, he knows my way and has tested me like gold that passes through fire.

11  My foot hath held fast to His steps, His way have I kept, and turned not aside.

11  And I will go forth according to his commandments, for I have kept his ways; and I shall not turn aside from his commandments,

11  My feet have been following his footsteps; I have kept to his way and have not strayed from it.

12  I have not gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured up the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

12  neither shall I transgress; but I have hid his words in my bosom.

12  I have not withdrawn from the commands of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hidden in my sinews.

13  But He is at one with Himself, and who can turn Him? And what His soul desireth, even that He doeth.

13  And if too he has thus judged, who is he that has contradicted, for he has both willed a thing and done it.

13  For he is alone, and no one is able to disturb his intention; and whatever his spirit wills, that he accomplishes.

14  For He will perform that which is appointed for me; and many such things are with Him.

14  And when he fulfills his will in me, many other similar ones will also be present with him.

14  But he performs his covenant; and many such things are with him.

15  Therefore am I affrighted at His presence; when I consider, I am afraid of Him.

15  Therefore let me take good heed before him: I will consider, and be afraid of him.

15  And, for this reason, I have been troubled at his presence, and, when I consider him, I am approached by fear.

16  Yea, God hath made my heart faint, and the Almighty hath affrighted me;

16  But the Lord has softened my heart, and the Almighty has troubled me.

16  For God has troubled my heart, and my mind is confused

17  Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did He cover the thick darkness from my face.

17  For I knew not that darkness would come upon me, and thick darkness has covered me before my face.

17  Yet I have not perished because of the threatening darkness, nor has gloom covered my face.