1 Maar Job het geantwoord en gesê:

2 Nog altyd geld my geklaag as wederstrewigheid; my hand lê swaar op my gesug.

3 Ag, as ek maar geweet het waar ek Hom kon vind, maar kon kom tot by sy woning!

4 Dan sou ek die regsaak voor sy aangesig uiteensit en my mond met bewyse vul;

5 ek sou verneem die woorde wat Hy my sou antwoord, en verstaan wat Hy aan my sou sê.

6 Sou Hy met oormag teen my stry? Nee, maar Hy sou ag op my gee.

7 Dan sou daar 'n opregte met Hom staan en pleit, en ek sou vir ewig van my regter vrykom.

8 Kyk, ek gaan na die ooste, en Hy is nie daar nie; en na die weste, maar ek bemerk Hom nie.

9 As Hy in die noorde werk, aanskou ek Hom nie; buig Hy af na die suide, dan sien ek Hom nie.

10 Want Hy weet hoe my wandel is; as Hy my toets, sal ek soos goud te voorskyn kom.

11 Aan sy voetstap het my voet vasgehou; sy weg het ek bewaar sonder om uit te draai.

12 Van die gebod van sy lippe het ek nie afgewyk nie; die woorde van sy mond het ek bewaar meer as my eie wet.

13 Maar Hy bly onveranderlik Een -- wie sal Hom dan teëhou? En wat sy siel begeer, dit doen Hy.

14 Want Hy sal volbring wat oor my besluit is, en baie sulke dinge is daar by Hom.

15 Daarom is ek verskrik voor sy aangesig; as ek daarop ag gee, vrees ek vir Hom.

16 En God het my hart week gemaak, en die Almagtige het my verskrik.

17 Want ek vergaan nie vanweë die duisternis of vanweë my eie aangesig wat deur donkerheid oordek is nie.

1 Then Job answered and said,

2 Even to-day is my complaint rebellious:

My stroke is heavier than my groaning.

3 Oh that I knew where I might find him!

That I might come even to his seat!

4 I would set my cause in order before him,

And fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I would know the words which he would answer me,

And understand what he would say unto me.

6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?

Nay; but he would give heed unto me.

7 There the upright might reason with him;

So should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there;

And backward, but I cannot perceive him;

9 On the left hand, when he doth work, but I cannot behold him;

He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him.

10 But he knoweth the way that I take;

When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

11 My foot hath held fast to his steps;

His way have I kept, and turned not aside.

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.

13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him?

And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

14 For he performeth that which is appointed for me:

And many such things are with him.

15 Therefore am I terrified at his presence;

When I consider, I am afraid of him.

16 For God hath made my heart faint,

And the Almighty hath terrified me;

17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness,

Neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.