1 And Job made answer and said,

2 Even today my outcry is bitter; his hand is hard on my sorrow.

3 If only I had knowledge of where he might be seen, so that I might come even to his seat!

4 I would put my cause in order before him, and my mouth would be full of arguments.

5 I would see what his answers would be, and have knowledge of what he would say to me.

6 Would he make use of his great power to overcome me? No, but he would give attention to me.

7 There an upright man might put his cause before him; and I would be free for ever from my judge.

8 See, I go forward, but he is not there; and back, but I do not see him;

9 I am looking for him on the left hand, but there is no sign of him; and turning to the right, I am not able to see him.

10 For he has knowledge of the way I take; after I have been tested I will come out like gold.

11 My feet have gone in his steps; I have kept in his way, without turning to one side or to the other.

12 I have never gone against the orders of his lips; the words of his mouth have been stored up in my heart.

13 But his purpose is fixed and there is no changing it; and he gives effect to the desire of his soul.

14 For what has been ordered for me by him will be gone through to the end: and his mind is full of such designs.

15 For this cause I am in fear before him, my thoughts of him overcome me.

16 For God has made my heart feeble, and my mind is troubled before the Ruler of all.

17 For I am overcome by the dark, and by the black night which is covering my face.

1 Resposta de Job:

2 Hoje, a minha queixa será feita ainda com amargura. Estou sendo castigado duramente apesar dos meus gemidos.

3 Oh, se eu soubesse onde encontrar Deus- se pudesse subir até ao seu trono e lá conversar com ele.

4 Havia de expor-lhe todos os argumentos que tenho a apresentar,e ouviria a sua resposta, compreendendo o que pretende.

6 Estou convencido de que não iria esmagar-mecom a sua superioridade e grandeza.

7 Ouvir-me-ia com simpatia, antes. As pessoas honestas e rectas podem tratar com ele,tendo a certeza de que encontrarão sempre nele um perfeito juiz.

8 No entanto, é em vão que procuro.

9 Busco-o aqui, procuro-o além, não consigo encontrá-lo. Vou-lhe no encalço nas bandas do norte e não está;no sul, também não consigo encontrá-lo.

10 No entanto ele está ao corrente de cada detalhe do que me acontece,e quando me tiver examinado,há-de declarar-me completamente inocente- tão puro como ouro maciço.

11 Tenho trilhado os caminhos de Deus,seguido as suas pisadas, sem me desviar delas.

12 Não tenho rejeitado os seus mandamentos, antes desfruto deles,mais do que a própria comida diária.

13 Contudo, a sua ideia a meu respeito permanece a mesma;quem poderá mudar-lhe os propósitos? Tudo aquilo que quer fazer faz.

14 Por isso fará comigo tudo o que planeoue ainda mais coisas que tem em vistas.

15 Não admira pois que se fique tão perturbado na sua presença. Quando penso nisso, o terror assalta-me.