1 And Job answered and said,2 Even to-day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.3 Oh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come to his seat!4 I would order the cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments;5 I would know the words he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.6 Would he plead against me with {his} great power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me.7 There would an upright man reason with him; and I should be delivered for ever from my judge.8 Lo, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I do not perceive him;9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I behold {him} not; he hideth himself on the right hand, and I see {him} not.10 But he knoweth the way that I take; he trieth me, I shall come forth as gold.11 My foot hath held to his steps; his way have I kept, and not turned aside.12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have laid up the words of his mouth more than the purpose of my own heart.13 But he is in one {mind}, and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, that will he do.14 For he will perform {what} is appointed for me; and many such things are with him.15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence; I consider, and I am afraid of him.16 For *God hath made my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me;17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he hidden the gloom from me.

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.