Job Replies: Where Is God?
1 Then Job answered and said:
2 "Today also my ch. 10:1;21:4complaint is bitter;23:2 Or defiant
my [Ps. 32:4]hand is heavy on account of my groaning.
3 Oh, [ch. 13:3;16:21] that I knew where I might find him,
that I might come even to his [Ps. 9:7,8;Isa. 57:15,16]seat!
4 I would See ch. 33:5lay my case before him
and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know what he would answer me
and understand what he would say to me.
6 Would he [ch. 9:34;13:21]contend with me in the greatness of his power?
No; he would pay attention to me.
7 There an upright man could argue with him,
and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.
8 "Behold, ch. 9:11;35:14I go forward, but he is not there,
and backward, but I do not perceive him;
9 on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him;
he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.
10 But he Ps. 139:1-3knows Ps. 139:24the way that I [ch. 9:35] take;
when he has Ps. 17:3;26:2;66:10;139:23;Zech. 13:9;Mal. 3:3;1 Pet. 1:7;Rev. 3:18;[James 1:12]tried me, I shall come out as gold.
11 My foot Ps. 17:5;44:18has held fast to his steps;
I have kept his way and have Ps. 125:5not turned aside.
12 I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;
I have [Ps. 119:11] treasured the words of his mouth more than my [Ps. 119:103;John 4:32,34]portion of food.
13 But he is unchangeable,23:13 Or one and [ch. 9:12;12:14] who can turn him back?
What he Ps. 115:3desires, that he does.
14 For he will complete what he [1 Thess. 3:3] appoints for me,
and many such things are [ch. 10:13;27:11]in his mind.
15 Therefore I am terrified at his presence;
when I consider, I am in dread of him.
16 God has made my Deut. 20:3;[Ps. 22:14]heart faint;
the Almighty has terrified me;
17 yet I am not silenced because of the darkness,
nor because thick darkness covers my face.