Jó 23

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.