Job Proclaims God’s Righteous Judgments
1 Then Job answered and said:
2 "Even today my Job 7:11complaint is bitter;
My hand is listless because of my groaning.
3 Job 13:3, 18; 16:21; 31:35Oh, that I knew where I might find Him,
That I might come to His seat!
4 I would present my case 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 to me.
6 Is. 57:16Would He contend with me in His great power?
No! But He would take note of me.
7 There the upright could reason with Him,
And I would be delivered forever from my Judge.
8 "Look,Job 9:11; 35:14 I go forward, but He is not there,
And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
9 When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him;
When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him.
10 But (Ps. 1:6; 139:1–3)He knows the way that I take;
When(Ps. 17:3; 66:10; James 1:12)He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 Job 31:7; Ps. 17:5My foot has held fast to His steps;
I have kept His way and not turned aside.
12 I have not departed from the Job 6:10; 22:22commandment of His lips;
Ps. 44:18I have treasured the words of His mouth
More than my necessary food.
13 "But He is unique, and who can make Him change?
And whatever(Ps. 115:3)His soul desires, that He does.
14 For He performs whatis(1 Thess. 3:2–4)appointed for me,
And many such thingsare with Him.
15 Therefore I am terrified at His presence;
When I consider this, I am afraid of Him.
16 For God Ps. 22:14made my heart weak,
And the Almighty terrifies me;
17 Because I was not Job 10:18, 19cut off from the presence of darkness,
And He did not hide deep darkness from my face.