¹ Then Job answered,

^{2 Ref} "Even today is my complaint rebellious. His hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.

^{3 Ref} Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!

^{4 Ref} I would set my cause in order before him, And fill my mouth with arguments.

^{5 Ref} I would know the words which he would answer me, And understand what he would tell me.

^{6 Ref} Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No, but he would listen to me.

^{7 Ref} There the upright might reason with him, So I should be delivered forever from my judge.

^{8 Ref} "If I go east, he is not there; If west, I can't find him;

^{9 Ref} He works to the north, but I can't see him; He turns south, but I can't catch a glimpse of him.

^{10 Ref} But he knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I shall come forth like gold.

^{11 Ref} My foot has held fast to his steps. His way have I kept, and not turned aside.

^{12 Ref} I haven't gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

^{13 Ref} But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does.

^{14 Ref} For he performs that which is appointed for me. Many such things are with him.

^{15 Ref} Therefore I am terrified at his presence. When I consider, I am afraid of him.

^{16 Ref} For God has made my heart faint. The Almighty has terrified me.

^{17 Ref} Because I was not cut off before the darkness, Neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.

¹ And Job answereth and saith: --

^{2 Ref} Also -- to-day `is' my complaint bitter, My hand hath been heavy because of my sighing.

^{3 Ref} O that I had known -- and I find Him, I come in unto His seat,

^{4 Ref} I arrange before Him the cause, And my mouth fill `with' arguments.

^{5 Ref} I know the words He doth answer me, And understand what He saith to me.

^{6 Ref} In the abundance of power doth He strive with me? No! surely He putteth `it' in me.

^{7 Ref} There the upright doth reason with Him, And I escape for ever from my judge.

^{8 Ref} Lo, forward I go -- and He is not, And backward -- and I perceive him not.

^{9 Ref} `To' the left in His working -- and I see not, He is covered `on' the right, and I behold not.

^{10 Ref} For He hath known the way with me, He hath tried me -- as gold I go forth.

^{11 Ref} On His step hath my foot laid hold, His way I have kept, and turn not aside,

^{12 Ref} The command of His lips, and I depart not. Above my allotted portion I have laid up The sayings of His mouth.

^{13 Ref} And He `is' in one `mind', And who doth turn Him back? And His soul hath desired -- and He doth `it'.

^{14 Ref} For He doth complete my portion, And many such things `are' with Him.

^{15 Ref} Therefore, from His presence I am troubled, I consider, and am afraid of Him.

^{16 Ref} And God hath made my heart soft, And the Mighty hath troubled me.

^{17 Ref} For I have not been cut off before darkness, And before me He covered thick darkness.

¹ And Job made answer and said,

^{2 Ref} Even today my outcry is bitter; his hand is hard on my sorrow.

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

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

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

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

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

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

^{9 Ref} 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 Ref} For he has knowledge of the way I take; after I have been tested I will come out like gold.

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

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

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

^{14 Ref} 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 Ref} For this cause I am in fear before him, my thoughts of him overcome me.

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

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