Job 23:1-1953 kjv — Then Job answered and said, Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning. Oh that I knew w…

“Then Job answered and said, Even to-day is my complaint rebellious: My stroke is heavier than my groaning. Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat! I would set my cause in order before him, And fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which he would answer me, And understand what he would say unto me. Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me. There the upright might reason with him; So should I be delivered for ever from my judge. Behold, I go forward, but he is notthere; And backward, but I cannot perceive him; On the left hand, when he doth work, but I cannot behold him; He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him. But he knoweth the way that I take; When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held fast to his steps; His way have I kept, and turned not aside. I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. But he is in onemind, and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. For he performeth that which is appointed for me: And many such things are with him. Therefore am I terrified at his presence; When I consider, I am afraid of him. For God hath made my heart faint, And the Almighty hath terrified me; Because I was not cut off before the darkness, Neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face. ”

“Then Job answered, "Even today my complaint is rebellious. His hand is heavy in spite of my groaning. Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat! I would set my cause in order before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would tell me. Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No, but he would listen to me. There the upright might reason with him, so I should be delivered forever from my judge. "If I go east, he is not there; if west, I can't find him; He works to the north, but I can't see him. He turns south, but I can't catch a glimpse of him. But he knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I shall come forth like gold. My foot has held fast to his steps. I have kept his way, and not turned aside. 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. But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does. For he performs that which is appointed for me. Many such things are with him. Therefore I am terrified at his presence. When I consider, I am afraid of him. For God has made my heart faint. The Almighty has terrified me. Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.”

“Job’s Reply to Eliphaz Then Job answered: “Even today my complaint is still bitter; his hand is heavy despite my groaning. O that I knew where I might find him, that I could come to his place of residence! I would lay out my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know with what words he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me. Would he contend with me with great power? No, he would only pay attention to me. There an upright person could present his case before him, and I would be delivered forever from my judge. The Inaccessibility and Power of God“If I go to the east, he is not there, and to the west, yet I do not perceive him. In the north when he is at work, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I see no trace of him. But he knows the pathway that I take; if he tested me, I would come forth like gold. My feet have followed his steps closely; I have kept to his way and have not turned aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my allotted portion. But he is unchangeable, and who can change him? Whatever he has desired, he does. For he fulfills his decree against me, and many such things are his plans. That is why I am terrified in his presence; when I consider, I am afraid because of him. Indeed, God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me. Yet I have not been silent because of the darkness, because of the thick darkness that covered my face.”

“Then Job answered, and said: Now also my words are in bitterness, and the hand of my scourge is more grievous than my mourning. Who will grant me that I might know and find him, and come even to his throne? I would set judgment before him, and would fill my mouth with complaints. That I might know the words that he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me. I would not that he should contend with me with much strength, nor overwhelm me with the weight of his greatness. Let him propose equity against me, and let my judgment come to victory. But if I go to the east, he appeareth not; if to the west, I shall not understand him. If to the left hand, what shall I do? I shall not take hold on him: if I turn myself to the right hand, I shall not see him. But he knoweth my way, and has tried me as gold that passeth through the fire: My foot hath followed his steps, I have kept his way, and have not declined from it. I have not departed from the commandments of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hid in my bosom. For he is alone, and no man can turn away his thought: and whatsoever his soul hath desired, that hath he done. And when he shall have fulfilled his will in me, many other like things are also at hand with him. And therefore I am troubled at his presence, and when I consider him, I am made pensive with fear. God hath softened my heart, and the Almighty hath troubled me. For I have not perished because of the darkness that hangs over me, neither hath the mist covered my face. ”

“And Job made answer and said, Even today my outcry is bitter; his hand is hard on my sorrow. If only I had knowledge of where he might be seen, so that I might come even to his seat! I would put my cause in order before him, and my mouth would be full of arguments. I would see what his answers would be, and have knowledge of what he would say to me. Would he make use of his great power to overcome me? No, but he would give attention to me. There an upright man might put his cause before him; and I would be free for ever from my judge. See, I go forward, but he is not there; and back, but I do not see him; 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. For he has knowledge of the way I take; after I have been tested I will come out like gold. My feet have gone in his steps; I have kept in his way, without turning to one side or to the other. I have never gone against the orders of his lips; the words of his mouth have been stored up in my heart. But his purpose is fixed and there is no changing it; and he gives effect to the desire of his soul. For what has been ordered for me by him will be gone through to the end: and his mind is full of such designs. For this cause I am in fear before him, my thoughts of him overcome me. For God has made my heart feeble, and my mind is troubled before the Ruler of all. For I am overcome by the dark, and by the black night which is covering my face.”

“Then Job answered and said, Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning. Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me. Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge. Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him. Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him. For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me: Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face. ”