Job 23

Job Says He Longs for God

¹Then Job responded,

²“Even today my complaint is rebellion;

His hand is heavy despite my groaning.

³“Oh that I knew how to find Him,

That I might come to His home!

⁴“I would present my case before Him

And fill my mouth with arguments.

⁵“I would learn the words which He would answer,[#23:5 Lit answer me]

And perceive what He would tell me.

⁶“Would He contend with me by the greatness of His power?

No, surely He would pay attention to me.

⁷“There the upright would argue with Him;

And I would be free of my Judge forever.

⁸¶“Behold, I go forward but He is not there,

And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;

⁹When He acts on the left, I cannot see Him;

He turns to the right, but I cannot see Him.

¹⁰“But He knows the way I take;[#23:10 Lit way with me]

When He has put me to the test, I will come out as gold.

¹¹“My foot has held on to His path;

I have kept His way and not turned aside.

¹²“I have not failed the command of His lips;[#23:12 Lit ceased from]

I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

¹³“But He is unique, and who can make Him turn?[#23:13 Or deprive Him of anything]

Whatever His soul desires, He does it.

¹⁴“For He carries out what is destined for me,

And many such destinies are with Him.

¹⁵“Therefore, I would be terrified at His presence;

When I consider this, I am frightened of Him.

¹⁶“It is God who has made my heart faint,

And the Almighty who has terrified me,

¹⁷But I am not destroyed by darkness,

Nor by deep gloom which covers me.