Then Job answered and said:

Then Job answered and said,

Even today my complaint is bitter; my suffering is heavier than my groaning.

Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

If only I knew where to find him, so that I might come to his dwelling.

Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!

I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments.

I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

I would know the words he would answer me with and understand what he would say to me.

I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

Would he contend with me in his great power? No, he would instead give me strength.

Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.

There the upright could reason with him, and I would be delivered forever from my judge.

There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I cannot perceive him.

Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I cannot catch a glimpse of 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 knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way and not turned aside.

My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.

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 unchangeable; who can turn him back? He does what he desires.

But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

He will complete what he has planned for me, and many such things are in his mind.

For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

That is why I am terrified in his presence; when I consider, I am afraid of him.

Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.

For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:

Yet I am not silenced by the darkness or by the deep gloom that covers my face.

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.