Job 23

¹ Then Job answered and said,

² Yea, I know that pleading is out of my reach;

and his hand hath been made heavy upon my groaning.

³ Who would then know that I might find him,

and come to an end of the matter?

⁴ And I would plead mine own cause,

and he would fill my mouth with arguments.

⁵ And I would know the ^[1]speeches which he would speak to me,

and I would perceive what he would tell me.

⁶ Though he should come on me in his great strength,

then he would not threaten me;

⁷ for truth and reproof are from him;

and he would bring forth my judgment to an end.

⁸ For if I shall go first, and exist no longer,

still what do I know concerning the latter end?

⁹ When he wrought on the left hand, then I observed it not:

his right hand shall encompass me but I shall not see it.

¹⁰ For he knoweth already my way;

and he hath tried me as gold.

¹¹ And I will go forth according to his commandments,

for I have kept his ways; and I shall not turn aside from his commandments,

¹² neither shall I transgress;

but I have hid his words in my bosom.

¹³ And if too he hath thus judged, who is he that hath contradicted,

for he hath both willed a thing and done it.

¹⁴ Therefore am I troubled at him;

and when I was reproved, I thought of him.

¹⁵ Therefore let me take good heed before him:

I will consider, and be afraid of him.

¹⁶ But the Lord hath softened my heart,

and the Almighty hath troubled me.

¹⁷ For I knew not that darkness would come upon me,

and thick darkness hath covered me before my face.

Notes