Job 23

New American Bible	King James Bible
¹ Again Job answered and said:	¹ Then Job answered and said,
² Though I know my complaint is bitter, his hand is heavy upon me in my groanings.	² Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
³ Oh, that today I might find him, that I might come to his judgment seat!	³ Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
⁴ I would set out my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments;	⁴ I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
⁵ I would learn the words with which he would answer, and understand what he would reply to me.	⁵ I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
⁶ Even should he contend against me with his great power, yet, would that he himself might heed me!	⁶ Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.
⁷ There the upright man might reason with him, and I should once and for all preserve my rights.	⁷ There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
⁸ But if I go to the east, he is not there; or to the west, I cannot perceive him;	⁸ Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
⁹ Where the north enfolds him, I behold him not; by the south he is veiled, and I see him not.	⁹ 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:
¹⁰ Yet he knows my way; if he proved me, I should come forth as gold.	¹⁰ But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
¹¹ My foot has always walked in his steps; his way I have kept and have not turned aside.	¹¹ My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
¹² From the commands of his lips I have not departed; the words of his mouth I have treasured in my heart.	¹² Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
¹³ But he had decided, and who can say him nay? What he desires, that he does.	¹³ But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
¹⁴ For he will carry out what is appointed for me; and many such things may yet be in his mind.	¹⁴ For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.
¹⁵ Therefore am I dismayed before him; when I take thought, I fear him.	¹⁵ Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.
¹⁶ Indeed God has made my courage fail; the Almighty has put me in dismay.	¹⁶ For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
¹⁷ Yes, would that I had vanished in darkness, and that thick gloom were before me to conceal me.	¹⁷ Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.