Job 23 WBT
Summary: Job largely ignores Eliphaz's accusations and instead expresses his intense longing to find God and present his case directly before him, confident that if he could reach God's dwelling he would be heard fairly and vindicated, since an upright man could reason with God there. But Job laments that God is elusive, hidden whichever direction he searches, forward, backward, left, or right, though he affirms that God nonetheless "knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold" (v. 10). Job closes acknowledging his fear and dismay at God's power and at the terrifying unpredictability of his own circumstances, feeling that darkness covers his face.
1Then Job answered and said,
2Even to-day [is] my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
3Oh that I knew where I might find him! [that] I might come [even] to his seat!
4I would order [my] cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
5I would know the words [which] he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.
6Would he plead against me with [his] great power? No; but he would put [strength] in me.
7There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
8Behold, I go forward, but he [is] not [there]; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
9On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold [him]: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see [him]:
10But he knoweth the way that I take: [when] he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
12Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food].
13But he [is] in one [mind], and who can turn him? and [what] his soul desireth, even [that] he doeth.
14For he performeth [the thing that is] appointed for me: and many such [things are] with him.
15Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.
16For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
17Because I was not cut off before the darkness, [neither] hath he covered the darkness from my face.
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