Job 23 WYC
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.
1Sotheli Joob answeride, and seide,
2Now also my word is in bitternesse, and the hond of my wounde is agreggid on my weilyng.
3Who yyueth to me, that Y knowe, and fynde hym, and come `til to his trone?
4Y schal sette doom bifor hym, and Y schal fille my mouth with blamyngis;
5that Y kunne the wordis, whiche he schal answere to me, and that Y vnderstonde, what he schal speke to me.
6Y nyle, that he stryue with me bi greet strengthe, nether oppresse me with the heuynesse of his greetnesse.
7Sette he forth equite ayens me, and my doom come perfitli to victorie.
8If Y go to the eest, God apperith not; if Y go to the west, Y schal not vndurstonde hym; if Y go to the left side,
9what schal Y do? Y schal not take hym; if Y turne me to the riyt side, Y schal not se hym.
10But he knowith my weie, and he schal preue me as gold, that passith thorouy fier.
11My foot suede hise steppis; Y kepte his weie, and Y bowide not awey fro it.
12Y yede not awei fro the comaundementis of hise lippis; and Y hidde in my bosum the wordis of his mouth.
13For he is aloone, and no man may turne awei hise thouytis; and what euer thing he wolde, his wille dide this thing.
14Whanne he hath fillid his wille in me, also many othere lijk thingis ben redi to hym.
15And therfor Y am disturblid of his face, and Y biholdynge hym am anguyschid for drede.
16God hath maad neische myn herte, and Almyyti God hath disturblid me.
17For Y perischide not for derknessis neiyynge; nethir myist hilide my face.
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