Job 23 YLT
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.
1And Job answereth and saith: --
2Also--to-day is my complaint bitter, My hand hath been heavy because of my sighing.
3O that I had known--and I find Him, I come in unto His seat,
4I arrange before Him the cause, And my mouth fill with arguments.
5I know the words He doth answer me, And understand what He saith to me.
6In the abundance of power doth He strive with me? No! surely He putteth it in me.
7There the upright doth reason with Him, And I escape for ever from my judge.
8Lo, forward I go--and He is not, And backward--and I perceive him not.
9To the left in His working--and I see not, He is covered on the right, and I behold not.
10For He hath known the way with me, He hath tried me--as gold I go forth.
11On His step hath my foot laid hold, His way I have kept, and turn not aside,
12The command of His lips, and I depart not. Above my allotted portion I have laid up The sayings of His mouth.
13And He is in one mind, And who doth turn Him back? And His soul hath desired--and He doth it.
14For He doth complete my portion, And many such things are with Him.
15Therefore, from His presence I am troubled, I consider, and am afraid of Him.
16And God hath made my heart soft, And the Mighty hath troubled me.
17For I have not been cut off before darkness, And before me He covered thick darkness.
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