Job Proclaims God’s Righteous Judgments
1 Then Job answered and said:
2 “Even today mycomplaint is bitter;
My hand is listless because of my groaning.
3 Oh, that I knew where I might find Him,
ThatI might come to His seat!
4 I would presentmycase before Him,
And fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know the wordswhichHe would answer me,
And understand what He would say to me.
6 Would He contend with me in His great power?
No! But He would takenoteof me.
7 There the upright could reason with Him,
And I would be delivered forever from my Judge.
8 “Look,I go forward, but He is notthere,
And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
9 When He works on the left hand, I cannot beholdHim;
When He turns to the right hand, I cannot seeHim.
10 ButHe knows the way that I take;
# WhenHe has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 My foot has held fast to His steps;
I have kept His way and not turned aside.
12 I have not departed from thecommandment of His lips;
# I have treasured the words of His mouth
More than my necessaryfood.
13 “But Heisunique, and who can make Him change?
# AndwhateverHis soul desires,thatHe does.
14 For He performswhatisappointed for me,
And many suchthingsarewith Him.
15 Therefore I am terrified at His presence;
When I considerthis,I am afraid of Him.
16 For Godmade my heart weak,
And the Almighty terrifies me;
17 Because I was notcut off from the presence of darkness,
And He didnothide deep darkness from my face.