Chapter 23

And Job answereth and saith: --

Also -- to-day [is] my complaint bitter, My hand hath been heavy because of my sighing.

O that I had known -- and I find Him, I come in unto His seat,

I arrange before Him the cause, And my mouth fill [with] arguments.

I know the words He doth answer me, And understand what He saith to me.

In the abundance of power doth He strive with me? No! surely He putteth [it] in me.

There the upright doth reason with Him, And I escape for ever from my judge.

Lo, forward I go -- and He is not, And backward -- and I perceive him not.

[To] the left in His working -- and I see not, He is covered [on] the right, and I behold not.

For He hath known the way with me, He hath tried me -- as gold I go forth.

On His step hath my foot laid hold, His way I have kept, and turn not aside,

The command of His lips, and I depart not. Above my allotted portion I have laid up The sayings of His mouth.

And He [is] in one [mind], And who doth turn Him back? And His soul hath desired -- and He doth [it].

For He doth complete my portion, And many such things [are] with Him.

Therefore, from His presence I am troubled, I consider, and am afraid of Him.

And God hath made my heart soft, And the Mighty hath troubled me.

For I have not been cut off before darkness, And before me He covered thick darkness.