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.