23:1 Then Job answered and said,

23:2 Even today my complaint is bitter;¹
his² hand is heavy in spite of³ my groaning.
23:3 O that I knew⁴ where I might find him,⁵
that I could come⁶ to his dwelling!⁷
23:4 I would lay out my case⁸ before him
and fill my mouth with arguments.
23:5 I would know the words with which⁹
he would answer me,
and understand what he would say to me.
23:6 Would he contend¹⁰ with me with great power?
No, he would only pay attention to me.¹¹
23:7 There¹² an upright man
could present his case¹³ before him,
and I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

23:8 If I go to the east, he is not there;
and to the west, and I do not perceive him.
23:9 In the north¹⁴ when he is at work,¹⁵
I do not see him;¹⁶
when he turns¹⁷ to the south,
I catch no glimpse of him.
23:10 But he knows the way that I take;¹⁸
if he tested me, I would come forth as gold.¹⁹
23:11 My feet²⁰ have closely followed²¹ his steps;
I have kept to his way without turning aside.²²
23:12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips;
I have treasured the words of his mouth
in my bosom.²³
23:13 But he is unchangeable,²⁴ and who can change²⁵ him?
Whatever he²⁶ has desired he does.
23:14 For he fulfills his decree against me.²⁷
and many such things are with him.²⁸
23:15 That is why I am terrified before him;
when I consider, I am afraid because of him.
23:16 God has made my heart faint;²⁹
the Almighty has terrified me.
23:17 Yet I have not been silent because of the darkness,
because of the thick darkness
that covered before my face.³⁰