1THEN JOB answered,
2Even today is my complaint rebellious and bitter; my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
3Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come even to His seat!
4I would lay my cause before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.
5I would learn what He would answer me, and understand what He would say to me.
6Would He plead against me with His great power? No, He would give heed to me. [Isa. 27:4, 5; 57:16.]
7There the righteous [one who is upright and in right standing with God] could reason with Him; so I should be acquitted by my Judge forever.
8Behold, I go forward [and to the east], but He is not there; I go backward [and to the west], but I cannot perceive Him;
9On the left hand [and to the north] where He works [I seek Him], but I cannot behold Him; He turns Himself to the right hand [and to the south], but I cannot see Him.
10But He knows the way that I take [He has concern for it, appreciates, and pays attention to it]. When He has tried me, I shall come forth as refined gold [pure and luminous]. [Ps. 17:3; 66:10; James 1:12.]
11My foot has held fast to His steps; His ways have I kept and not turned aside.
12I have not gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have esteemed and treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
13But He is unchangeable, and who can turn Him? And what He wants to do, that He does.
14For He performs [that which He has] planned for me, and of many such matters He is mindful.
15Therefore am I troubled and terrified at His presence; when I consider, I am in dread and afraid of Him.
16For God has made my heart faint, timid, and broken, and the Almighty has terrified me,
17Because I was not cut off before the darkness [of these woes befell me], neither has He covered the thick darkness from my face.