Job Says He Longs for God
2 “Even today my complaint is rebellion;
[a]His hand is heavy despite my groaning.
3 Oh that I knew how to find Him,
That I might come to His home!
4 I would present my case before Him
And fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would learn the words which He would [b]answer,
And perceive what He would tell me.
6 Would He contend with me by the greatness of His power?
No, surely He would pay attention to me.
7 There the upright would argue with Him;
And I [c]would be free of my Judge forever.
And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
9 When He acts on the left, I cannot see Him;
He turns to the right, but I cannot see Him.
10 But He knows the [d]way I take;
When He has put me to the test, I will come out as gold.
11 My foot has held on to His path;
I have kept His way and not turned aside.
12 I have not [e]failed the command of His lips;
I have treasured the words of His mouth [f]more than my [g]necessary food.
13 But He is unique, and who can [h]make Him turn?
Whatever His soul desires, He does it.
14 For He carries out what is destined for me,
And many such destinies are with Him.
15 Therefore, I would be terrified at His presence;
When I consider this, I am frightened of Him.
16 It is God who has made my heart faint,
And the Almighty who has terrified me,
17 But I am not destroyed by darkness,
Nor by deep gloom which covers me.
Footnotes
- Job 23:2 As in LXX and Syriac; MT My
- Job 23:5 Lit answer me
- Job 23:7 Or bring forth my justice forever
- Job 23:10 Lit way with me
- Job 23:12 Lit ceased from
- Job 23:12 Or with some ancient versions, in my breast
- Job 23:12 Lit prescribed portion
- Job 23:13 Or deprive Him of anything