Job 23

World English Bible

¹Then Job answered,

¹וַיַּ֥עַן אִיּ֗וֹב וַיֹּאמַֽר׃

²“Even today my complaint is rebellious. His hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.

²גַּם־הַ֭יּוֹם מְרִ֣י שִׂחִ֑י יָ֝דִ֗י כָּבְדָ֥ה עַל־אַנְחָתִֽי׃

³Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!

³מִֽי־יִתֵּ֣ן יָ֭דַעְתִּי וְאֶמְצָאֵ֑הוּ אָ֝ב֗וֹא עַד־תְּכוּנָתֽוֹ׃

⁴I would set my cause in order before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

⁴אֶעֶרְכָ֣ה לְפָנָ֣יו מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּ֝פִ֗י אֲמַלֵּ֥א תוֹכָחֽוֹת׃

⁵I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would tell me.

⁵אֵ֭דְעָה מִלִּ֣ים יַעֲנֵ֑נִי וְ֝אָבִ֗ינָה מַה־יֹּ֥אמַר לִֽי׃

⁶Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No, but he would listen to me.

⁶הַבְּרָב־כֹּ֭חַ יָרִ֣יב עִמָּדִ֑י לֹ֥א אַךְ־ה֝֗וּא יָשִׂ֥ם בִּֽי׃

⁷There the upright might reason with him, so I should be delivered forever from my judge.

⁷שָׁ֗ם יָ֭שָׁר נוֹכָ֣ח עִמּ֑וֹ וַאֲפַלְּטָ֥ה לָ֝נֶ֗צַח מִשֹּׁפְטִֽי׃

⁸“If I go east, he is not there. If I go west, I can’t find him.

⁸הֵ֤ן קֶ֣דֶם אֶהֱלֹ֣ךְ וְאֵינֶ֑נּוּ וְ֝אָח֗וֹר וְֽלֹא־אָבִ֥ין לֽוֹ׃

⁹He works to the north, but I can’t see him. He turns south, but I can’t catch a glimpse of him.

⁹שְׂמֹ֣אול בַּעֲשֹׂת֣וֹ וְלֹא־אָ֑חַז יַעְטֹ֥ף יָ֝מִ֗ין וְלֹ֣א אֶרְאֶֽה׃

¹⁰But he knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I will come out like gold.

¹⁰כִּֽי־יָ֭דַע דֶּ֣רֶךְ עִמָּדִ֑י בְּ֝חָנַ֗נִי כַּזָּהָ֥ב אֵצֵֽא׃

¹¹My foot has held fast to his steps. I have kept his way, and not turned away.

¹¹בַּ֭אֲשֻׁרוֹ אָחֲזָ֣ה רַגְלִ֑י דַּרְכּ֖וֹ שָׁמַ֣רְתִּי וְלֹא־אָֽט׃

¹²I haven’t gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

¹²מִצְוַ֣ת שְׂ֭פָתָיו וְלֹ֣א אָמִ֑ישׁ מֵ֝חֻקִּ֗י צָפַ֥נְתִּי אִמְרֵי־פִֽיו׃

¹³But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does.

¹³וְה֣וּא בְ֭אֶחָד וּמִ֣י יְשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ וְנַפְשׁ֖וֹ אִוְּתָ֣ה וַיָּֽעַשׂ׃

¹⁴For he performs that which is appointed for me. Many such things are with him.

¹⁴כִּ֭י יַשְׁלִ֣ים חֻקִּ֑י וְכָהֵ֖נָּה רַבּ֣וֹת עִמּֽוֹ׃

¹⁵Therefore I am terrified at his presence. When I consider, I am afraid of him.

¹⁵עַל־כֵּ֭ן מִפָּנָ֣יו אֶבָּהֵ֑ל אֶ֝תְבּוֹנֵ֗ן וְאֶפְחַ֥ד מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃

¹⁶For God has made my heart faint. The Almighty has terrified me.

¹⁶וְ֭אֵל הֵרַ֣ךְ לִבִּ֑י וְ֝שַׁדַּ֗י הִבְהִילָֽנִי׃

¹⁷Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.

¹⁷כִּֽי־לֹ֣א נִ֭צְמַתִּי מִפְּנֵי־חֹ֑שֶׁךְ וּ֝מִפָּנַ֗י כִּסָּה־אֹֽפֶל ׃