1 Then Job answered and said,

2 Yea, I know that pleading is out of my reach;

And his hand has been made heavy upon my groaning.

3 Who would then know that I might find him,

And come to an end of the matter?

4 And I would plead my own cause,

And he would fill my mouth with arguments.

5 And I would know the remedies which he would speak to me,

And I would perceive what he would tell me.

6 Though he should come on me in his great strength,

Then he would not threaten me;

7 For truth and reproof are from him;

And he would bring forth my judgment to an end.

8 For if I shall go first, and exist no longer,

Still what do I know concerning the latter end?

9 When he wrought on the left hand, then I observed it not:

His right hand shall encompass me but I shall not see it.

10 For he knows already my way;

And he has tried me as gold.

11 And I will go forth according to his commandments,

For I have kept his ways; and I shall not turn aside from his commandments,

12 Neither shall I transgress;

But I have hidden his words in my bosom.

13 And if too he has thus judged, who is he that has contradicted,

For he has both willed a thing and done it.

15 Therefore am I troubled at him;

And when I was reproved, I thought of him.

15a Therefore let me take good heed before him:

I will consider, and be afraid of him.

16 But the Lord has softened my heart,

And the Almighty has troubled me.

17 For I knew not that darkness would come upon me,

And thick darkness has covered me before my face.