23
Job Says He Longs for God
1 Then Job 1Lit answered and saidreplied,
2 “Even today my AJob 7:11complaint is rebellion;
1So with Gr and Syr; M.T. MyHis hand is BJob 6:2, 3; Ps 32:4heavy despite my groaning.
3 “Oh that I knew where I might find Him,
That I might come to His seat!
And fill my mouth with arguments.
And perceive what He would say to me.
No, surely He would pay attention to me.
7 “There the upright would AJob 13:3reason with Him;
And I 1Or bring forth my justice foreverwould be BJob 13:16; 23:10delivered forever from my Judge.
8 “Behold, I go forward but He is not there,
And backward, but I AJob 9:11; 35:14cannot perceive Him;
9 When He acts on the left, I cannot behold Him;
He turns on the right, I cannot see Him.
10 “But He knows the 1Lit way with meway I take;
When He has AJob 7:18; Ps 7:9; 11:5; 66:10; Zech 13:9; 1 Pet 1:7tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 “My foot has AJob 31:7; Ps 17:5; 44:18held fast to His path;
I have kept His way and not turned aside.
12 “I have not departed from the command of His lips;
I have treasured the AJob 6:10; 22:22words of His mouth 1Or with some versions, in my breastmore than my 2Lit prescribed portionnecessary food.
13 “But He is unique and who can turn Him?
And what His soul desires, that He does.
14 “For He performs what is appointed for me,
And many such decrees are with Him.
15 “Therefore, I would be dismayed at His presence;
When I consider, I am terrified of Him.
And the Almighty who has dismayed me,
17 But I AJob 10:18, 19am not silenced by the darkness,
Nor BJob 19:8deep gloom which covers me.
123:1 Lit answered and said
123:2 So with Gr and Syr; M.T. My
123:5 Lit answer me
123:7 Or bring forth my justice forever
123:10 Lit way with me
A23:10 Job 7:18; Ps 7:9; 11:5; 66:10; Zech 13:9; 1 Pet 1:7
A23:11 Job 31:7; Ps 17:5; 44:18
123:12 Or with some versions, in my breast
223:12 Lit prescribed portion
A23:16 Deut 20:3; Job 27:2; Jer 51:46
A23:17 Job 10:18, 19