Home Master Index
←Prev   Job 23 as rendered by/in  Next→ 


23:1  Then Job answered:
23:2  “My ·complaint [or speech] is still ·bitter [or rebellious] today. ·I groan because God’s heavy hand is on me [or My hand is heavy with groaning].
23:3  I wish I knew where to find God so I could go to ·where he lives [L his place].
23:4  I would present my case before him and fill my mouth with ·arguments [or reprimands; reproofs].
23:5  I would learn ·how [L the words by which] he would answer me and would think about what he would say.
23:6  Would he not ·argue [present his case] ·strongly [L with great power] against me? No, he would really listen to me.
23:7  ·Then [L There] an ·honest [virtuous] person could ·present his case to God [reprimand/reprove him], and I would ·be saved [escape] forever ·by [or from] my judge.
23:8  “If I go to the east, God is not there; if I go to the west, I do not ·see [perceive] him.
23:9  When he ·is at work [acts] in the north, I catch no ·sight [glimpse] of him; when he ·turns to [L wraps himself up in] the south, I cannot see him.
23:10  But God knows the way that I take, and when he has tested me, I will come out like gold [Ps. 139:23–24].
23:11  My feet have ·closely followed [L held fast to] his steps; I have stayed in his ·way [path; Prov. 4:10–11]; I did not turn aside.
23:12  I have never ·left [departed from] the commands ·he has spoken [L of his lips]; I have ·treasured his words more than my own [L stored up in my bosom the speeches of his mouth].
23:13  “But he is ·the only God [unique]. Who can ·come against him [L turn him back]? He does anything he wants.
23:14  He will do to me what he ·said he would do [has designated for me], and he ·has [or may have] many plans like this.
23:15  That is why I am ·frightened [terrified] of ·him [L his presence]; when I ·think of [reflect on] this, I am ·afraid [in dread] of him.
23:16  God has made ·me afraid [L my heart timid]; ·the Almighty [L Shaddai] terrifies me.
23:17  But I am not ·hidden [silenced] by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face [C though afraid, Job still seeks to set God straight].