Job Proclaims God’s Righteous Judgments

1 Then Job answered and said:

2 “Even today mycomplaint is bitter;

My hand is listless because of my groaning.

3 Oh, that I knew where I might find Him,

ThatI might come to His seat!

4 I would presentmycase before Him,

And fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I would know the wordswhichHe would answer me,

And understand what He would say to me.

6 Would He contend with me in His great power?

No! But He would takenoteof me.

7 There the upright could reason with Him,

And I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

8 “Look,I go forward, but He is notthere,

And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;

9 When He works on the left hand, I cannot beholdHim;

When He turns to the right hand, I cannot seeHim.

10 ButHe knows the way that I take;

WhenHe has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.

11 My foot has held fast to His steps;

I have kept His way and not turned aside.

12 I have not departed from thecommandment of His lips;

I have treasured the words of His mouth

More than my necessaryfood.

13 “But Heisunique, and who can make Him change?

AndwhateverHis soul desires,thatHe does.

14 For He performswhatisappointed for me,

And many suchthingsarewith Him.

15 Therefore I am terrified at His presence;

When I considerthis,I am afraid of Him.

16 For Godmade my heart weak,

And the Almighty terrifies me;

17 Because I was notcut off from the presence of darkness,

And He didnothide deep darkness from my face.