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Job 23
ESV

Job23

Job Replies: Where Is God?
1Then Job answered and said:

2“Today also my 23:2 ch. 10:1; 21:4complaint is bitter;23:2 Or defiant
my 23:2 [Ps. 32:4]hand is heavy on account of my groaning.
3Oh, 23:3 [ch. 13:3; 16:21] that I knew where I might find him,
that I might come even to his 23:3 [Ps. 9:7, 8; Isa. 57:15, 16]seat!
4I would 23:4 See ch. 33:5lay my case before him
and fill my mouth with arguments.
5I would know what he would answer me
and understand what he would say to me.
6Would he 23:6 [ch. 9:34; 13:21]contend with me in the greatness of his power?
No; he would pay attention to me.
7There an upright man could argue with him,
and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

8“Behold, 23:8 ch. 9:11; 35:14I go forward, but he is not there,
and backward, but I do not perceive him;
9on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him;
he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.
10But he 23:10 Ps. 139:1-3knows 23:10 Ps. 139:24the way that I 23:10 [ch. 9:35] take;
when he has 23:10 Ps. 17:3; 26:2; 66:10; 139:23; Zech. 13:9; Mal. 3:3; 1 Pet. 1:7; Rev. 3:18; [James 1:12]tried me, I shall come out as gold.
11My foot 23:11 Ps. 17:5; 44:18has held fast to his steps;
I have kept his way and have 23:11 Ps. 125:5not turned aside.
12I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;
I have 23:12 [Ps. 119:11] treasured the words of his mouth more than my 23:12 [Ps. 119:103; John 4:32, 34]portion of food.
13But he is unchangeable,23:13 Or one and 23:13 [ch. 9:12; 12:14] who can turn him back?
What he 23:13 Ps. 115:3desires, that he does.
14For he will complete what he 23:14 [1 Thess. 3:3] appoints for me,
and many such things are 23:14 [ch. 10:13; 27:11]in his mind.
15Therefore I am terrified at his presence;
when I consider, I am in dread of him.
16God has made my 23:16 Deut. 20:3; [Ps. 22:14]heart faint;
the Almighty has terrified me;
17yet I am not silenced because of the darkness,
nor because thick darkness covers my face.