23
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.