Job 23

Job’s Eighth Speech: A Response to Eliphaz

1 Then ^{▼▼Hebrew “And”} Job answered and said,

2 “Even today my complaint is bitter;
my hand is heavy in addition to my groaning.
3 ⌞O that⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “Who shall give”} I knew and that I might find him;
O that I might come to his dwelling.
4 I would lay my case ⌞before him⌟, ^{▼▼Literally “to his face”}
and I would fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I want to know the words with which he would answer me,
and I want to understand what he would say to me.
6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his strength?
No, but he himself ^{▼▼Emphatic personal pronoun} would give heed to me.
7 There an upright person could reason with him,
and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.
8 “When I go forward, ⌞he is not there⌟, ^{▼▼Literally “and there is not he,” or “and he is not”}
or ^{▼▼Hebrew “and”} backward, I cannot see him. ^{▼▼Hebrew “and I cannot see him”}
9 ⌞When he works⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “At his working”} on the left, ⌞I cannot perceive⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “and I cannot see”} him;
he turns to the right, but ^{▼▼Hebrew “and”} I cannot see him.
10 But he knows ⌞the way that I take⌟; ^{▼▼Literally “way with me”}
he tests me—I shall come out like gold.
11 My foot has held on to his steps;
I have kept his way, and I have not turned aside.
12 From the commandment of his lips, indeed ^{▼▼Hebrew “and”} I have not departed;
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily food.
13 “But ^{▼▼Hebrew “And”} he is ⌞alone⌟, ^{▼▼Literally “as one”} and who can dissuade him?
And ⌞whatever he desires⌟, ^{▼▼Literally “his inner self desires,” or “his soul desires”} ⌞indeed⌟, ^{▼▼Hebrew “and”} he does it.
14 For he will carry out ⌞what he appoints for me⌟, ^{▼▼Literally “my portion,” or “my allotment”}
and many things like these are with him.
15 Therefore, I am horrified because of his presence;
when I consider, I tremble ^{▼▼Hebrew “and I tremble,” or “then I tremble”} because of him.
16 Indeed, ^{▼▼Hebrew “And”} God has made my heart faint,
and Shaddai has terrified me.
17 Indeed, I have not been silenced ⌞because of darkness⌟, ^{▼▼Literally “from the face of darkness”}
and because of me he ^{▼▼Or “it”} conceals thick darkness.