If only I knew where to find him
Then Job answered: "Even today my complaint is bitter; my stroke is heavier than my groaning. If only I knew where I could find him, so I could come even to his seat. I would set my case in order before him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words he would answer me and understand what he would say. Would he plead against me with his great power? No; he would put strength in me. There the righteous could dispute with him, and I would be delivered forever from my judge. I go forward, but he isn't there; backward, but I can't perceive him. When he works on the left, I cannot see him. When he turns to the right, he hides himself from me. But he knows the way I take. When he has tried me, I will come forth as gold. My foot has held to his steps. I have kept his way and not turned aside. I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. But he is of one mind, and who can turn him? What his soul desires, that he does. He performs the thing appointed for me, and many such things are with him. That's why I'm troubled at his presence. When I consider it, I'm afraid of him. God makes my heart soft, and the Almighty troubles me, because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither has he covered the darkness from my face."
Then Job answered: Even today my complaint is bitter. My blow is heavier than my groaning. If only I knew where I could find him, that I could come right to his seat. I'd set out my case in front of him and fill my mouth with arguments. I'd know the words he'd answer me and understand what he'd say to me. Would he argue against me with his great power? No — but he'd put strength in me. There the straight man could argue with him. So I'd be rescued forever from my judge. Look — I go forward, and he isn't there. And backward, but I can't take him in. On the left, where he's working, but I can't see him. He hides himself on the right, so I can't see him. But he knows the way I take. When he's tested me, I'll come out like gold. My foot has held to his steps. I've kept his way and haven't turned aside. I haven't gone back from the order of his lips. I've treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread. But he's of one mind, and who can turn him? And what his soul wants, that's what he does. Because he carries out what's set for me. And plenty of things like that are with him. So I'm troubled at him. When I think about it, I'm frightened of him. Because God makes my heart soft, and the Almighty troubles me — because I wasn't cut off before the darkness, and he hasn't covered the thick dark from my face.
Then Job answered and said, Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning. Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me. Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge. Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him. Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him. For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me: Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.
Then Job answered:
Then Job answered and said,
"Even today my complaint is bitter; my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
Even today my complaint is bitter. My blow is heavier than my groaning.
Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
If only I knew where I could find him, so I could come even to his seat.
If only I knew where I could find him, that I could come right to his seat.
Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
I would set my case in order before him and fill my mouth with arguments.
I'd set out my case in front of him and fill my mouth with arguments.
I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
I would know the words he would answer me and understand what he would say.
I'd know the words he'd answer me and understand what he'd say to me.
I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
Would he plead against me with his great power? No; he would put strength in me.
Would he argue against me with his great power? No — but he'd put strength in me.
Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.
There the righteous could dispute with him, and I would be delivered forever from my judge.
There the straight man could argue with him. So I'd be rescued forever from my judge.
There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
I go forward, but he isn't there; backward, but I can't perceive him.
Look — I go forward, and he isn't there. And backward, but I can't take him in.
Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
When he works on the left, I cannot see him. When he turns to the right, he hides himself from me.
On the left, where he's working, but I can't see him. He hides himself on the right, so I can't see him.
On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:
But he knows the way I take. When he has tried me, I will come forth as gold.
But he knows the way I take. When he's tested me, I'll come out like gold.
But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
My foot has held to his steps. I have kept his way and not turned aside.
My foot has held to his steps. I've kept his way and haven't turned aside.
My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
I haven't gone back from the order of his lips. I've treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.
Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
But he is of one mind, and who can turn him? What his soul desires, that he does.
But he's of one mind, and who can turn him? And what his soul wants, that's what he does.
But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
He performs the thing appointed for me, and many such things are with him.
Because he carries out what's set for me. And plenty of things like that are with him.
For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.
That's why I'm troubled at his presence. When I consider it, I'm afraid of him.
So I'm troubled at him. When I think about it, I'm frightened of him.
Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.
God makes my heart soft, and the Almighty troubles me,
Because God makes my heart soft, and the Almighty troubles me —
For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither has he covered the darkness from my face."
because I wasn't cut off before the darkness, and he hasn't covered the thick dark from my face.
Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.