King James Version KJV
The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
1 Then Job answered and said,
1
Then Iyov answered:
2 Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
2
"Today too my complaint is bitter; my hand is weighed down because of my groaning.
3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
3
I wish I knew where I could find him; then I would go to where he is.
4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
4
I would state my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments
5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
5
I would know his answering words and grasp what he would tell me.
6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.
6
Would he browbeat me with his great power? No, he would pay attention to me.
7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
7
There an upright person could reason with him; thus I might be forever acquitted by my judge.
8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
8
"If I head east, he isn't there; if I head west, I don't detect him,
9 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:
9
if I turn north, I don't spot him; in the south he is veiled, and I still don't see him.
10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
10
Yet he knows the way I take; when he has tested me, I will come out like gold.
11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
11
My feet have stayed in his footsteps; I keep to his way without turning aside.
12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
12
I don't withdraw from his lips' command; I treasure his words more than my daily food.
13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
13
"But he has no equal, so who can change him? What he desires, he does.
14 For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him
14
He will accomplish what is decreed for me, and he has many plans like this
15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.
15
This is why I am terrified of him; the more I think about it, the more afraid I am -
16 For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
16
God has undermined my courage; Shaddai frightens me.
17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.
17
Yet I am not cut off by the darkness; he has protected me from the deepest gloom.