Job 23:7-17

7 Set he forth equity against me, and my doom come perfectly to victory. (Yea, I shall be righteous before him, and my judge shall find me altogether innocent.)

8 If I go to the east, God appeareth not there; if I go to the west, I shall not understand him;

9 if I go to the left side, what shall I do? I shall not take (hold of) him (I shall not catch him); if I turn me to the right side, I shall not see him.

10 But he knoweth my way, and he shall prove me as gold (and he shall assay me like gold), that passeth through the fire.

11 My foot followed his steps; I kept (to) his way, and I bowed not away from it.

12 I went not away from the commandments of his lips; and I hid in my bosom the words of his mouth.

13 For he is alone, and no man may turn away his thoughts; and whatever thing he would, his will did this thing. (For he alone decideth, and no one can turn away his thoughts; and whatever he desired to do, his did it.)

14 When he hath [ful]filled his will in me, also many other like things be ready to him. (For he hath fulfilled his will for me, and many other plans like these be ready with him.

15 And therefore I am troubled of his face, and I beholding him am anguished for dread. (And so I am troubled before him, and I beholding him am anguished with fear.)

16 God hath made nesh mine heart (God hath made my heart weak, or faint), and Almighty God hath troubled me.

17 Certainly I perished not for darknesses nighing to me; neither mist covered my face. (For I did not perish because the darkness nighed to me, nor because the mist covered my face.)

Job 23:7-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 23

This and the following chapter contain Job's reply to the last oration of Eliphaz; in this he first declares his present sorrowful estate and condition, Job 23:1,2; wishes he knew where to find God, as a judge sitting on a throne, before whom he might lay his cause, and plead it, and have his judgment and final decision passed upon it; when he doubted not but he would deal favourably with him, and both admit him and strengthen him, to plead his own cause, and would acquit him for ever from the charges laid against him, Job 23:3-7; in order to which he sought for him everywhere, but could not find him, but contents himself with this, that God knew his way; and that, after trial of him, he should shine like pure gold, and appear to be no apostate from him, but one sincerely obedient to his commands, and a true lover of his word, Job 23:8-12; and as for his afflictions, they were the result of the unalterable purposes and appointments of God: but what gave him the greatest uneasiness was, that there were more of that sort yet to come, which filled him with fears and faintings, with trouble and darkness, Job 23:13-17.