¹Then Job answered and said,

²“Today, too, my complaint is bitter;

My vitality has become listless with all my sighing.

³If only I knew where I could find him,

I would go to his judgment seat.

⁴I would set out my case before him

And fill my mouth with arguments.

⁵I would acknowledge the words

Which he would answer me,

And I would understand

What he would say to me.

⁶Would he contend with me with great power?

No; he would certainly consider me.

⁷There, the upright disputes with him,

And I would be delivered in perpetuity from my judge.

⁸If I go forwards,

He is not there,

And if backwards,

I do not discern him,

⁹Or to the left where he is at work,

I do not behold him;

If he envelops himself on the right,

I do not see him.

¹⁰However, he knows the way I take.

When he examines me,

I will come out as gold.

¹¹My foot takes hold of his step;

I keep his way

And do not turn aside.

¹²As for his commandment which he has uttered,

I have not drawn back from what was appointed me.

I have treasured up the words which he has pronounced.

¹³But he is of one mind,

And who can make him go back on it?

His will desires a thing,

And he performs it.

¹⁴For he will carry out

What has been appointed for me,

And many such things

He has in store.

¹⁵That is why I will fear his presence.

When I consider the matter,

I am fearful of him.

¹⁶But God makes my heart faint,

And the Almighty causes me alarm,

¹⁷For I have not been cut off in the face of darkness,

Nor has he put a covering of gloom over my face.