Job Says He Longs for God
23 Then Job answered and said,
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“Even today my complaint is contentious;
His hand is heavy despite my groaning.
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“Oh, that I knew where I might find Him,
That I might [even] come to His seat!
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“I would present my cause before Him
And fill my mouth with arguments.
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“I would learn the words which He would answer,
And understand what He would say to me.
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“Would He contend against me with His great power?
No, surely He would give attention to me.(A)
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“There the righteous and upright could reason with Him;
So I would be acquitted forever by my Judge.
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“Behold, I go forward (to the east), but He is not there;
I go backward (to the west), but I cannot perceive Him;
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To the left (north) He turns, but I cannot behold Him;
He turns to the right hand (south), but I cannot see Him.
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“But He knows the way that I take [and He pays attention to it].
When He has tried me, I will come forth as [refined] gold [pure and luminous].(B)
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“My feet have carefully followed His steps;
I have kept His ways and not turned aside.
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“I have not departed from the commandment of His lips;
I have kept the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
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“But He is unique and unchangeable, and who can turn Him?
And what His soul desires, that He does.
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“For He performs what is planned (appointed) for me,
And He is mindful of many such things.
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“Therefore I would be terrified at His presence;
When I consider [all of this], I tremble in dread of Him.
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“For God has made my heart faint,
And the Almighty has terrified me,
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But I am not silenced by the darkness [of these woes that fell on me],
Nor by the thick darkness which covers my face.