Job 23 - Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

Job’s Reply to Eliphaz

23 Then Job answered:

2 Today also my complaint is bitter.[a](A)
His[b] hand is heavy despite my groaning.
3 If only I knew how to find him,
so that I could go to his throne.
4 I would plead my case before him(B)
and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would learn how[c] he would answer me;
and understand what he would say to me.
6 Would he prosecute(C) me forcefully?
No, he would certainly pay attention to me.
7 Then an upright man could reason(D) with him,
and I would escape from my Judge[d](E) forever.

8 If I go east, he is not there,
and if I go west, I cannot perceive him.(F)
9 When he is at work to the north, I cannot see him;
when he turns south, I cannot find him.
10 Yet he knows the way I have taken;[e]
when he has tested me,(G) I will emerge as pure gold.
11 My feet have followed in his tracks;
I have kept to his way(H) and not turned aside.
12 I have not departed from the commands from his lips;
I have treasured[f] the words(I) from his mouth
more than my daily food.

13 But he is unchangeable; who can oppose him?
He does what he desires.(J)
14 He will certainly accomplish what he has decreed for me,
and he has many more things like these in mind.[g]
15 Therefore I am terrified(K) in his presence;
when I consider this, I am afraid of him.
16 God has made my heart faint;(L)
the Almighty has terrified me.
17 Yet I am not destroyed[h] by the darkness,(M)
by the thick darkness that covers my face.

Footnotes

  1. 23:2 Syr, Tg, Vg; MT reads rebellion
  2. 23:2 LXX, Syr; MT reads My
  3. 23:5 Lit the words
  4. 23:7 Or judgment
  5. 23:10 Lit way with me
  6. 23:12 LXX, Vg read treasured in my bosom
  7. 23:14 Lit these with him
  8. 23:17 Or silenced

Cross references

  1. 23:2 : Jb 7:11; 10:1; 21:4
  2. 23:4 : Jb 5:8; 13:18; 35:14
  3. 23:6 : Jb 13:19; 33:13; Is 45:9
  4. 23:7 : Jb 13:3,15; 15:3
  5. 23:7 : Gn 18:25; Is 33:22; Jr 11:20
  6. 23:8 : Jb 9:11; 35:14
  7. 23:10 : Ps 17:3; 66:10; 1Pt 1:7
  8. 23:11 : Jb 17:9; Ps 17:5; 44:18
  9. 23:12 : Jb 6:10; 22:22; Ps 119:102–103,111
  10. 23:13 : Ps 115:3; Is 14:27; Dn 4:35
  11. 23:15 : Jb 4:14; 22:10; 23:15
  12. 23:16 : Dt 20:3; Is 7:4; Jr 51:46
  13. 23:17 : Jb 19:8; 29:3; 30:26

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