23 Job affirmeth that he both knoweth and feareth the power and sentence of the Judge, 10 And that he is not punished only for his sins.
1 But Job answered, and said,
2 Though my talk be this day in [a]bitterness, and my plague greater than my groaning,
3 Would God yet I knew how to find him, I would enter unto his place.
4 I would plead the cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know the words, that he would answer me, and would understand what he would say unto me.
6 Would he [b]plead against me with his great power? No, but he would [c]put strength in me.
7 [d]There the righteous might reason with him, so I should be delivered forever from my Judge.
8 [e]Behold, if I go to the East, he is not there: if to the West, yet I cannot perceive him:
9 If to the North where he worketh, yet I cannot see him: he will hide himself in the South, and I cannot behold him.
10 But he knoweth my [f]way, and trieth me, and I shall come forth like gold.
11 My foot hath followed his steps: his way have I kept, and have not declined:
12 Neither have I departed from the commandment of his lips, and I have [g]esteemed the words of his mouth more than mine appointed food.
13 Yet he is in one mind, and who can [h]turn him? yea, he doeth what his mind desireth.
14 For he will perform that which is decreed of me, and [i]many such things are with him.
15 Therefore I am troubled at his presence, and in considering it, I am afraid of him.
16 For [j]God hath softened mine heart, and the Almighty hath troubled me.
17 For I am not cut off in [k]darkness, but he hath hid the darkness from my face.
Footnotes
- Job 23:2 He showeth the just cause of his complaining, and as touching that Eliphaz had exhorteth him to return to God, Job 22:21, he declareth that he desireth nothing more, but it seemed that God would not be found of him.
- Job 23:6 Using his absolute power, and saying, because I am God, I may do what I will.
- Job 23:6 Of his mercy he would give me power to answer him.
- Job 23:7 When he of his mercy hath given strength to maintain their cause.
- Job 23:8 Meaning, that if he consider God’s justice, he is not able to comprehend his judgments on what side or what part soever he turneth himself.
- Job 23:10 God hath this preeminence about me, that he knoweth my way: to wit, that I am innocent, and I am not able to judge of his works: he showeth also his confidence, that God doth use him for his profit.
- Job 23:12 His word is more precious unto me, than the meat wherewith the body is sustained.
- Job 23:13 Job confesseth that at this present he felt not God’s favor, and yet was assured that he had appointed him to a good end.
- Job 23:14 In many points man is not able to attain to God’s judgments.
- Job 23:16 That I should not be without fear.
- Job 23:17 He showeth the cause of his fear, which is, that he being in trouble seeth none end, neither yet knoweth the cause.