Job 23 - New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)

Job Says He Longs for God

23 Then Job [a]replied,

2 “Even today my (A)complaint is rebellion;
[b]His hand is (B)heavy despite my groaning.
3 “Oh that I knew where I might find Him,
That I might come to His seat!
4 “I would (C)present my case before Him
And fill my mouth with arguments.
5 “I would learn the words which He would [c]answer,
And perceive what He would say to me.
6 “Would He contend with me by (D)the greatness of His power?
No, surely He would pay attention to me.
7 “There the upright would (E)reason with Him;
And I [d]would be (F)delivered forever from my Judge.

8 “Behold, I go forward but He is not there,
And backward, but I (G)cannot perceive Him;
9 When He acts on the left, I cannot behold Him;
He turns on the right, I cannot see Him.
10 “But He knows the [e]way I take;
When He has (H)tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 “My foot has (I)held fast to His path;
I have kept His way and not turned aside.
12 “I have not departed from the command of His lips;
I have treasured the (J)words of His mouth [f]more than my [g]necessary food.
13 “But He is unique and who can turn Him?
And what His soul desires, that He does.
14 “For He performs what is appointed for me,
And many such decrees are with Him.
15 “Therefore, I would be dismayed at His presence;
When I consider, I am terrified of Him.
16 It is God who has made my (K)heart faint,
And the Almighty who has dismayed me,
17 But I (L)am not silenced by the darkness,
Nor (M)deep gloom which covers me.

Footnotes

  1. Job 23:1 Lit answered and said
  2. Job 23:2 So with Gr and Syr; M.T. My
  3. Job 23:5 Lit answer me
  4. Job 23:7 Or bring forth my justice forever
  5. Job 23:10 Lit way with me
  6. Job 23:12 Or with some versions, in my breast
  7. Job 23:12 Lit prescribed portion

Cross references

  1. Job 23:2 : Job 7:11
  2. Job 23:2 : Job 6:2, 3; Ps 32:4
  3. Job 23:4 : Job 13:18
  4. Job 23:6 : Job 9:4
  5. Job 23:7 : Job 13:3
  6. Job 23:7 : Job 13:16; 23:10
  7. Job 23:8 : Job 9:11; 35:14
  8. Job 23:10 : Job 7:18; Ps 7:9; 11:5; 66:10; Zech 13:9; 1 Pet 1:7
  9. Job 23:11 : Job 31:7; Ps 17:5; 44:18
  10. Job 23:12 : Job 6:10; 22:22
  11. Job 23:16 : Deut 20:3; Job 27:2; Jer 51:46
  12. Job 23:17 : Job 10:18, 19
  13. Job 23:17 : Job 19:8

You Might Also Like:

Job 23 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

23 And Job answereth and saith: -- 2 Also -- to-day [is] my complaint bitter, My hand hath been heavy because of my sighing. 3 O that I had known -- and I find Him, I come in unto His seat, 4 I arrange before Him the cause, And my mouth fill [with] arguments. 5 I know the words He doth answer me, An...
Read More

Job 23 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

23 And Job answered, and said, 2 Now also my word is in bitterness, and the hand of my wound is aggrieved on my wailing. (Now my word is bitter, and the hand causing my pain is heavy upon me in my wailing.) 3 Who giveth to me, that I know, and find him, and come unto his throne? (Who giveth to me, t...
Read More

Job 23 - World English Bible (WEB)

23 Then Job answered, 2 “Even today my complaint is rebellious. His hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!4 I would set my cause in order before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.5 I would know the words which he would a...
Read More

Job 23 - The Voice (VOICE)

23 Job confided to his friends. 2 Job: So once again you are telling me my complaint amounts to rebellion, that the heavy hand I feel upon me is smothering my groans?3 Would that I knew where to find Him. I would appear before Him.4 I would lay my case out before Him; I would fill up my mouth with...
Read More

Job 23 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Job’s Argument with God23 Then Job answered: 2 “Even today my complaint is rebellious; His hand is heavy despite my groaning.3 If only I knew where to find Him; if only I could go to His dwelling.4 I would lay out my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.5 I would know with what words He ...
Read More

Job 23 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Job Replies: My Complaint Is Bitter23 Then Job answered: 2 “Today also my complaint is bitter,[a] his[b] hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.3 Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat!4 I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments.5 I would lear...
Read More

Job 23 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Job Replies: My Complaint Is Bitter23 Then Job answered: 2 “Today also my complaint is bitter,[a] his[b] hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.3 Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat!4 I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments.5 I would lear...
Read More

Job 23 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Job Replies: My Complaint Is Bitter23 Then Job answered: 2 “Today also my complaint is bitter;[a] his[b] hand is heavy despite my groaning.3 Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his dwelling!4 I would lay my case before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.5 I would lea...
Read More

Job 23 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Job Replies: My Complaint Is Bitter23 Then Job answered:2 ‘Today also my complaint is bitter;[a] his[b] hand is heavy despite my groaning.3 O that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his dwelling!4 I would lay my case before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.5 I would learn ...
Read More

Job 23 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Job Replies: My Complaint Is Bitter23 Then Job answered:2 “Today also my complaint is bitter;[a] his[b] hand is heavy despite my groaning.(A)3 Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his dwelling!(B)4 I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments.(C)5 I wo...
Read More

Job 23 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Job’s Eighth Speech: A Response to Eliphaz23 Then Job spoke again: 2 “My complaint today is still a bitter one, and I try hard not to groan aloud.3 If only I knew where to find God, I would go to his court.4 I would lay out my case and present my arguments.5 Then I would listen to his reply and unde...
Read More

Job 23 - New Life Version (NLV)

Job Talks23 Then Job answered, 2 “Even today my complaining is bitter. His hand is heavy even when I cry inside myself. 3 If only I knew where to find Him, that I might go where He is! 4 I would tell Him how things are with me, and my mouth would be ready to argue. 5 I would know His answer, and...
Read More

Job 23 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Job Proclaims God’s Righteous Judgments23 Then Job answered and said: 2 “Even today my (A)complaint is bitter;[a]My hand is listless because of my groaning.3 (B)Oh, that I knew where I might find Him,That I might come to His seat!4 I would present my case before Him,And fill my mouth with arguments....
Read More

Job 23 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Job23 Then Job replied: 2 ‘Even today my complaint is bitter; his hand[a] is heavy in spite of[b] my groaning.3 If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling!4 I would state my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments.5 I would find out what he would answer me, and con...
Read More

Job 23 - New International Version (NIV)

Job23 Then Job replied: 2 “Even today my complaint(A) is bitter;(B) his hand[a] is heavy in spite of[b] my groaning.(C)3 If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling!(D)4 I would state my case(E) before him and fill my mouth with arguments.(F)5 I would find out what he would ...
Read More

Job 23 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Job’s Reply23 Job replied, 2 “Even today my problems are more than I can handle. In spite of my groans, God’s hand is heavy on me.3 I wish I knew where I could find him! I wish I could go to the place where he lives!4 I would state my case to him. I’d give him all my arguments.5 I’d find out what hi...
Read More

Job 23 - New English Translation (NET)

Job’s Reply to Eliphaz[a]23 Then Job answered: 2 “Even today my complaint is still bitter;[b]his[c] hand is heavy despite[d] my groaning.3 O that I knew[e] where I might find him,[f]that I could come[g] to his place of residence![h]4 I would lay out my case[i] before himand fill my mouth with argume...
Read More