Job Longs for God

1And Job answered and said:

2“Even this day my complaint is bitter;

my hand is heavy upon my groaning.

3Who will grant that I might know and find Him,

and come unto His seat!

4I would set forth to his face my case,

and my mouth I would fill with arguments.

5I would know the words He would answer me,

and I would understand what He would say to me.

6In the abundance of strength would He contend with me?

No, surely He would set it upon me.

7There the upright could argue with Him,

and I would escape forever from the One judging me.

8Behold, east I go, and He is not there,

and west, and I do not perceive Him.

9In the north, in His working, I do not behold Him;

He turns to the south, and I do not see Him.

10Yet He knows the way with me;

He has tested me, and like gold I will come forth.

11My foot has held firm by His steps;

His way I have kept, and I have not turned aside.

12And I have not departed from the commandment of His lips;

more than my portion I have treasured the words of His mouth.

13And He is of one, and who can turn Him back?

And His soul has desired, and He has done.

14For He carries out what is appointed for me,

and many like these are with Him.

15Upon thus, I am terrified before His face;

I consider this, and I am afraid of Him.

16And God has softened my heart,

and Shaddai† has terrified me.

17For I was not cut off from the face of darkness,

and before my face He has covered the dark gloom.