| English Standard Version | New Living Translation |
| 1Then Job answered and said: | 1Then Job spoke again: |
| 2“Today also my complaint is bitter; my hand is heavy on account of my groaning. | 2“My complaint today is still a bitter one, and I try hard not to groan aloud. |
| 3Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat! | 3If only I knew where to find God, I would go to his court. |
| 4I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. | 4I would lay out my case and present my arguments. |
| 5I would know what he would answer me and understand what he would say to me. | 5Then I would listen to his reply and understand what he says to me. |
| 6Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; he would pay attention to me. | 6Would he use his great power to argue with me? No, he would give me a fair hearing. |
| 7There an upright man could argue with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge. | 7Honest people can reason with him, so I would be forever acquitted by my judge. |
| 8“Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him; | 8I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him. |
| 9on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him. | 9I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I look to the south, but he is concealed. |
| 10But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. | 10“But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. |
| 11My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside. | 11For I have stayed on God’s paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside. |
| 12I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food. | 12I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food. |
| 13But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does. | 13But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind? Whatever he wants to do, he does. |
| 14For he will complete what he appoints for me, and many such things are in his mind. | 14So he will do to me whatever he has planned. He controls my destiny. |
| 15Therefore I am terrified at his presence; when I consider, I am in dread of him. | 15No wonder I am so terrified in his presence. When I think of it, terror grips me. |
| 16God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me; | 16God has made me sick at heart; the Almighty has terrified me. |
| 17yet I am not silenced because of the darkness, nor because thick darkness covers my face. | 17Darkness is all around me; thick, impenetrable darkness is everywhere. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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