| King James Bible | NET Bible |
| 1Then Job answered and said, | 1Then Job answered: |
| 2Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning. | 2"Even today my complaint is still bitter; his hand is heavy despite my groaning. |
| 3Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! | 3O that I knew where I might find him, that I could come to his place of residence! |
| 4I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. | 4I would lay out my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. |
| 5I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me. | 5I would know with what words he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me. |
| 6Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. | 6Would he contend with me with great power? No, he would only pay attention to me. |
| 7There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge. | 7There an upright person could present his case before him, and I would be delivered forever from my judge. |
| 8Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: | 8"If I go to the east, he is not there, and to the west, yet I do not perceive him. |
| 9On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: | 9In the north when he is at work, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I see no trace of him. |
| 10But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. | 10But he knows the pathway that I take; if he tested me, I would come forth like gold. |
| 11My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. | 11My feet have followed his steps closely; I have kept to his way and have not turned aside. |
| 12Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. | 12I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my allotted portion. |
| 13But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. | 13But he is unchangeable, and who can change him? Whatever he has desired, he does. |
| 14For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him. | 14For he fulfills his decree against me, and many such things are his plans. |
| 15Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him. | 15That is why I am terrified in his presence; when I consider, I am afraid because of him. |
| 16For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me: | 16Indeed, God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me. |
| 17Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face. | 17Yet I have not been silent because of the darkness, because of the thick darkness that covered my face. |
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