Job 23 NKJV NIV Parallel

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◄ Job 23 ►

New King James Version

New International Version

1Then Job answered and said:

1Then Job replied:

2“Even today my complaint is bitter; My hand is listless because of my groaning.

2"Even today my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.

3Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come to His seat!

3If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling!

4I would present my case before Him, And fill my mouth with arguments.

4I would state 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 to me.

5I would find out what he would answer me, and consider what he would say to me.

6Would He contend with me in His great power? No! But He would take note of me.

6Would he vigorously oppose me? No, he would not press charges against me.

7There the upright could reason with Him, And I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

7There the upright can establish their innocence before him, and there I would be delivered forever from my judge.

8“Look, I go forward, but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;

8"But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him.

9When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him.

9When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.

10But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.

10But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

11My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside.

11My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside.

12I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured 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 daily bread.

13“But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does.

13"But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? He does whatever he pleases.

14For He performs what is appointed for me, And many such things are with Him.

14He carries out his decree against me, and many such plans he still has in store.

15Therefore I am terrified at His presence; When I consider this, I am afraid of Him.

15That is why I am terrified before him; when I think of all this, I fear him.

16For God made my heart weak, And the Almighty terrifies me;

16God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.

17Because I was not cut off from the presence of darkness, And He did not hide deep darkness from my face.

17Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.