23:1  And Job answered and said,

23:2  "Even today is my complaint bitter; my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

23:3  Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come even to His seat!

23:4  I would lay my cause before Him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

23:5  I would know the words which He would answer me, and understand what He would say to me.

23:6  Will He contend against me with His great power? No, surely He would give heed to me.

23:7  There the righteous might reason with Him; and I would be acquitted from my Judge forever.

23:8  Behold, I go forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I cannot see Him;

23:9  On the left hand, where He works, but I cannot behold Him. He turns to the right, but I cannot see Him.

23:10  But He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

23:11  My foot has held fast in His steps; I have kept His way, and have not turned aside;

23:12  Nor have I gone back from the commandment of His lips; I treasured up the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

23:13  But He is of one mind, and who can turn Him? Yea, what He Himself desires, even that He does.

23:14  For He performs the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with Him.

23:15  Therefore I am terrified at His presence; when I consider, I am afraid of Him.

23:16  For God makes my heart weak, and the Almighty terrifies me;

23:17  Because I was not cut off by the darkness; nor by the thick darkness covering my face."