1 Then Job answered and said:

2 “Even today my ^acomplaint is bitter;
¹My hand is listless because of my groaning. ‡

3 ^aOh, that I knew where I might find Him,
That I might come to His seat! ‡

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12 I have not departed from the ^acommandment of His lips;
^bI have treasured the words of His mouth
More than my¹ necessary food. ‡

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

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

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

16 For God ^amade my heart weak,
And the Almighty terrifies me; ‡

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