Job 23:8 - Forerunner Commentary

Job 23:8

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;

Verse Comparison: Job 23:8

American Standard Version
Behold, I go forward, but he is not `there'; And backward, but I cannot perceive him;

Amplified® Bible
Behold, I go forward [and to the east], but He is not there; I go backward [and to the west], but I cannot perceive Him;

Contemporary English Version
I cannot find God anywhere-- in front or back of me,

Darby English Version
Lo, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I do not perceive him;

Good News Bible
I have searched in the East, but God is not there; I have not found him when I searched in the West.

King James Version
Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

New American Standard Bible
"Behold, I go forward but He is not {there,} And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;

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

New King James Version
“Look, I go forward, but He is not there,
And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
"Behold, I go forward but I do not find Him there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;

Revised Standard Version
"Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him;

Young's Literal Translation
Lo, forward I go -- and He is not, And backward -- and I perceive him not.

New English Translation
“If I go to the east, he is not there, and to the west, yet I do not perceive him.