Chapter 23

  And Job answereth and saith: --  

  Also -- to-day [is] my complaint bitter, My hand hath been heavy because of my sighing.  

  O that I had known -- and I find Him, I come in unto His seat,  

  I arrange before Him the cause, And my mouth fill [with] arguments.  

  I know the words He doth answer me, And understand what He saith to me.  

  In the abundance of power doth He strive with me? No! surely He putteth [it] in me.  

  There the upright doth reason with Him, And I escape for ever from my judge.  

  Lo, forward I go -- and He is not, And backward -- and I perceive him not.  

  [To] the left in His working -- and I see not, He is covered [on] the right, and I behold not.  

  For He hath known the way with me, He hath tried me -- as gold I go forth.  

  On His step hath my foot laid hold, His way I have kept, and turn not aside,  

  The command of His lips, and I depart not. Above my allotted portion I have laid up The sayings of His mouth.  

  And He [is] in one [mind], And who doth turn Him back? And His soul hath desired -- and He doth [it].  

  For He doth complete my portion, And many such things [are] with Him.  

  Therefore, from His presence I am troubled, I consider, and am afraid of Him.  

  And God hath made my heart soft, And the Mighty hath troubled me.  

  For I have not been cut off before darkness, And before me He covered thick darkness.