Job

Job 23 ©

1 Job longeth to appear before God, 6 in confidence of being heard with mercy, and acquitted. 8 God, though invisible, observeth our ways. 11 Job asserteth his own integrity; 13 but the immutable counsel of God troubleth him.

1

THEN Job answered and said,

2

Even ato day is my complaint bbitter: my 1stroke is heavier than my groaning.

a Ps. 77.2-9.
b ch. 10.1; 6.2,3. La. 3.19,20.
3

cOh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!

c ch. 31.35-37; 13.3; 16.21; 17.3. Ps. 77.1. Jn. 20.15. Ca. 1.2; 3.1-3. Is. 26.8; 55.6,7.
4

I dwould order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

d ch. 13.3,18. Ps. 35.1,23; 43.1; 5.3. Is. 43.26.
5

I ewould know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

e ch. 10.2; 13.22,23. 1Co. 4.3.
6

fWill he plead against me gwith his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.

f Is. 27.4,8; 57.16. ch. 9.3,9,19; 13.21. Je. 10.24. Ho. 12.3,4.
g ch. 9.34.
7

hThere the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

h He. 4.16; 10.22. Ro. 8.33,34. Is. 1.18. Ho. 14.2,3.
8

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

i ch. 9.11; 34.29. 1Ti. 6.16. Ps. 10.1; 13.1-3; 44.24. Is. 45.15. v.3.
9

On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him : he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him :

10

But jhe knoweth 2the way that I take: when he khath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

j Ps. 139.1-3; 1.6. He. 4.13.
k Ps. 17.3; 66.10. 1Pe. 1.7. He. 12.6-11. Is. 48.10. Mal. 3.3.
11

My lfoot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not *declined.

l Ep. 5.1. Ps. 18.21; 44.17,18. Re. 2.10.
12

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; m3I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than 4my nnecessary food.

m ch. 22.22. Ps. 119.11,72,97,103, 111; 19.9,10. Jn. 4.34.
n Je. 15.16.
13

But he is in one mind, and owho can turn him? and what phis soul desireth, even that he doeth.

o ch. 9.12,13; 11.10; 12.14. Nu. 23.19. Mal. 3.6. 1Sa. 15.29. Ja. 1.17.
p Ps. 115.3. Da. 4.34,35. Mat. 20.15.
14

For he performeth the thing that is qappointed for me: and rmany such things are with him.

q 1Th. 3.3. Mi. 6.9.
r Da. 4.34,35. Ps. 115.3.
15

Therefore sam I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

s Hab. 3.16. ch. 31.23. Ps. 119.120; 99.1; 77.3.
16

For God tmaketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:

t Ru. 1.20,21. 1Sa. 28.20. Ps. 22.14; 88.16. Is. 57.16.
17

Because I was not cut off ubefore the vdarkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.

u Is. 57.1. ch. 22.11.
v ch. 1.13-19; 2.7; 10.21,22.