Job 23 Job Desires to Appear Before God and Trusts in His Mercy

 Job 23

Job Desires to Appear Before God and Trusts in His Mercy

1 Then Job answered and said,

2 Even today my complaint is bitter; the severity of my plague is worse than my groaning.

3 Oh, that I had known that I could find him! Then I would come to his judgment seat.

4 I would present my case before him in order, and my mouth would be filled with arguments.

5 I would know the words with which he would answer me, and I would understand what he would say to me.

6 Would he contend with me according to the greatness of his power? No, but he would care for me.

7 There the upright would plead with him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

8 Behold, if I go forward, he is not there; if I turn back, I do not perceive him.

9 If he works on the left hand, I do not see him; he is hidden on the right hand, and I do not see him.

10 But he knows my way; let him test me, and I shall come forth as gold.

11 My feet have taken hold of his steps; I have kept his way, and have not turned aside from it.

12 I have not departed from the commandment of his lips, and I have prized the words of his mouth more than my food.

13 But if he is against any man, who then shall turn him away? Whatever his soul desireth, that he will do.

14 For he will perform that which is commanded concerning me, and many such things are with him.

15 Therefore I am troubled before him; and when I consider this, I am afraid of him.

16 For God has made my heart soft, and the Almighty has troubled me.

17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither has he covered my face with darkness.