1 Then Job answered and said,
2 Even to-day is my complaint rebellious: My stroke is heavier than my groaning. 3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat! 4 I would set my cause in order 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 unto me. 6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me. 7 There the upright might reason with him; So should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not [there]; And backward, but I cannot perceive him; 9 On the left hand, when he doth work, but I cannot behold him; He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him. 10 But he knoweth the way that I take; When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. 11 My foot hath held fast to his steps; His way have I kept, and turned not aside. 12 I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. 13 But he is in one [mind], and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. 14 For he performeth that which is appointed for me: And many such things are with him. 15 Therefore am I terrified at his presence; When I consider, I am afraid of him. 16 For God hath made my heart faint, And the Almighty hath terrified me; 17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, Neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.
1 Why are times not laid up by the Almighty? And why do not they that know him see his days? 2 There are that remove the landmarks; They violently take away flocks, and feed them. 3 They drive away the ass of the fatherless; They take the widow's ox for a pledge. 4 They turn the needy out of the way: The poor of the earth all hide themselves. 5 Behold, as wild asses in the desert They go forth to their work, seeking diligently for food; The wilderness [yieldeth] them bread for their children. 6 They cut their provender in the field; And they glean the vintage of the wicked. 7 They lie all night naked without clothing, And have no covering in the cold. 8 They are wet with the showers of the mountains, And embrace the rock for want of a shelter. 9 There are that pluck the fatherless from the breast, And take a pledge of the poor; 10 [So that] they go about naked without clothing, And being hungry they carry the sheaves. 11 They make oil within the walls of these men; They tread [their] winepresses, and suffer thirst. 12 From out of the populous city men groan, And the soul of the wounded crieth out: Yet God regardeth not the folly.
13 These are of them that rebel against the light; They know not the ways thereof, Nor abide in the paths thereof. 14 The murderer riseth with the light; He killeth the poor and needy; And in the night he is as a thief. 15 The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, Saying, No eye shall see me: And he disguiseth his face. 16 In the dark they dig through houses: They shut themselves up in the day-time; They know not the light. 17 For the morning is to all of them as thick darkness; For they know the terrors of the thick darkness.
18 Swiftly they [pass away] upon the face of the waters; Their portion is cursed in the earth: They turn not into the way of the vineyards. 19 Drought and heat consume the snow waters: [So doth] Sheol [those that] have sinned. 20 The womb shall forget him; The worm shall feed sweetly on him; He shall be no more remembered; And unrighteousness shall be broken as a tree.
21 He devoureth the barren that beareth not, And doeth not good to the widow. 22 Yet [God] preserveth the mighty by his power: He riseth up that hath no assurance of life. 23 [God] giveth them to be in security, and they rest thereon; And his eyes are upon their ways. 24 They are exalted; yet a little while, and they are gone; Yea, they are brought low, they are taken out of the way as all others, And are cut off as the tops of the ears of grain. 25 And if it be not so now, who will prove me a liar, And make my speech nothing worth?