¹Then Job answered and said:

²Even today my complaint is rebellion; my hand is heavy on my groaning.

³If only I knew, and could find him, I would come to his fixed place.

⁴I would set in order justice before his face, and I would fill my mouth with arguments.

⁵I would know the words he would answer me, and discern what he would say to me.

⁶Would he contend with me in the greatness of his strength? No, only he himself would give heed to me.

⁷There an upright one would reason with him, and I would escape forever from my judge.

⁸Look, I go forward, and he is not there; and backward, and I do not perceive him.

⁹On the left, when he works, I do not behold him; he wraps himself on the right, and I do not see him.

¹⁰For he knows the way that is with me; when he has tested me, I will come out like gold.

¹¹My foot has held to his step; I have kept his way and have not turned aside.

¹²I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; more than my allotment I have treasured the words of his mouth.

¹³And he is one; who can turn him back? His being desires it, and he does it.

¹⁴For he finishes my appointed due, and many like these are with him.

¹⁵Therefore I am terrified before his face; I consider it, and I dread him.

¹⁶And God has made my heart faint, and the Almighty has terrified me.

¹⁷For I am not destroyed because of the darkness, though he has covered the gloom from my face.