JOB 23
T4T1 Then Job replied again, 2 “Today I am again complaining bitterly/strongly to God; I continue groaning, but he [SYN] continues to ◄punish me/cause me to suffer►. 3 I ◄wish that I knew/want to know► where I could meet/talk with him, so that I could go to the place where he lives. 4 If I could do that, I would tell him why I know that I am innocent; I would tell [MTY] to him all my ◄arguments/evidence to show that I have not done what is evil►. 5 Then I would find out what he would reply to me [DOU]. 6 Would he use his great power to argue with me? No, he would listen to me carefully. 7 I am ◄an honest/a righteous► man; so I would be able to discuss things with him fairly, and then he would declare that I am innocent, and that decision would endure forever. 8 “But, I have gone to the east, and he is not there; I have gone to the west, but I have not found him there. 9 I have gone north and I have gone south, but I have not seen him anywhere. 10 But he knows how I have conducted my life; and when he has finished testing me, he will see that I am as pure as [SIM] gold whose impurities have all been burned out. 11 I [SYN] have faithfully walked on the path that he showed me; I have not stopped obeying him. 12 I have always obeyed what he [SYN] commanded; I have treasured the words that he has spoken. 13 “He never changes. There is no one who can [RHQ] stop him from doing what he desires. Whatever he wants to do, he does. 14 And he will finish doing for me the things that he has planned for me; and I am sure that he has thought about doing many things for me. 15 So I am terrified in his presence; when I think about what he can do, I am very afraid [DOU]. 16 Almighty God has caused me [SYN] to feel terrified [DOU]. 17 It is as though there is only thick darkness in front of me, but it is God that I am afraid of, not the darkness."