Job 23

Job 23:2

Even to-day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

Even still I have every day more cause than other, to complain of my great affliction; and the stroke, that I feel from God, is more heavy than my groanings can express.

Job 23:3

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

Oh that I knew where and how I might meet with God; that I might lay open my estate before him, and, in an humble manner, argue the case of my suffering with him!

Job 23:6

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

I know he is gracious: he would not stand either upon his rigour or his power with me; but would mercifully sustain me, and give me courage and ability to stand out in the maintenance of my sincerity before him.

Job 23:7

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

Upon these terms, a man of upright heart might hold a lowly contestation with him; which once done, being absolved by his most just sentence, I should be delivered for ever, from the slanders and condemnations of my unjust censurers. XXIII. 8, 9. Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, &c. But, alas! I know not how to come to have speech with the Almighty: though he be everywhere, yet he doth not in any one place or way manifest himself, so as to admit any plea of mine; in vain therefore shall I hope to argue my cause with him.

Job 23:13

But he is in one mind, and who can turn him?

But, O vain man that I am, how should I hope to alter the determinations of that wise and powerful God! What he hath decreed, must be; and who can change his purposes?

Job 23:14

And many such things are with him.

Many such things, as these his proceedings with me, doth he, in his great and unlimited power and unsearchable wisdom, bring to pass; whereof we can give no reason or judgment.

Job 23:17

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

I am astonished at the hand of the Almighty, for that I am still upheld by his power in these extremities, and not cut off by death before this darkness of sorrow and misery overwhelmed me; neither yet hath he restrained these intolerable evils from seizing upon me, but hath caused me to feel them, and not to be swallowed up by them.