| NET Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Then Job answered: | 1Then Job answered: |
| 2"Even today my complaint is still bitter; his hand is heavy despite my groaning. | 2Today also my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning. |
| 3O that I knew where I might find him, that I could come to his place of residence! | 3If only I knew how to find Him, so that I could go to His throne. |
| 4I would lay out my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. | 4I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments. |
| 5I would know with what words he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me. | 5I would learn how He would answer me; and understand what He would say to me. |
| 6Would he contend with me with great power? No, he would only pay attention to me. | 6Would He prosecute me forcefully? No, He will certainly pay attention to me. |
| 7There an upright person could present his case before him, and I would be delivered forever from my judge. | 7Then an upright man could reason with Him, and I would escape from my Judge forever. |
| 8"If I go to the east, he is not there, and to the west, yet I do not perceive him. | 8If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot perceive Him. |
| 9In the north when he is at work, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I see no trace of him. | 9When He is at work to the north, I cannot see Him; when He turns south, I cannot find Him. |
| 10But he knows the pathway that I take; if he tested me, I would come forth like gold. | 10Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will emerge as pure gold. |
| 11My feet have followed his steps closely; I have kept to his way and have not turned aside. | 11My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept to His way and not turned aside. |
| 12I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my allotted portion. | 12I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily food. |
| 13But he is unchangeable, and who can change him? Whatever he has desired, he does. | 13But He is unchangeable; who can oppose Him? He does what He desires. |
| 14For he fulfills his decree against me, and many such things are his plans. | 14He will certainly accomplish what He has decreed for me, and He has many more things like these in mind. |
| 15That is why I am terrified in his presence; when I consider, I am afraid because of him. | 15Therefore I am terrified in His presence; when I consider this, I am afraid of Him. |
| 16Indeed, God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me. | 16God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me. |
| 17Yet I have not been silent because of the darkness, because of the thick darkness that covered my face. | 17Yet I am not destroyed by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face. |
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