Job’s Reply to Eliphaz

1Then Job answered:

2Today also my complaint is bitter.† †

His† hand is heavy despite my groaning.

3If only I knew how to find him,

so that I could go to his throne.

4I would plead my case before him†

and fill my mouth with arguments.

5I would learn how† he would answer me;

and understand what he would say to me.

6Would he prosecute† me forcefully?

No, he would certainly pay attention to me.

7Then an upright man could reason† with him,

and I would escape from my Judge† † forever.

8If I go east, he is not there,

and if I go west, I cannot perceive him.†

9When he is at work to the north, I cannot see him;

when he turns south, I cannot find him.

10Yet he knows the way I have taken;†

when he has tested me,† I will emerge as pure gold.

11My feet have followed in his tracks;

I have kept to his way† and not turned aside.

12I have not departed from the commands from his lips;

I have treasured† the words† from his mouth

more than my daily food.

13But he is unchangeable; who can oppose him?

He does what he desires.†

14He will certainly accomplish what he has decreed for me,

and he has many more things like these in mind.†

15Therefore I am terrified† in his presence;

when I consider this, I am afraid of him.

16God has made my heart faint;†

the Almighty has terrified me.

17Yet I am not destroyed† by the darkness,†

by the thick darkness that covers my face.