| Berean Study Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1Then Job answered: | 1Then Job spoke again: |
| 2“Even today my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning. | 2“My complaint today is still a bitter one, and I try hard not to groan aloud. |
| 3If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat. | 3If only I knew where to find God, I would go to his court. |
| 4I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments. | 4I would lay out my case and present my arguments. |
| 5I would learn how He would answer, and consider what He would say. | 5Then I would listen to his reply and understand what he says to me. |
| 6Would He contend with me in His great power? No, He would certainly take note of me. | 6Would he use his great power to argue with me? No, he would give me a fair hearing. |
| 7Then an upright man could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge. | 7Honest people can reason with him, so I would be forever acquitted by my judge. |
| 8If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot find Him. | 8I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him. |
| 9When He is at work in the north, I cannot behold Him; when He turns to the south, I cannot see Him. | 9I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I look to the south, but he is concealed. |
| 10Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. | 10“But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. |
| 11My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept His way without turning aside. | 11For I have stayed on God’s paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside. |
| 12I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread. | 12I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food. |
| 13But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires. | 13But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind? Whatever he wants to do, he does. |
| 14For He carries out His decree against me, and He has many such plans. | 14So he will do to me whatever he has planned. He controls my destiny. |
| 15Therefore I am terrified in His presence; when I consider this, I fear Him. | 15No wonder I am so terrified in his presence. When I think of it, terror grips me. |
| 16God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me. | 16God has made me sick at heart; the Almighty has terrified me. |
| 17Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face. | 17Darkness is all around me; thick, impenetrable darkness is everywhere. |
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