Job 23 CSB ISV Parallel

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◄ Job 23 ►

Christian Standard Bible

International Standard Version

1Then Job answered:

1Job's response was to say:

2Today also my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning.

2"I'm still complaining bitterly today; my hand is heavy because of groaning.

3If only I knew how to find him, so that I could go to his throne.

3If only I knew where to find him, I would visit him where he has taken his seat.

4I would plead my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments.

4I would lay out 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.

5I know how he would answer me; I understand what he'll tell me.

6Would he prosecute me forcefully? No, he would certainly pay attention to me.

6"Would he use his great power to fight me? No, he'll pay attention to me.

7Then an upright man could reason with him, and I would escape from my Judge forever.

7In that place, the upright can reason with him; and I'll be acquitted once and for all by my judge."

8If I go east, he is not there, and if I go west, I cannot perceive him.

8"Look! If I go east, he isn't there! If I go to the west, I don't perceive him.

9When he is at work to the north, I cannot see him; when he turns south, I cannot find him.

9If he's working in the north, I can't observe him; If he turns south, I can't see him.

10Yet he knows the way I have taken; when he has tested me, I will emerge as pure gold.

10Because he knows the road on which I travel, when he had tested me, I'll come out like gold.

11My feet have followed in his tracks; I have kept to his way and not turned aside.

11My feet stay where his footsteps lead; I kept on his pathway and haven't 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.

12I haven't wandered away from the commands that he has spoken; I've treasured what he has said more than my own meals."

13But he is unchangeable; who can oppose him? He does what he desires.

13"But he is One—who can change him? He does whatever he wants to do.

14He will certainly accomplish what he has decreed for me, and he has many more things like these in mind.

14He'll complete what he has planned for me; he has many things in mind for me!

15Therefore I am terrified in his presence; when I consider this, I am afraid of him.

15That's why I'm terrified at his presence! When I think about it, I'm afraid of him.

16God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.

16God has caused me to faint; the Almighty makes me terrified!

17Yet I am not destroyed by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.

17Nevertheless, I haven't been silenced because of the darkness, even when thick darkness obscures my vision."