| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Job's response was to say: | 1Then Job answered: |
| 2"I'm still complaining bitterly today; my hand is heavy because of groaning. | 2"Even today my complaint is still bitter; his hand is heavy despite my groaning. |
| 3If only I knew where to find him, I would visit him where he has taken his seat. | 3O that I knew where I might find him, that I could come to his place of residence! |
| 4I would lay out 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 know how he would answer me; I understand what he'll tell me. | 5I would know with what words he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me. |
| 6"Would he use his great power to fight me? No, he'll pay attention to me. | 6Would he contend with me with great power? No, he would only pay attention to me. |
| 7In that place, the upright can reason with him; and I'll be acquitted once and for all by my judge." | 7There an upright person could present his case before him, and I would be delivered forever from my judge. |
| 8"Look! If I go east, he isn't there! If I go to the west, I don't perceive him. | 8"If I go to the east, he is not there, and to the west, yet I do not perceive him. |
| 9If he's working in the north, I can't observe him; If he turns south, I can't see 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. |
| 10Because he knows the road on which I travel, when he had tested me, I'll come out like gold. | 10But he knows the pathway that I take; if he tested me, I would come forth like gold. |
| 11My feet stay where his footsteps lead; I kept on his pathway and haven't turned aside. | 11My feet have followed his steps closely; I have kept to his way and have not turned aside. |
| 12I haven't wandered away from the commands that he has spoken; I've treasured what he has said more than my own meals." | 12I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my allotted portion. |
| 13"But he is One—who can change him? He does whatever he wants to do. | 13But he is unchangeable, and who can change him? Whatever he has desired, he does. |
| 14He'll complete what he has planned for me; he has many things in mind for me! | 14For he fulfills his decree against me, and many such things are his plans. |
| 15That's why I'm terrified at his presence! When I think about it, I'm afraid of him. | 15That is why I am terrified in his presence; when I consider, I am afraid because of him. |
| 16God has caused me to faint; the Almighty makes me terrified! | 16Indeed, God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me. |
| 17Nevertheless, I haven't been silenced because of the darkness, even when thick darkness obscures my vision." | 17Yet I have not been silent because of the darkness, because of the thick darkness that covered my face. |
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