| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1Then Job answered and said, | 1Then Job replied: |
| 2Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning. | 2"Even today my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy in spite of my groaning. |
| 3Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! | 3If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling! |
| 4I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. | 4I would state my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. |
| 5I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me. | 5I would find out what he would answer me, and consider what he would say to me. |
| 6Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. | 6Would he vigorously oppose me? No, he would not press charges against me. |
| 7There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge. | 7There the upright can establish their innocence before him, and there I would be delivered forever from my judge. |
| 8Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: | 8"But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. |
| 9On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: | 9When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. |
| 10But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. | 10But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. |
| 11My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. | 11My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. |
| 12Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. | 12I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread. |
| 13But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. | 13"But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? He does whatever he pleases. |
| 14For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him. | 14He carries out his decree against me, and many such plans he still has in store. |
| 15Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him. | 15That is why I am terrified before him; when I think of all this, I fear him. |
| 16For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me: | 16God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me. |
| 17Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face. | 17Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face. |
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