Job 23 NKJV NLT Parallel

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◄ Job 23 ►

New King James Version

New Living Translation

1Then Job answered and said:

1Then Job spoke again:

2“Even today my complaint is bitter; My hand is listless because of my groaning.

2“My complaint today is still a bitter one, and I try hard not to groan aloud.

3Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come to His seat!

3If only I knew where to find God, I would go to his court.

4I would present my case before Him, And fill my mouth with arguments.

4I would lay out my case and present my arguments.

5I would know the words which He would answer me, And understand what He would say to me.

5Then I would listen to his reply and understand what he says to me.

6Would He contend with me in His great power? No! But He would take note of me.

6Would he use his great power to argue with me? No, he would give me a fair hearing.

7There the upright 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.

8“Look, I go forward, but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;

8I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him.

9When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right hand, 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.

10But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall 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 foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside.

11For I have stayed on God’s paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside.

12I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food.

12I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food.

13“But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does.

13But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind? Whatever he wants to do, he does.

14For He performs what is appointed for me, And many such things are with Him.

14So he will do to me whatever he has planned. He controls my destiny.

15Therefore I am terrified at His presence; When I consider this, I am afraid of Him.

15No wonder I am so terrified in his presence. When I think of it, terror grips me.

16For God made my heart weak, And the Almighty terrifies me;

16God has made me sick at heart; the Almighty has terrified me.

17Because I was not cut off from the presence of darkness, And He did not hide deep darkness from my face.

17Darkness is all around me; thick, impenetrable darkness is everywhere.