Job 23

Then Job replied to Eliphaz and the others. He said, 2 “I must still complain about many distressing things. There is much more that I could have protested about. \* 3 I wish that I knew where I could find God. {If I knew that,} I would go to the place where he lives. 4 I would present much evidence to God that I am innocent. I would offer many arguments to prove that. 5 That way I would know what God would say in reply to everything I would say to him. \* 6 He would not use his great power to defeat me. He would listen to me fairly. 7 I am an honest man, so if I met with God personally, I would be able to discuss things with him reasonably. {If we could do that,} he would declare that I am innocent. After that, he would not punish me again as if I had sinned. \* 8 {But I do not know where to find God.} If I went to the east, he would not be there. If I went to the west, I would not see him there. 9 He makes natural things happen beautifully in the north, but no one there sees him doing those things. He must also go to the south, but no one sees him there either. \* 10 Still, he knows how I have conducted my life. When he has finished testing me, he will see that I am as pure as gold whose impurities fire has burned out. 11 I have lived faithfully in the manner that God wants people to live. I have not stopped living that way. 12 I have always obeyed the commandments that he has given. I would rather go without food than disobey what God has told us to do. \* 13 But God seems to have made up his mind that I am a sinner, and no one can make God change his mind. Whatever he wants to do, he does. 14 So it seems that God will keep on punishing me until I die. If my present troubles do not kill me, I am sure that God will cause many more troubles for me! \* 15 So the thought of coming into his presence greatly frightens me. When I think about what he can do, that makes me very afraid of him. 16 I am afraid because I am no longer brave after what God has done to me. Shaddai has made me very frightened. 17 I have lived to experience terrible things, and that is why I am so frightened. I can only imagine that the future will be just as bad as the present. \*