Job’s Reply to Eliphaz

1Then Job answered:

2Today also my complaint is bitter. a  b

His c hand is heavy despite my groaning.

3If only I knew how to find Him,

so that I could go to His throne.

4I would plead my case before Him d

and fill my mouth with arguments.

5I would learn how e He would answer me;

and understand what He would say to me.

6Would He prosecute f me forcefully?

No, He will certainly pay attention to me.

7Then an upright man could reason g with Him,

and I would escape from my Judge h forever.

8If I go east, He is not there,

and if I go west, I cannot perceive Him. i

9When He is at work to the north, I cannot see Him;

when He turns south, I cannot find Him.

10Yet He knows the way I have taken; j

when He has tested me, k I will emerge as pure gold.

11My feet have followed in His tracks;

I have kept to His way l and not turned aside.

12I have not departed from the commands of His lips;

I have treasured m the words n of His mouth

more than my daily food.

13But He is unchangeable; who can oppose Him?

He does what He desires. o

14He will certainly accomplish what He has decreed for me,

and He has many more things like these in mind. p

15Therefore I am terrified q in His presence;

when I consider this, I am afraid of Him.

16God has made my heart faint; r

the ^•Almighty has terrified me.

17Yet I am not destroyed s by the darkness, t

by the thick darkness that covers my face.