2“Even today my complaint is bitter;
[a]My hand is listless because of my groaning.
3Oh, that I knew where I might find Him,
That I might come to His seat!
4I would present 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 to me.
6Would He contend with me in His great power?
No! But He would take note of me.
7There the upright could reason with Him,
And I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

8“Look, I go forward, but He is not there,
And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
9When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him;
When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him.
10But He knows the way that I take;
When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
11My foot has held fast to His steps;
I have kept His way 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 [b]necessary food.

13“But He is unique, and who can make Him change?
And whatever His soul desires, that He does.
14For He performs what is appointed for me,
And many such things are with Him.
15Therefore I am terrified at His presence;
When I consider this, I am afraid of Him.
16For God made my heart weak,
And the Almighty terrifies me;
17Because I was not cut off [c]from the presence of darkness,
And He did not hide deep darkness from my face.