To explore why righteous people suffer and to show that God's wisdom is beyond human understanding, yet He is just and faithful.
1Then Job answered and said,
2Even to day {is} my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning. {stroke: Heb. hand}
3Oh that I knew where I might find him! {that} I might come {even} to his seat!
4I would order {my} cause 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.
6Will he plead against me with {his} great power? No; but he would put {strength} in me.
7There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
8Behold, I go forward, but he {is} not {there}; and backward, but I cannot perceive 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}:
10But he knoweth the way that I take: {when} he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. {that...: Heb. that is with me}
11My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
12Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary {food}. {esteemed: Heb. hid, or, laid up} {my...: or, my appointed portion}
13But he {is} in one {mind}, and who can turn him? and {what} his soul desireth, even {that} he doeth.
14For he performeth {the thing that is} appointed for me: and many such {things are} with him.
15Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.
16For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
17Because I was not cut off before the darkness, {neither} hath he covered the darkness from my face.