“But He knows the way I take;
When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Then Job replied,

“I have not departed from the command of His lips;
I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

“But He is unique and who can turn Him?
And what His soul desires, that He does.

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

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

“Even today my complaint is rebellion;
His hand is heavy despite my groaning.

“It is God who has made my heart faint,
And the Almighty who has dismayed me,

“My foot has held fast to His path;
I have kept His way and not turned aside.

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

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

When He acts on the left, I cannot behold Him;
He turns on the right, I cannot see Him.

“Would He contend with me by the greatness of His power?
No, surely He would pay attention to me.

“Therefore, I would be dismayed at His presence;
When I consider, I am terrified of Him.

“I would learn the words which He would answer,
And perceive what He would say to me.

“There the upright would reason with Him;
And I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

But I am not silenced by the darkness,
Nor deep gloom which covers me.