Job Says He Longs for God

1 Then Job replied, 2
“Even today my complaint is rebellion;
His hand is heavy despite my groaning. 3
“Oh that I knew where I might find Him,
That I might come to His seat! 4
“I would present {my} case before Him
And fill my mouth with arguments. 5
“I would learn the words {which} He would answer,
And perceive what He would say to me. 6
“Would He contend with me by the greatness of {His} power?
No, surely He would pay attention to me. 7
“There the upright would reason with Him;
And I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

 8
“Behold, I go forward but He is not {there,}
And backward, but I cannot perceive Him; 9
When He acts on the left, I cannot behold {Him;}
He turns on the right, I cannot see Him. 10
“But He knows the way I take;
{When} He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. 11
“My foot has held fast to His path;
I have kept His way and not turned aside. 12
“I have not departed from the command of His lips;
I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. 13
“But He is unique and who can turn Him?
And {what} His soul desires, that He does. 14
“For He performs what is appointed for me,
And many such {decrees} are with Him. 15
“Therefore, I would be dismayed at His presence;
{When} I consider, I am terrified of Him. 16
“{It is} God {who} has made my heart faint,
And the Almighty {who} has dismayed me, 17
But I am not silenced by the darkness,
Nor deep gloom {which} covers me.