# Job 23 (New King James Version)
Job Proclaims God's Righteous Judgments

##### Chapter 23
###### 1 Then Job answered and said:

###### 2 "Even today my complaint is bitter;  
My hand is listless because of 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 know the words _which_ He would answer me,  
And understand what He would say to me.  

###### 6 Would He contend with me in His great power?  
No! But He would take _note_ of me.  

###### 7 There 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;  

###### 9 When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold _Him;_  
When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see _Him._  

###### 10 But He knows the way that I take;  
_When_ He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.  

###### 11 My foot has held fast to His steps;  
I have kept His way and not turned aside.  

###### 12 I have not departed from the commandment of His lips;  
I have treasured the words of His mouth  
More than my necessary _food._

###### 13 "But He _is_ unique, and who can make Him change?  
And _whatever_ His soul desires, _that_ He does.  

###### 14 For He performs _what is_ appointed for me,  
And many such _things are_ with Him.  

###### 15 Therefore I am terrified at His presence;  
When I consider _this,_ I am afraid of Him.  

###### 16 For God made my heart weak,  
And the Almighty terrifies me;  

###### 17 Because I was not cut off from the presence of darkness,  
And He did _not_ hide deep darkness from my face.