Job longeth to appear before God,

1 ¶ Then Jobº answeredºª and said,ºª 2 Even² to dayº [is] my complaintº bitter:º my strokeº is heavierºª than² my groaning.º 3 Oh thatºª² I knewºª where I might findºª him! [that] I might comeºª [even] to² his seat!º 4 I would orderºª [my] causeº beforeº him, and fillºª my mouthº with arguments.º 5 I would knowºª the wordsº [which] he would answerºª me, and understandºª what² he would sayºª unto me.

in confidence of his mercy.

6 Will he pleadºª againstº me with [his] greatº power?º No;² but² he² would putºª [strength] in me. 7 There² the righteousº might disputeºª with² him; so should I be deliveredºª for everº from my judge.ºª²

God, who is invisible, observeth our ways.

8 Behold,² I goºª forward,º but he [is] not² [there]; and backward,º but I cannot² perceiveºª him: 9 On the left hand,º where he doth work,ºª but I cannot² beholdºª [him]: he hidethºª himself on the right hand,º that I cannot² seeºª [him]: 10 But² he knowethºª the wayº that I take:º [when] he hath triedºª me, I shall come forthºª as gold.º

Job's innocency.

11 My footº hath heldºª his steps,º his wayº have I kept,ºª and not² declined.ºª 12 Neither² have I gone backºª from the commandmentº of his lips;º I have esteemedºª the wordsº of his mouthº more than my necessaryº² [food].

God's decree is immutable.

13 But he² [is] in oneº [mind], and who² can turnºª him? and [what] his soulº desireth,ºª even [that] he doeth.ºª 14 For² he performethºª [the thing that is] appointedº for me: and manyº suchº [things are] with² him. 15 Therefore²² am I troubledºª at his presence:º² when I consider,ºª I am afraidºª of² him. 16 For Godº maketh my heart¹ soft,ºª² and the Almightyº troublethºª me: 17 Because² I was not² cut offºª beforeº² the darkness,º [neither] hath he coveredºª the darknessº from my face.º²