CHAP. XXIII.

1 Iob longeth to appeare before God, 6 in confidence of his mercie. 8 God who is inuisible, obserueth our wayes. 11 Iobs innocencie. 13 Gods decree is immutable.

¹ Then Iob answered, and said,

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² Euen to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heauier then my groning.²

³ O that I knewe where I might find him! that I might come euen to his seate!

⁴ I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

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⁵ I would know the words which he would answere me, and vnderstand what he would say vnto me.

⁶ Will he plead against me with his great power? No, but hee would put strength in me.

⁷ There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be deliuered for euer from my Iudge.

⁸ Behold, I goe forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I cannot perceiue him:

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⁹ On the left hand where hee doeth worke, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himselfe on the right hand, that I cannot see him.

¹⁰ But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.¹⁰

¹¹ My foot hath held his steps, his way haue I kept, and not declined.

¹² Neither haue I gone backe from the commaundement of his lippes, I haue esteemed the words of his mouth more then my necessary food.¹²

¹³ But hee is in one minde, and who can turne him? and what his soule desireth, euen that he doeth.¹³

¹⁴ For he performeth the thing that is appointed for mee: and many such things are with him.

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¹⁵ Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

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¹⁶ For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:

¹⁷ Because I was not cut off before the darknes, neither hath he couered the darknes from my face.