Job Longs to Find God
Job 23
Job answers and says that if he could find God he would plead his cause before him, confident that God would clear him, since God knows his way and has tried him as gold. Yet Job remains troubled and afraid before the hidden darkness of God's purposes.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonIN reply to this, Job said:
BrentonThen Job answered and said,
GreekὙπολαβὼν δὲ Ἰὼβ, λέγει,
KJVThen Job answered and said,
JPSThen Job answered and said:
2
ThomsonI know very well, this trial is not in my disposal. And that His hand is made heavy by my groaning.
BrentonYea, I know that pleading is out of my reach; and his hand has been made heavy upon my groaning.
GreekΚαὶ δὴ οἶδα ὅτι ἐκ χειρός μου ἡ ἔλεγξίς ἐστι, καὶ ἡ χεὶρ αὐτοῦ βαρεῖα γέγονεν ἐπʼ ἐμῷ στεναγμῷ.
KJV—
JPSEven to-day is my complaint bitter; My hand is become heavy because of my groaning.
3
ThomsonBut O that some person would let me know, that I might find Him, and come to an issue;
BrentonWho would then know that I might find him, and come to an end of the matter?
GreekΤίς δʼ ἄρα γνοίη, ὅτι εὕροιμι αὐτὸν, καὶ ἔλθοιμι εἰς τέλος;
KJVOh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
JPSOh that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come even to His seat!
4
Thomsonthat I might order the trial of myself, and that He would stop my mouth with arguments.
BrentonAnd I would plead my own cause, and he would fill my mouth with arguments.
GreekΕἴποιμι δὲ ἐμαυτοῦ κρίμα, τὸ δὲ στόμα μου ἐμπλήσαι ἐλέγχων.
KJVI would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
JPSI would order my cause before Him, And fill my mouth with arguments.
5
ThomsonThat I might know what remedies He will prescribe for me, and understand what He will announce to me!
BrentonAnd I would know the remedies which he would speak to me, and I would perceive what he would tell me.
GreekΓνοίην δὲ ἰάματα ἅ μοι ἐρεῖ, αἰσθοίμην δὲ τίνα μοι ἀπαγγελεῖ.
KJVI would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
JPSI would know the words which He would answer me, And understand what He would say unto me.
6
ThomsonThough He may come against me with great majesty, He will not employ it in threatening me.
BrentonThough he should come on me in his great strength, then he would not threaten me;
GreekΚαὶ ἐν πολλῇ ἰσχύϊ ἐπελεύσεταί μοι, εἶτα ἐν ἀπειλῇ μοι οὐ χρήσεται.
KJVWill he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.
JPS—
7
ThomsonFor truth and argument proceed from Him; and He would bring my cause to an issue.
Brentonfor truth and reproof are from him; and he would bring forth my judgment to an end.
GreekἈλήθεια γὰρ καὶ ἔλεγχος παρʼ αὐτοῦ, ἐξαγάγοι δὲ εἰς τέλος τὸ κρίμα μου.
KJV—
JPS—
8
ThomsonFor if I am to go first and am no more, how do I know what will be at the last?
BrentonFor if I shall go first, and exist no longer, still what do I know concerning the latter end?
GreekΕἰ γὰρ πρῶτος πορεύσομαι, καὶ οὐκ ἔτι εἰμὶ, τὰ δὲ ἐπʼ ἐσχάτοις, τί οἶδα;
KJV—
JPS—
9
ThomsonWhen He wrought on my left, I comprehended not; He may encompass my right and I not see.
BrentonWhen he wrought on the left hand, then I observed it not: his right hand shall encompass me but I shall not see it.
GreekἈριστερὰ ποιήσαντος αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐ κατέσχον, περιβαλεῖ δεξιὰ καὶ οὐκ ὄψομαι·
KJVOn the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:
JPSOn the left hand, when He doth work, but I cannot behold Him, He turneth Himself to the right hand, but I cannot see Him.
10
ThomsonFor He already knoweth my way and hath tried me like gold.
BrentonFor he knows already my way; and he has tried me as gold.
GreekΟἶδε γὰρ ἤδη ὁδόν μου· διέκρινε δέ με ὥσπερ τὸ χρυσίον.
KJVBut he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
JPSFor He knoweth the way that I take; When He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11
ThomsonAnd I will come out at His commands; for I have kept His ways, and will not turn aside from His commands,
BrentonAnd I will go forth according to his commandments, for I have kept his ways; and I shall not turn aside from his commandments,
GreekἘξελεύσομαι δὲ ἐν ἐντάλμασιν αὐτοῦ, ὁδοὺς γὰρ αὐτοῦ ἐφύλαξα, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐκκλίνω ἀπὸ ἐνταλμάτων αὐτοῦ,
KJV—
JPSMy foot hath held fast to His steps, His way have I kept, and turned not aside.
12
Thomsonnor transgress in my bosom: indeed I have hid His words.
Brentonneither shall I transgress; but I have hid his words in my bosom.
Greekκαὶ οὐ μὴ παρέλθω, ἐν δὲ κόλπῳ μου ἔκρυψα ῥήματα αὐτοῦ.
KJVNeither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
JPSI have not gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured up the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
13
ThomsonBut if He hath judged thus, who can gainsay him? For He hath done what was His pleasure.
BrentonAnd if too he has thus judged, who is he that has contradicted, for he has both willed a thing and done it.
GreekΕἰ δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ἔκρινεν οὕτως, τίς ἐστιν ὁ ἀντειπὼν αὐτῷ; ὁ γὰρ αὐτὸς ἠθέλησε, καὶ ἐποίησε.
KJV—
JPS—
15
Thomson—
BrentonTherefore am I troubled at him; and when I was reproved, I thought of him.
GreekΔιὰ τοῦτο ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἐσπούδακα· νουθετούμενος δὲ, ἐφρόντισα αὐτοῦ.
KJV—
JPS—
15a
Thomson—
BrentonTherefore let me take good heed before him: I will consider, and be afraid of him.
GreekἘπὶ τούτῳ ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ κατασπουδασθῶ· κατανοήσω, καὶ πτοηθήσομαι ἐξ αὐτοῦ.
KJVTherefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.
JPSTherefore am I affrighted at His presence; When I consider, I am afraid of Him.
16
ThomsonIt is the Lord indeed who hath softened my heart. It is the Almighty Who hath made me shudder.
BrentonBut the Lord has softened my heart, and the Almighty has troubled me.
GreekΚύριος δὲ ἐμαλάκυνε τὴν καρδίαν μου· ὁ δὲ παντοκράτωρ ἐσπούδασέ με.
KJVFor God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
JPSYea, God hath made my heart faint, And the Almighty hath affrighted me;
17
ThomsonFor I did not know that darkness was to come upon me; and thick darkness covered my view before me.
BrentonFor I knew not that darkness would come upon me, and thick darkness has covered me before my face.
GreekΟὐ γὰρ ᾔδειν ὅτι ἐπελεύσεταί μοι σκότος, πρὸ προσώπου δέ μου ἐκάλυψε γνόφος.
KJVBecause I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.
JPSBecause I was not cut off before the darkness, Neither did He cover the thick darkness from my face.