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v1
Then ^[Hebrew “And”] Job answered and said,
v2
“Even today my complaint is bitter; my hand is heavy in addition to my groaning.
v3
O that ^[Literally “Who shall give”] I knew and that I might find him; O that I might come to his dwelling.
v4
I would lay my case before him, ^[Literally “to his face”] and I would fill my mouth with arguments.
v5
I want to know the words with which he would answer me, and I want to understand what he would say to me.
v6
Would he contend with me in the greatness of his strength? No, but he himself ^[Emphatic personal pronoun] would give heed to me.
v7
There an upright person could reason with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.
v8
“When I go forward, he is not there, ^[Literally “and there is not he,” or “and he is not”] or ^[Hebrew “and”] backward, I cannot see him. ^[Hebrew “and I cannot see him”]
v9
When he works ^[Literally “At his working”] on the left, I cannot perceive ^[Literally “and I cannot see”] him; he turns to the right, but ^[Hebrew “and”] I cannot see him.
v10
But he knows the way that I take; ^[Literally “way with me”] he tests me—I shall come out like gold.
v11
My foot has held on to his steps; I have kept his way, and I have not turned aside.
v12
From the commandment of his lips, indeed ^[Hebrew “and”] I have not departed; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily food.
v13
“But ^[Hebrew “And”] he is alone, ^[Literally “as one”] and who can dissuade him? And whatever he desires, ^[Literally “his inner self desires,” or “his soul desires”] indeed, ^[Hebrew “and”] he does it.
v14
For he will carry out what he appoints for me, ^[Literally “my portion,” or “my allotment”] and many things like these are with him.
v15
Therefore, I am horrified because of his presence; when I consider, I tremble ^[Hebrew “and I tremble,” or “then I tremble”] because of him.
v16
Indeed, ^[Hebrew “And”] God has made my heart faint, and Shaddai has terrified me.
v17
Indeed, I have not been silenced because of darkness, ^[Literally “from the face of darkness”] and because of me he ^[Or “it”] conceals thick darkness.