1Hertil svarede Job:2„Jeg må stadig klage i min håbløshed, for Guds hårde straf får mig til at stønne.3Kunne jeg dog bare få Gud i tale, træde frem for hans trone,4forklare ham mit syn på sagen, og fremlægge mine argumenter,5så kunne jeg få at vide, hvad han mener, og prøve at forstå hans svar.6Ville den almægtige Gud bare tromle mig ned? Nej, han ville høre efter, hvad jeg havde at sige.7Med ham som dommer får man en fair behandling, og jeg tror bestemt, han ville frifinde mig.8Men går jeg mod øst, finder jeg ham ikke. Går jeg mod vest, er han heller ikke der.9Mod nord kan jeg ikke få øje på ham, mod syd kan jeg ikke finde hans spor.10Men han kender mit liv og mine gerninger, jeg ville bestå hans prøve med glans.11Trofast har jeg fulgt i hans fodspor, vandret den vej, han har anvist.12Jeg har ikke overtrådt hans befalinger, men bevaret hans ord i mit hjerte.13Men hvem kan standse Gud? Han fører det igennem, han har sat sig for.14Han handler med mig efter sin plan, og hvem ved, hvad han mere har i sinde?15Er det så sært, at jeg frygter ham, at jeg gruer ved tanken om, hvad han kan gøre?16Gud har taget alt modet fra mig, den Almægtige gør mig bange.17Men jeg kan ikke bare holde min mund, fordi jeg sidder i et mørkt fangehul.
1Then Job answered and said:2“Today also my complaint is bitter;[1] my hand is heavy on account of my groaning. (Job 10,1; Job 21,4; Salm 32,4)3Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat! (Job 13,3; Job 16,21; Salm 9,7; Es 57,15)4I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. (Job 33,5)5I would know what he would answer me and understand what he would say to me.6Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; he would pay attention to me. (Job 9,34; Job 13,21)7There an upright man could argue with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.8“Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him; (Job 9,11; Job 35,14)9on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.10But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. (Job 9,35; Salm 17,3; Salm 26,2; Salm 66,10; Salm 139,1; Salm 139,23; Salm 139,24; Zak 13,9; Mal 3,3; Jak 1,12; 1.Pet 1,7; Åb 3,18)11My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside. (Salm 17,5; Salm 44,18; Salm 125,5)12I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food. (Salm 119,11; Salm 119,103; Joh 4,32; Joh 4,34)13But he is unchangeable,[2] and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does. (Job 9,12; Job 12,14; Salm 115,3)14For he will complete what he appoints for me, and many such things are in his mind. (Job 10,13; Job 27,11; 1.Thess 3,3)15Therefore I am terrified at his presence; when I consider, I am in dread of him.16God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me; (5.Mos 20,3; Salm 22,14)17yet I am not silenced because of the darkness, nor because thick darkness covers my face.