Job 23

World English Bible 84 include this book

1 Then Job answered,

2 “Even today my complaint is rebellious. His hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.

3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!

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

5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would tell me.

6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No, but he would listen to me.

7 There the upright might reason with him, so I should be delivered forever from my judge.

8 “If I go east, he is not there. If I go west, I can’t find him.

9 He works to the north, but I can’t see him. He turns south, but I can’t catch a glimpse of him.

10 But he knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I will come out like gold.

11 My foot has held fast to his steps. I have kept his way, and not turned away.

12 I haven’t gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

13 But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does.

14 For he performs that which is appointed for me. Many such things are with him.

15 Therefore I am terrified at his presence. When I consider, I am afraid of him.

16 For God has made my heart faint. The Almighty has terrified me.

17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.

Go deeper in Job

2 places named in this book — no place is named in this chapter, so the whole book is shown.

Not known unknown No setting is given, and the book is deliberately placed outside Israel's history.

Traditions differ. Each position is shown rather than one asserted as settled.

Traditional: 2000 BC–1800 BC Unknown
The patriarchal setting and absence of Israelite institutions have long suggested a very early origin.
Critical: 600 BC–400 BC Unknown
Language and the developed treatment of suffering point to the exilic or post-exilic period.

Events overlapping the period this book is dated to (2000 BC–400 BC).

2600 BC–1900 BC Indus Valley cities India
Harappa and Mohenjo-daro housed tens of thousands, with planned streets and drainage, and a script still undeciphered.
2055 BC–1650 BC Egyptian Middle Kingdom Egypt
Egypt reunified under Theban rule; large-scale irrigation works and the classical form of the Egyptian language date from this period.
1900 BC–1450 BC Minoan palace culture Greece
Crete supported a literate palace society trading across the Aegean long before mainland Greece.
1755 BC–1750 BC Code of Hammurabi Mesopotamia
Babylonian law code inscribed on a basalt stele, covering property, family and injury, and predating the Mosaic law codes.
1600 BC–1046 BC Shang dynasty oracle bones China
The earliest substantial Chinese writing, inscribed on bone and shell for divination.
1600 BC–1178 BC Hittite empire Anatolia
An Anatolian power rivalling Egypt, ended in the Bronze Age collapse.
1200 BC–1150 BC Late Bronze Age collapse Mediterranean
Within roughly two generations most eastern Mediterranean states fell; cities were destroyed, trade networks broke and literacy contracted sharply.
1200 BC–1000 BC Iron working spreads in the Levant Levant
Iron gradually displaced bronze for tools and weapons across the eastern Mediterranean.

Select a verse number to compare it across every translation.