# Job 23.8-9 **Book:** [Job](/codex/job/) · NASB95 ## Immediate context (±2 verses) **ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/)) > 6. Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me. 7. There the upright might reason with him; So should I be delivered for ever from my judge. > > **8. Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; And backward, but I cannot perceive him; 9. On the left hand, when he doth work, but I cannot behold him; He hideth himself 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. 11. My foot hath held fast to his steps; His way have I kept, and turned not aside. (Job 23:6-11, ASV) **WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/)) > 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 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 shall come out like gold. 11. My foot has held fast to his steps. I have kept his way, and not turned aside. (Job 23:6-11, WEB) **KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/)) > 6. Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. 7. There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge. > > **8. Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: 9. On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself 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. that: Heb. that is with me 11. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. (Job 23:6-11, KJV) **YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/)) > 6. In the abundance of power doth He strive with me? No! surely He putteth [it] in me. 7. There the upright doth reason with Him, And I escape for ever from my judge. > > **8. Lo, forward I go, and He is not, And backward, and I perceive him not. 9. [To] the left in His working, and I see not, He is covered [on] the right, and I behold not.** > > 10. For He hath known the way with me, He hath tried me, as gold I go forth. 11. On His step hath my foot laid hold, His way I have kept, and turn not aside, (Job 23:6-11, YLT) ## Setting - **Speaker:** _TBD_ - **Audience:** _TBD_ - **Location:** _TBD_ - **Time period:** _TBD_ ## Theological reading _Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added._ ## Key words _Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap._ - _TBD_ - _TBD_ - _TBD_ - _TBD_ ## Quoted in **Arguments and defeaters:** - [Divine Hiddenness Objection Defeater](/codex/divine-hiddenness-objection-defeater/) --- _Scripture quotations taken from the **New American Standard Bible®** (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by **The Lockman Foundation**. Used by permission. All rights reserved. [www.lockman.org](https://www.lockman.org)_ ## Why these four translations ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance. The four: - **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition. - **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English. - **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base. - **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff. See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.