Passage

Job 23.8-9

Book: Job · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

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.

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

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.

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

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:

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

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.

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)

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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
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Quoted in

Arguments and defeaters:

Divine Hiddenness Objection Defeater

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 (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
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 for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.