Job 23:15 (ASV)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

Job 23:13 But he is in one [mind], and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

Job 23:14 For he performeth that which is appointed for me: And many such things are with him.

Job 23:15 Therefore am I terrified at his presence; When I consider, I am afraid of him.

Job 23:16 For God hath made my heart faint, And the Almighty hath terrified me;

Job 23:17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, Neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "therefore", "terrified", "presence", "consider", and "afraid". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "therefore" and "terrified", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 14's "For he performeth that which is appointed..." into verse 16's "For God hath made my heart faint...", so "therefore" and "terrified" belong inside that flow. In Job context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "therefore" and "terrified" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.