1 ויען איוב ויאמר | 1 Again Job answered and said: |
2 גם היום מרי שחי ידי כבדה על אנחתי | 2 Though I know my complaint is bitter, his hand is heavy upon me in my groanings. |
3 מי יתן ידעתי ואמצאהו אבוא עד תכונתו | 3 Oh, that today I might find him, that I might come to his judgment seat! |
4 אערכה לפניו משפט ופי אמלא תוכחות | 4 I would set out my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments; |
5 אדעה מלים יענני ואבינה מה יאמר לי | 5 I would learn the words with which he would answer, and understand what he would reply to me. |
6 הברב כח יריב עמדי לא אך הוא ישם בי | 6 Even should he contend against me with his great power, yet, would that he himself might heed me! |
7 שם ישר נוכח עמו ואפלטה לנצח משפטי | 7 There the upright man might reason with him, and I should once and for all preserve my rights. |
8 הן קדם אהלך ואיננו ואחור ולא אבין לו | 8 But if I go to the east, he is not there; or to the west, I cannot perceive him; |
9 שמאול בעשתו ולא אחז יעטף ימין ולא אראה | 9 Where the north enfolds him, I behold him not; by the south he is veiled, and I see him not. |
10 כי ידע דרך עמדי בחנני כזהב אצא | 10 Yet he knows my way; if he proved me, I should come forth as gold. |
11 באשרו אחזה רגלי דרכו שמרתי ולא אט | 11 My foot has always walked in his steps; his way I have kept and have not turned aside. |
12 מצות שפתיו ולא אמיש מחקי צפנתי אמרי פיו | 12 From the commands of his lips I have not departed; the words of his mouth I have treasured in my heart. |
13 והוא באחד ומי ישיבנו ונפשו אותה ויעש | 13 But he had decided, and who can say him nay? What he desires, that he does. |
14 כי ישלים חקי וכהנה רבות עמו | 14 For he will carry out what is appointed for me; and many such things may yet be in his mind. |
15 על כן מפניו אבהל אתבונן ואפחד ממנו | 15 Therefore am I dismayed before him; when I take thought, I fear him. |
16 ואל הרך לבי ושדי הבהילני | 16 Indeed God has made my courage fail; the Almighty has put me in dismay. |
17 כי לא נצמתי מפני חשך ומפני כסה אפל | 17 Yes, would that I had vanished in darkness, and that thick gloom were before me to conceal me. |