1 ויען איוב ויאמר | 1 Job spoke next. He said: |
2 גם היום מרי שחי ידי כבדה על אנחתי | 2 My lament is stil rebellious; despite my groans, his hand is just as heavy. |
3 מי יתן ידעתי ואמצאהו אבוא עד תכונתו | 3 Wil no one help me to know how to travel to his dwel ing? |
4 אערכה לפניו משפט ופי אמלא תוכחות | 4 I should set out my case to him, advancing any number of grievances. |
5 אדעה מלים יענני ואבינה מה יאמר לי | 5 Then I could learn his defence, every word of it, taking note of everything he said to me. |
6 הברב כח יריב עמדי לא אך הוא ישם בי | 6 Would he put al his strength into this debate with me? No, he would only have to give his attention tome, |
7 שם ישר נוכח עמו ואפלטה לנצח משפטי | 7 to recognise his opponent as upright and so I should win my case for ever. |
8 הן קדם אהלך ואיננו ואחור ולא אבין לו | 8 If I go to the east, he is not there; or to the west, I stil cannot see him. |
9 שמאול בעשתו ולא אחז יעטף ימין ולא אראה | 9 If I seek him in the north, he is not to be found, invisible as ever, if I turn to the south. |
10 כי ידע דרך עמדי בחנני כזהב אצא | 10 And yet he knows every step I take! Let him test me in the crucible: I shall come out pure gold. |
11 באשרו אחזה רגלי דרכו שמרתי ולא אט | 11 My footsteps have fol owed close in his, I have walked in his way without swerving; |
12 מצות שפתיו ולא אמיש מחקי צפנתי אמרי פיו | 12 I have not neglected the commandment of his lips, in my heart I have cherished the words of hismouth. |
13 והוא באחד ומי ישיבנו ונפשו אותה ויעש | 13 But once he has made up his mind, who can change it? Whatever he plans, that he carries out. |
14 כי ישלים חקי וכהנה רבות עמו | 14 No doubt, then, but he wil carry out my sentence, like so many other decrees that he has made. |
15 על כן מפניו אבהל אתבונן ואפחד ממנו | 15 That is why I am ful of fear before him, and the more I think, the greater grows my dread of him. |
16 ואל הרך לבי ושדי הבהילני | 16 God has undermined my courage, Shaddai has filled me with fear. |
17 כי לא נצמתי מפני חשך ומפני כסה אפל | 17 The darkness having failed to destroy me, I am plunged back into obscurity by him! |