1 ויען איוב ויאמר | 1 Then Job answered, and said: |
2 גם היום מרי שחי ידי כבדה על אנחתי | 2 Now also my words are in bitterness, and the hand of my scourge is more grievous than my mourning. |
3 מי יתן ידעתי ואמצאהו אבוא עד תכונתו | 3 Who will grant me that I might know and find him, and come even to his throne? |
4 אערכה לפניו משפט ופי אמלא תוכחות | 4 I would set judgment before him, and would fill my mouth with complaints. |
5 אדעה מלים יענני ואבינה מה יאמר לי | 5 That I might know the words that he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me. |
6 הברב כח יריב עמדי לא אך הוא ישם בי | 6 I would not that he should contend with me with much strength, nor overwhelm me with the weight of his greatness. |
7 שם ישר נוכח עמו ואפלטה לנצח משפטי | 7 Let him propose equity against me, and let my judgment come to victory. |
8 הן קדם אהלך ואיננו ואחור ולא אבין לו | 8 But if I go to the east, he appeareth not; if to the west, I shall not understand him. |
9 שמאול בעשתו ולא אחז יעטף ימין ולא אראה | 9 If to the left hand, what shall I do? I shall not take hold on him: if I turn myself to the right hand, I shall not see him. |
10 כי ידע דרך עמדי בחנני כזהב אצא | 10 But he knoweth my way, and has tried me as gold that passeth through the fire: |
11 באשרו אחזה רגלי דרכו שמרתי ולא אט | 11 My foot hath followed his steps, I have kept his way, and have not declined from it. |
12 מצות שפתיו ולא אמיש מחקי צפנתי אמרי פיו | 12 I have not departed from the commandments of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hid in my bosom. |
13 והוא באחד ומי ישיבנו ונפשו אותה ויעש | 13 For he is alone, and no man can turn away his thought: and whatsoever is soul hath desired, that hath he done. |
14 כי ישלים חקי וכהנה רבות עמו | 14 And when he shall have fulfilled his will in me, many other like things are also at hand with him. |
15 על כן מפניו אבהל אתבונן ואפחד ממנו | 15 And therefore I am troubled at his presence, and when I consider him I am made pensive with fear. |
16 ואל הרך לבי ושדי הבהילני | 16 God hath softened my heart, and the Almighty hath troubled me. |
17 כי לא נצמתי מפני חשך ומפני כסה אפל | 17 For I have not perished because of the darkness that hangs over me, neither hath the mist covered my face. |