Job 23

1 Then Job answered:

ויען איוב ויאמר

2 “Even today my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning.

גם-היום מרי שחי ידי כבדה על-אנחתי

3 If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat.

מי-יתן ידעתי ואמצאהו אבוא עד-תכונתו

4 I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.

אערכה לפניו משפט ופי אמלא תוכחות

5 I would learn how He would answer, and consider what He would say.

אדעה מלים יענני ואבינה מה-יאמר לי

6 Would He contend with me in His great power? No, He would certainly take note of me.

הברב-כח יריב עמדי לא אך-הוא ישם בי

7 Then an upright man could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

שם--ישר נוכח עמו ואפלטה לנצח משפטי

8 If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot find Him.

הן קדם אהלך ואיננו ואחור ולא-אבין לו

9 When He is at work in the north, I cannot behold Him; when He turns to the south, I cannot see Him.

שמאול בעשתו ולא-אחז יעטף ימין ולא אראה

10 Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

כי-ידע דרך עמדי בחנני כזהב אצא

11 My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept His way without turning aside.

באשרו אחזה רגלי דרכו שמרתי ולא-אט

12 I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.

מצות שפתיו ולא אמיש מחקי צפנתי אמרי-פיו

13 But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.

והוא באחד ומי ישיבנו ונפשו אותה ויעש

14 For He carries out His decree against me, and He has many such plans.

כי ישלים חקי וכהנה רבות עמו

15 Therefore I am terrified in His presence; when I consider this, I fear Him.

על-כן מפניו אבהל אתבונן ואפחד ממנו

16 God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.

ואל הרך לבי ושדי הבהילני

17 Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.

כי-לא נצמתי מפני-חשך ומפני כסה-אפל