Job 21
1 Then Job made answer and said,
| ויען איוב ויאמר׃ |
2 Give attention with care to my words; and let this be your comfort.
| שמעו שמוע מלתי ותהי זאת תנחומתיכם׃ |
3 Let me say what is in my mind, and after that, go on making sport of me.
| שאוני ואנכי אדבר ואחר דברי תלעיג׃ |
4 As for me, is my outcry against man? is it then to be wondered at if my spirit is troubled?
| האנכי לאדם שיחי ואם מדוע לא תקצר רוחי׃ |
5 Take note of me and be full of wonder, put your hand on your mouth.
| פנו אלי והשמו ושימו יד על פה׃ |
6 At the very thought of it my flesh is shaking with fear.
| ואם זכרתי ונבהלתי ואחז בשרי פלצות׃ |
7 Why is life given to the evil-doers? why do they become old and strong in power?
| מדוע רשעים יחיו עתקו גם גברו חיל׃ |
8 Their children are ever with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
| זרעם נכון לפניהם עמם וצאצאיהם לעיניהם׃ |
9 Their houses are free from fear, and the rod of God does not come on them.
| בתיהם שלום מפחד ולא שבט אלוה עליהם׃ |
10 Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young.
| שורו עבר ולא יגעל תפלט פרתו ולא תשכל׃ |
11 They send out their young ones like a flock, and their children have pleasure in the dance,
| ישלחו כצאן עויליהם וילדיהם ירקדון׃ |
12 They make songs to the instruments of music, and are glad at the sound of the pipe.
| ישאו כתף וכנור וישמחו לקול עוגב׃ |
13 Their days come to an end without trouble, and suddenly they go down to the underworld. (Sheol h7585)
| יבלו בטוב ימיהם וברגע שאול יחתו׃ (Sheol h7585) |
14 Though they said to God, Go away from us, for we have no desire for the knowledge of your ways.
| ויאמרו לאל סור ממנו ודעת דרכיך לא חפצנו׃ |
15 What is the Ruler of all, that we may give him worship? and what profit is it to us to make prayer to him?
| מה שדי כי נעבדנו ומה נועיל כי נפגע בו׃ |
16 Truly, is not their well-being in their power? (The purpose of the evil-doers is far from me.)
| הן לא בידם טובם עצת רשעים רחקה מני׃ |
17 How frequently is the light of the evil-doers put out, or does trouble come on them? how frequently does his wrath take them with cords?
| כמה נר רשעים ידעך ויבא עלימו אידם חבלים יחלק באפו׃ |
18 How frequently are they as dry stems before the wind, or as grass taken away by the storm-wind?
| יהיו כתבן לפני רוח וכמץ גנבתו סופה׃ |
19 You say, God keeps punishment stored up for his children. Let him send it on the man himself, so that he may have the punishment of it!
| אלוה יצפן לבניו אונו ישלם אליו וידע׃ |
20 Let his eyes see his trouble, and let him be full of the wrath of the Ruler of all!
| יראו עינו כידו ומחמת שדי ישתה׃ |
21 For what interest has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is ended?
| כי מה חפצו בביתו אחריו ומספר חדשיו חצצו׃ |
22 Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high.
| הלאל ילמד דעת והוא רמים ישפוט׃ |
23 One comes to his end in complete well-being, full of peace and quiet:
| זה ימות בעצם תמו כלו שלאנן ושליו׃ |
24 His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones.
| עטיניו מלאו חלב ומח עצמותיו ישקה׃ |
25 And another comes to his end with a bitter soul, without ever tasting good.
| וזה ימות בנפש מרה ולא אכל בטובה׃ |
26 Together they go down to the dust, and are covered by the worm.
| יחד על עפר ישכבו ורמה תכסה עליהם׃ |
27 See, I am conscious of your thoughts, and of your violent purposes against me;
| הן ידעתי מחשבותיכם ומזמות עלי תחמסו׃ |
28 For you say, Where is the house of the ruler, and where is the tent of the evil-doer?
| כי תאמרו איה בית נדיב ואיה אהל משכנות רשעים׃ |
29 Have you not put the question to the travellers, and do you not take note of their experience?
| הלא שאלתם עוברי דרך ואתתם לא תנכרו׃ |
30 How the evil man goes free in the day of trouble, and has salvation in the day of wrath?
| כי ליום איד יחשך רע ליום עברות יובלו׃ |
31 Who will make his way clear to his face? and if he has done a thing, who gives him punishment for it?
| מי יגיד על פניו דרכו והוא עשה מי ישלם לו׃ |
32 He is taken to his last resting-place, and keeps watch over it.
| והוא לקברות יובל ועל גדיש ישקוד׃ |
33 The earth of the valley covering his bones is sweet to him, and all men come after him, as there were unnumbered before him.
| מתקו לו רגבי נחל ואחריו כל אדם ימשוך ולפניו אין מספר׃ |
34 Why then do you give me comfort with words in which there is no profit, when you see that there is nothing in your answers but deceit?
| ואיך תנחמוני הבל ותשובתיכם נשאר מעל׃ |
