< Job 23 >

1 Then Job answered and said,
أَيُّوبُ:١
2 Yes, I know that pleading is out of my reach; and his hand has been made heavy upon my groaning.
«إِنَّ شَكْوَايَ الْيَوْمَ مُرَّةٌ، وَلَكِنَّ الْيَدَ الَّتِي عَلَيَّ أَثْقَلُ مِنْ أَنِينِي.٢
3 Who would then know that I might find him, and come to an end [of the matter]?
أَيْنَ لِي أَنْ أَجِدَهُ فَأَمْثُلَ أَمَامَ كُرْسِيِّهِ،٣
4 And I would plead my own cause, and he would fill my mouth with arguments.
وَأَعْرِضَ عَلَيْهِ قَضِيَّتِي وَأَمْلأَ فَمِي حُجَجاً،٤
5 And I would know the remedies which he would speak to me, and I would perceive what he would tell me.
فَأَطَّلِعَ عَلَى جَوَابِهِ وَأَفْهَمَ مَا يَقُولُهُ لِي؟٥
6 Though he should come on me in [his] great strength, then he would not threaten me;
أَيُخَاصِمُنِي بِعَظَمَةِ قُوَّتِهِ؟ لا! بَلْ يَلْتَفِتُ مُتَرَئِّفاً عَلَيَّ.٦
7 for truth and reproof are from him; and he would bring forth my judgment to an end.
هُنَاكَ يُمْكِنُ لِلْمُسْتَقِيمِ أَنْ يُحَاجَّهُ، وَأُبْرِئُ سَاحَتِي إِلَى الأَبَدِ مِنْ قَاضِيَّ.٧
8 For if I shall go first, and exist no longer, still what do I know [concerning] the latter end?
وَلَكِنْ هَا أَنَا أَتَّجِهُ شَرْقاً فَلا أَجِدُهُ، وَإِنْ قَصَدْتُ غَرْباً لَا أَشْعُرُ بِهِ،٨
9 When he wrought on the left hand, then I observed [it] not: his right hand shall encompass me but I shall not see [it].
أَطْلُبُهُ عَنْ شِمَالِي فَلا أَرَاهُ وَأَلْتَفِتُ إِلَى يَمِينِي فَلا أُبْصِرُهُ.٩
10 For he knows already my way; and he has tried me as gold.
وَلَكِنَّهُ يَعْرِفُ الطَّرِيقَ الَّتِي أَسْلُكُهَا، وَإذَا امْتَحَنَنِي أَخْرُجُ كَالذَّهَبِ١٠
11 And I will go forth according to his commandments, for I have kept his ways; and I shall not turn aside from his commandments,
اقْتَفَتْ قَدَمَايَ إِثْرَ خُطَاهُ، وَسَلَكْتُ بِحِرْصٍ فِي سُبُلِهِ وَلَمْ أَحِدْ.١١
12 neither shall I transgress; but I have hid his words in my bosom.
لَمْ أَتَعَدَّ عَلَى وَصَايَاهُ، وَذَخَرْتُ فِي قَلْبِي كَلِمَاتِهِ.١٢
13 And if too he has thus judged, who is he that has contradicted, for he has both willed [a thing] and done it.
وَلَكِنَّهُ مُتَفَرِّدٌ وَحْدَهُ فَمَنْ يَرُدُّهُ؟ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاءُ،١٣
لأَنَّهُ يُتَمِّمُ مَا رَسَمَهُ لِي، وَمَازَالَ لَدَيْهِ وَفْرَةٌ مِنْهَا.١٤
15 Therefore am I troubled at him; and when I was reproved, I thought of him. Therefore let me take good heed before him: I will consider, and be afraid of him.
لِذَلِكَ أَرْتَعِبُ فِي حَضْرَتِهِ، وَعِنْدَمَا أَتَأَمَّلُ، يُخَامِرُنِي الْخَوْفُ مِنْهُ.١٥
16 But the Lord has softened my heart, and the Almighty has troubled me.
فَقَدْ أَضْعَفَ اللهُ قَلْبِي، وَرَوَّعَنِي الْقَدِيرُ.١٦
17 For I knew not that darkness would come upon me, and thick darkness has covered [me] before my face.
وَمَعَ ذَلِكَ لَمْ تَسْكُنْنِي الظُّلْمَةُ، وَلا الدُّجَى غَشَّى وَجْهِي.١٧

< Job 23 >