Job 23
1 Then Job answered and said,
| ויען איוב ויאמר׃ |
2 Yes, I know that pleading is out of my reach; and his hand has been made heavy upon my groaning.
| גם היום מרי שחי ידי כבדה על אנחתי׃ |
3 Who would then know that I might find him, and come to an end [of the matter]?
| מי יתן ידעתי ואמצאהו אבוא עד תכונתו׃ |
4 And I would plead my own cause, and he would fill my mouth with arguments.
| אערכה לפניו משפט ופי אמלא תוכחות׃ |
5 And I would know the remedies which he would speak to me, and I would perceive what he would tell me.
| אדעה מלים יענני ואבינה מה יאמר לי׃ |
6 Though he should come on me in [his] great strength, then he would not threaten me;
| הברב כח יריב עמדי לא אך הוא ישם בי׃ |
7 for truth and reproof are from him; and he would bring forth my judgment to an end.
| שם ישר נוכח עמו ואפלטה לנצח משפטי׃ |
8 For if I shall go first, and exist no longer, still what do I know [concerning] the latter end?
| הן קדם אהלך ואיננו ואחור ולא אבין לו׃ |
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].
| שמאול בעשתו ולא אחז יעטף ימין ולא אראה׃ |
10 For he knows already my way; and he has tried me as gold.
| כי ידע דרך עמדי בחנני כזהב אצא׃ |
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,
| באשרו אחזה רגלי דרכו שמרתי ולא אט׃ |
12 neither shall I transgress; but I have hid his words in my bosom.
| מצות שפתיו ולא אמיש מחקי צפנתי אמרי פיו׃ |
13 And if too he has thus judged, who is he that has contradicted, for he has both willed [a thing] and done it.
| והוא באחד ומי ישיבנו ונפשו אותה ויעש׃ |
| כי ישלים חקי וכהנה רבות עמו׃ |
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.
| על כן מפניו אבהל אתבונן ואפחד ממנו׃ |
16 But the Lord has softened my heart, and the Almighty has troubled me.
| ואל הרך לבי ושדי הבהילני׃ |
17 For I knew not that darkness would come upon me, and thick darkness has covered [me] before my face.
| כי לא נצמתי מפני חשך ומפני כסה אפל׃ |
