Job 21
1 Then answered Job, and said,
| ויען איוב ויאמר |
2 Hear, O hear my speech, and let this be wherewith you give consolations.
| שמעו שמוע מלתי ותהי-זאת תנחומתיכם |
3 Bear with me that I may indeed speak: and after my speaking, then canst thou mock.
| שאוני ואנכי אדבר ואחר דברי תלעיג |
4 As for me, —is against man my complaint? and if this be so, why should my spirit not be impatient?
| האנכי לאדם שיחי ואם-מדוע לא-תקצר רוחי |
5 Turn yourselves unto me, and be astounded, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
| פנו-אלי והשמו ושימו יד על-פה |
6 Yea, when I think of it, I am terrified, and shuddering seizeth hold of my flesh.
| ואם-זכרתי ונבהלתי ואחז בשרי פלצות |
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, grow strong in power?
| מדוע רשעים יחיו עתקו גם-גברו חיל |
8 Their seed is firmly established in their presence with them. their offspring are before their eyes.
| זרעם נכון לפניהם עמם וצאצאיהם לעיניהם |
9 Their houses are at peace without any dread, and no rod of God [cometh] over them.
| בתיהם שלום מפחד ולא שבט אלוה עליהם |
10 The bull of each one gendereth, and disappointeth not: the cow of each one calveth, and casteth not her young.
| שורו עבר ולא יגעל תפלט פרתו ולא תשכל |
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children skip about [with joy].
| ישלחו כצאן עויליהם וילדיהם ירקדון |
12 They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
| ישאו כתף וכנור וישמחו לקול עוגב |
13 They wear out their days in happiness, and in a moment they go down to the nether world. (Sheol h7585)
| יבלו (יכלו) בטוב ימיהם וברגע שאול יחתו (Sheol h7585) |
14 And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us; and the knowledge of thy ways we desire not.
| ויאמרו לאל סור ממנו ודעת דרכיך לא חפצנו |
15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit shall we have, if we entreat him urgently?”
| מה-שדי כי-נעבדנו ומה-נועיל כי נפגע-בו |
16 Lo, not in their hand doth their happiness rest! The counsel of the wicked be [still] far from me.
| הן לא בידם טובם עצת רשעים רחקה מני |
17 How often is the lamp of the wicked quenched? and how often cometh over them their calamity? and doth [God] distribute their lot in his anger?
| כמה נר-רשעים ידעך-- ויבא עלימו אידם חבלים יחלק באפו |
18 Are they as straw before the wind, and as chaff which the stealeth away?
| יהיו כתבן לפני-רוח וכמץ גנבתו סופה |
19 Should God lay up for his children his wrong-doing? it were better that he reward him, that he might know it himself.
| אלוה יצפן-לבניו אונו ישלם אליו וידע |
20 His own eyes ought to see his downfall, and from the wrath of the Almighty ought he to drink.
| יראו עינו כידו ומחמת שדי ישתה |
21 For what care hath he for his household after him, when the number of his months is all apportioned to him?
| כי מה-חפצו בביתו אחריו ומספר חדשיו חצצו |
22 Is this fitting God, who teacheth knowledge? him who judgeth those that are highest?
| הלאל ילמד-דעת והוא רמים ישפוט |
23 That this one dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
| זה--ימות בעצם תמו כלו שלאנן ושליו |
24 His vessels being full of healthy fluid, and the marrow of his bones being well moistened:
| עטיניו מלאו חלב ומח עצמותיו ישקה |
25 While this other dieth with an embittered soul, and hath never partaken of any happiness;
| וזה--ימות בנפש מרה ולא-אכל בטובה |
26 [And yet] together they must lie down in the dust, and the worms will cover them?
| יחד על-עפר ישכבו ורמה תכסה עליהם |
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the opinions which ye wrongfully devise against me.
| הן ידעתי מחשבותיכם ומזמות עלי תחמסו |
28 For ye say, Where is the house of the noble-minded? and where is the tent of the dwelling-places of the wicked?
| כי תאמרו איה בית-נדיב ואיה אהל משכנות רשעים |
29 Have ye not asked the wayfarers? surely their token ye cannot disregard,
| הלא שאלתם עוברי דרך ואתתם לא תנכרו |
30 That the bad man is reserved for the day of calamity, [that the wicked] are carried forward to the day of wrath.
| כי ליום איד יחשך רע ליום עברות יובלו |
31 [But] who will tell him to his face of his way? and who will repay him what he hath done?
| מי-יגיד על-פניו דרכו והוא-עשה מי ישלם-לו |
32 Yea he will indeed be carried to the grave, and men will quickly think of his monument:
| והוא לקברות יובל ועל-גדיש ישקוד |
33 Sweet are to him the clods of the valley; and after him succeedeth every man, as those that were before him are without number.
| מתקו-לו רגבי-נחל ואחריו כל-אדם ימשוך ולפניו אין מספר |
34 How then will ye comfort me with vanity? and of your answers there remaineth only deception.
| ואיך תנחמוני הבל ותשובתיכם נשאר-מעל |
