< Job 23 >

1 And Job answers and says:
ויען איוב ויאמר
2 “Also—today my complaint [is] bitter, My hand has been heavy because of my sighing.
גם-היום מרי שחי ידי כבדה על-אנחתי
3 O that I had known—and I find Him, I come to His seat,
מי-יתן ידעתי ואמצאהו אבוא עד-תכונתו
4 I arrange the cause before Him, And fill my mouth [with] arguments.
אערכה לפניו משפט ופי אמלא תוכחות
5 I know the words He answers me, And understand what He says to me.
אדעה מלים יענני ואבינה מה-יאמר לי
6 Does He strive with me in the abundance of power? No! Surely He puts [it] in me.
הברב-כח יריב עמדי לא אך-הוא ישם בי
7 There the upright reason with Him, And I escape from mine who is judging—forever.
שם--ישר נוכח עמו ואפלטה לנצח משפטי
8 Behold, I go forward—and He is not, And backward—and I do not perceive Him.
הן קדם אהלך ואיננו ואחור ולא-אבין לו
9 [To] the left in His working—and I do not see, He is covered [on] the right, and I do not behold.
שמאול בעשתו ולא-אחז יעטף ימין ולא אראה
10 For He has known the way with me, He has tried me—I go forth as gold.
כי-ידע דרך עמדי בחנני כזהב אצא
11 My foot has laid hold on His step, I have kept His way, and do not turn aside,
באשרו אחזה רגלי דרכו שמרתי ולא-אט
12 The command of His lips, and I do not depart. I have laid up above my allotted portion The sayings of His mouth.
מצות שפתיו ולא אמיש מחקי צפנתי אמרי-פיו
13 And He [is] in one [mind], And who turns Him back? And His soul has desired—and He does [it].
והוא באחד ומי ישיבנו ונפשו אותה ויעש
14 For He completes my portion, And many such things [are] with Him.
כי ישלים חקי וכהנה רבות עמו
15 Therefore, I am troubled at His presence, I consider, and am afraid of Him.
על-כן מפניו אבהל אתבונן ואפחד ממנו
16 And God has made my heart soft, And the Mighty has troubled me.
ואל הרך לבי ושדי הבהילני
17 For I have not been cut off before darkness, And before me He covered thick darkness.”
כי-לא נצמתי מפני-חשך ומפני כסה-אפל

< Job 23 >