< Job 23 >

1 Then Job answered and said,
أَيُّوبُ:١
2 Even to-day [is] my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
«إِنَّ شَكْوَايَ الْيَوْمَ مُرَّةٌ، وَلَكِنَّ الْيَدَ الَّتِي عَلَيَّ أَثْقَلُ مِنْ أَنِينِي.٢
3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! [that] I might come [even] to his seat!
أَيْنَ لِي أَنْ أَجِدَهُ فَأَمْثُلَ أَمَامَ كُرْسِيِّهِ،٣
4 I would order [my] cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
وَأَعْرِضَ عَلَيْهِ قَضِيَّتِي وَأَمْلأَ فَمِي حُجَجاً،٤
5 I would know the words [which] he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.
فَأَطَّلِعَ عَلَى جَوَابِهِ وَأَفْهَمَ مَا يَقُولُهُ لِي؟٥
6 Would he plead against me with [his] great power? No; but he would put [strength] in me.
أَيُخَاصِمُنِي بِعَظَمَةِ قُوَّتِهِ؟ لا! بَلْ يَلْتَفِتُ مُتَرَئِّفاً عَلَيَّ.٦
7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
هُنَاكَ يُمْكِنُ لِلْمُسْتَقِيمِ أَنْ يُحَاجَّهُ، وَأُبْرِئُ سَاحَتِي إِلَى الأَبَدِ مِنْ قَاضِيَّ.٧
8 Behold, I go forward, but he [is] not [there]; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
وَلَكِنْ هَا أَنَا أَتَّجِهُ شَرْقاً فَلا أَجِدُهُ، وَإِنْ قَصَدْتُ غَرْباً لَا أَشْعُرُ بِهِ،٨
9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold [him]: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see [him]:
أَطْلُبُهُ عَنْ شِمَالِي فَلا أَرَاهُ وَأَلْتَفِتُ إِلَى يَمِينِي فَلا أُبْصِرُهُ.٩
10 But he knoweth the way that I take: [when] he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
وَلَكِنَّهُ يَعْرِفُ الطَّرِيقَ الَّتِي أَسْلُكُهَا، وَإذَا امْتَحَنَنِي أَخْرُجُ كَالذَّهَبِ١٠
11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
اقْتَفَتْ قَدَمَايَ إِثْرَ خُطَاهُ، وَسَلَكْتُ بِحِرْصٍ فِي سُبُلِهِ وَلَمْ أَحِدْ.١١
12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food].
لَمْ أَتَعَدَّ عَلَى وَصَايَاهُ، وَذَخَرْتُ فِي قَلْبِي كَلِمَاتِهِ.١٢
13 But he [is] in one [mind], and who can turn him? and [what] his soul desireth, even [that] he doeth.
وَلَكِنَّهُ مُتَفَرِّدٌ وَحْدَهُ فَمَنْ يَرُدُّهُ؟ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاءُ،١٣
14 For he performeth [the thing that is] appointed for me: and many such [things are] with him.
لأَنَّهُ يُتَمِّمُ مَا رَسَمَهُ لِي، وَمَازَالَ لَدَيْهِ وَفْرَةٌ مِنْهَا.١٤
15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.
لِذَلِكَ أَرْتَعِبُ فِي حَضْرَتِهِ، وَعِنْدَمَا أَتَأَمَّلُ، يُخَامِرُنِي الْخَوْفُ مِنْهُ.١٥
16 For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
فَقَدْ أَضْعَفَ اللهُ قَلْبِي، وَرَوَّعَنِي الْقَدِيرُ.١٦
17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, [neither] hath he covered the darkness from my face.
وَمَعَ ذَلِكَ لَمْ تَسْكُنْنِي الظُّلْمَةُ، وَلا الدُّجَى غَشَّى وَجْهِي.١٧

< Job 23 >