Job 34
1 Moreover Elihu answered,
| ויען אליהוא ויאמר |
2 “Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
| שמעו חכמים מלי וידעים האזינו לי |
3 For the ear tries words, as the palate tastes food.
| כי-אזן מלין תבחן וחך יטעם לאכל |
4 Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know amongst ourselves what is good.
| משפט נבחרה-לנו נדעה בינינו מה-טוב |
5 For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, God has taken away my right.
| כי-אמר איוב צדקתי ואל הסיר משפטי |
6 Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’
| על-משפטי אכזב אנוש חצי בלי-פשע |
7 What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water,
| מי-גבר כאיוב ישתה-לעג כמים |
8 who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men?
| וארח לחברה עם-פעלי און וללכת עם-אנשי-רשע |
9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.’
| כי-אמר לא יסכן-גבר-- ברצתו עם-אלהים |
10 “Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
| לכן אנשי לבב-- שמעו-לי חללה לאל מרשע ושדי מעול |
11 For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
| כי פעל אדם ישלם-לו וכארח איש ימצאנו |
12 Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
| אף-אמנם אל לא-ירשיע ושדי לא-יעות משפט |
13 Who put him in charge of the earth? Or who has appointed him over the whole world?
| מי-פקד עליו ארצה ומי שם תבל כלה |
14 If he set his heart on himself, if he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,
| אם-ישים אליו לבו רוחו ונשמתו אליו יאסף |
15 all flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.
| יגוע כל-בשר יחד ואדם על-עפר ישוב |
16 “If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.
| ואם-בינה שמעה-זאת האזינה לקול מלי |
17 Should even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,
| האף שונא משפט יחבוש ואם-צדיק כביר תרשיע |
18 who says to a king, ‘Vile!’ or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’?
| האמר למלך בליעל-- רשע אל-נדיבים |
19 He doesn’t respect the persons of princes, nor respect the rich more than the poor, for they all are the work of his hands.
| אשר לא-נשא פני שרים ולא נכר-שוע לפני-דל כי-מעשה ידיו כלם |
20 In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away. The mighty are taken away without a hand.
| רגע ימתו-- וחצות לילה יגעשו עם ויעברו ויסירו אביר לא ביד |
21 “For his eyes are on the ways of a man. He sees all his goings.
| כי-עיניו על-דרכי-איש וכל-צעדיו יראה |
22 There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
| אין-חשך ואין צלמות-- להסתר שם פעלי און |
23 For he doesn’t need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgement.
| כי לא על-איש ישים עוד-- להלך אל-אל במשפט |
24 He breaks mighty men in pieces in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place.
| ירע כבירים לא-חקר ויעמד אחרים תחתם |
25 Therefore he takes knowledge of their works. He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
| לכן--יכיר מעבדיהם והפך לילה וידכאו |
26 He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
| תחת-רשעים ספקם-- במקום ראים |
27 because they turned away from following him, and wouldn’t pay attention to any of his ways,
| אשר על-כן סרו מאחריו וכל-דרכיו לא השכילו |
28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him. He heard the cry of the afflicted.
| להביא עליו צעקת-דל וצעקת עניים ישמע |
29 When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? He is over a nation or a man alike,
| והוא ישקט ומי ירשע-- ויסתר פנים ומי ישורנו ועל-גוי ועל-אדם יחד |
30 that the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.
| ממלך אדם חנף-- ממקשי עם |
31 “For has any said to God, ‘I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.
| כי-אל-אל האמר נשאתי-- לא אחבל |
32 Teach me that which I don’t see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?
| בלעדי אחזה אתה הרני אם-עול פעלתי לא אסיף |
33 Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.
| המעמך ישלמנה כי-מאסת--כי-אתה תבחר ולא-אני ומה-ידעת דבר |
34 Men of understanding will tell me, yes, every wise man who hears me:
| אנשי לבב יאמרו לי וגבר חכם שמע לי |
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without wisdom.’
| איוב לא-בדעת ידבר ודבריו לא בהשכיל |
36 I wish that Job were tried to the end, because of his answering like wicked men.
| אבי--יבחן איוב עד-נצח על-תשבת באנשי-און |
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands amongst us, and multiplies his words against God.”
| כי יסיף על-חטאתו פשע בינינו יספוק וירב אמריו לאל |
