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