איוב 22
| ויען אליפז התמני ויאמר | 1 |
Then Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,
| הלאל יסכן-גבר-- כי-יסכן עלימו משכיל | 2 |
Is it possible for a man to be of profit to God? No, for a man's wisdom is only of profit to himself.
| החפץ לשדי כי תצדק ואם-בצע כי-תתם דרכיך | 3 |
Is it of any interest to the Ruler of all that you are upright? or is it of use to him that your ways are without sin?
| המיראתך יכיחך יבוא עמך במשפט | 4 |
Is it because you give him honour that he is sending punishment on you and is judging you?
| הלא רעתך רבה ואין-קץ לעונתיך | 5 |
Is not your evil-doing great? and there is no end to your sins.
| כי-תחבל אחיך חנם ובגדי ערומים תפשיט | 6 |
For you have taken your brother's goods when he was not in your debt, and have taken away the clothing of those who have need of it.
| לא-מים עיף תשקה ומרעב תמנע-לחם | 7 |
You do not give water to the tired traveller, and from him who has no food you keep back bread.
| ואיש זרוע לו הארץ ונשוא פנים ישב בה | 8 |
For it was the man with power who had the land, and the man with an honoured name who was living in it.
| אלמנות שלחת ריקם וזרעות יתמים ידכא | 9 |
You have sent widows away without hearing their cause, and you have taken away the support of the child who has no father.
| על-כן סביבותיך פחים ויבהלך פחד פתאם | 10 |
For this cause nets are round your feet, and you are overcome with sudden fear.
| או-חשך לא-תראה ושפעת-מים תכסך | 11 |
Your light is made dark so that you are unable to see, and you are covered by a mass of waters.
| הלא-אלוה גבה שמים וראה ראש כוכבים כי-רמו | 12 |
Is not God as high as heaven? and see the stars, how high they are!
| ואמרת מה-ידע אל הבעד ערפל ישפוט | 13 |
And you say, What knowledge has God? is he able to give decisions through the deep dark?
| עבים סתר-לו ולא יראה וחוג שמים יתהלך | 14 |
Thick clouds are covering him, so that he is unable to see; and he is walking on the arch of heaven.
| הארח עולם תשמור-- אשר דרכו מתי-און | 15 |
Will you keep the old way by which evil men went?
| אשר-קמטו ולא-עת נהר יוצק יסודם | 16 |
Who were violently taken away before their time, who were overcome by the rush of waters:
| האמרים לאל סור ממנו ומה-יפעל שדי למו | 17 |
Who said to God, Go away from us; and, What is the Ruler of all able to do to us?
| והוא מלא בתיהם טוב ועצת רשעים רחקה מני | 18 |
Though he made their houses full of good things: but the purpose of the evil-doers is far from me!
| יראו צדיקים וישמחו ונקי ילעג-למו | 19 |
The upright saw it and were glad: and those who had done no wrong made sport of them,
| אם-לא נכחד קימנו ויתרם אכלה אש | 20 |
Saying, Truly, their substance is cut off, and their wealth is food for the fire.
| הסכן-נא עמו ושלם בהם תבואתך טובה | 21 |
Put yourself now in a right relation with him and be at peace: so will you do well in your undertakings.
| קח-נא מפיו תורה ושים אמריו בלבבך | 22 |
Be pleased to take teaching from his mouth, and let his words be stored up in your heart.
| אם-תשוב עד-שדי תבנה תרחיק עולה מאהלך | 23 |
If you come back to the Ruler of all, making yourself low before him; if you put evil far away from your tents;
| ושית-על-עפר בצר ובצור נחלים אופיר | 24 |
And put your gold in the dust, even your gold of Ophir among the rocks of the valleys;
| והיה שדי בצריך וכסף תועפות לך | 25 |
Then the Ruler of all will be your gold, and his teaching will be your silver;
| כי-אז על-שדי תתענג ותשא אל-אלוה פניך | 26 |
For then you will have delight in the Ruler of all, and your face will be lifted up to God.
| תעתיר אליו וישמעך ונדריך תשלם | 27 |
You will make your prayer to him, and be answered; and you will give effect to your oaths.
| ותגזר-אמר ויקם לך ועל-דרכיך נגה אור | 28 |
Your purposes will come about, and light will be shining on your ways.
| כי-השפילו ותאמר גוה ושח עינים יושע | 29 |
For God makes low those whose hearts are lifted up, but he is a saviour to the poor in spirit.
| ימלט אי-נקי ונמלט בבר כפיך | 30 |
He makes safe the man who is free from sin, and if your hands are clean, salvation will be yours.
