איוב 23

1 ויען איוב ויאמר

And Job answered and said,

2 גם-היום מרי שחי ידי כבדה על-אנחתי

Even to-day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

3 מי-יתן ידעתי ואמצאהו אבוא עד-תכונתו

Oh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come to his seat!

4 אערכה לפניו משפט ופי אמלא תוכחות

I would order the cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments;

5 אדעה מלים יענני ואבינה מה-יאמר לי

I would know the words he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

6 הברב-כח יריב עמדי לא אך-הוא ישם בי

Would he plead against me with [his] great power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me.

7 שם--ישר נוכח עמו ואפלטה לנצח משפטי

There would an upright man reason with him; and I should be delivered for ever from my judge.

8 הן קדם אהלך ואיננו ואחור ולא-אבין לו

Lo, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I do not perceive him;

9 שמאול בעשתו ולא-אחז יעטף ימין ולא אראה

On the left hand, where he doth work, but I behold [him] not; he hideth himself on the right hand, and I see [him] not.

10 כי-ידע דרך עמדי בחנני כזהב אצא

But he knoweth the way that I take; he trieth me, I shall come forth as gold.

11 באשרו אחזה רגלי דרכו שמרתי ולא-אט

My foot hath held to his steps; his way have I kept, and not turned aside.

12 מצות שפתיו ולא אמיש מחקי צפנתי אמרי-פיו

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have laid up the words of his mouth more than the purpose of my own heart.

13 והוא באחד ומי ישיבנו ונפשו אותה ויעש

But he is in one [mind], and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, that will he do.

14 כי ישלים חקי וכהנה רבות עמו

For he will perform [what] is appointed for me; and many such things are with him.

15 על-כן מפניו אבהל אתבונן ואפחד ממנו

Therefore am I troubled at his presence; I consider, and I am afraid of him.

16 ואל הרך לבי ושדי הבהילני

For God hath made my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me;

17 כי-לא נצמתי מפני-חשך ומפני כסה-אפל

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he hidden the gloom from me.