איוב 23

1 ויען איוב ויאמר

Job replied,

2 גם-היום מרי שחי ידי כבדה על-אנחתי

“Just the same, my complaints today remain bitter. In spite of my groaning he is still punishing me.

3 מי-יתן ידעתי ואמצאהו אבוא עד-תכונתו

If only I knew where I could find him so I could go to where he sits in judgment.

4 אערכה לפניו משפט ופי אמלא תוכחות

There I would lay out my case before him and present all my arguments in full.

5 אדעה מלים יענני ואבינה מה-יאמר לי

I would discover how he would answer me and learn what he has to say to me.

6 הברב-כח יריב עמדי לא אך-הוא ישם בי

Would he fight against me using his mighty power? No, he would pay attention to what I have to say.

7 שם--ישר נוכח עמו ואפלטה לנצח משפטי

There a good person could reason with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

8 הן קדם אהלך ואיננו ואחור ולא-אבין לו

If I go to the east, he's not there; if I go the west, I don't find him.

9 שמאול בעשתו ולא-אחז יעטף ימין ולא אראה

If he's working in the north, I don't perceive him; if he's moving south, I don't see him.

10 כי-ידע דרך עמדי בחנני כזהב אצא

Yet he always knows where I'm going. When he has proved me, I will come out shining like gold.

11 באשרו אחזה רגלי דרכו שמרתי ולא-אט

I have kept in step with him; I have followed his way without turning aside.

12 מצות שפתיו ולא אמיש מחקי צפנתי אמרי-פיו

I have not neglected his commands, for I value what he has told me to do more than the food I eat every day.

13 והוא באחד ומי ישיבנו ונפשו אותה ויעש

But God is unchangeable—who can turn him from his purposes? He does whatever he wants to do.

14 כי ישלים חקי וכהנה רבות עמו

So he will finish whatever he has planned for me—and he has many plans for me.

15 על-כן מפניו אבהל אתבונן ואפחד ממנו

That's why I'm terrified at meeting him; when I think of him I tremble with fear.

16 ואל הרך לבי ושדי הבהילני

God has made me faint-hearted; the Almighty has scared me to death.

17 כי-לא נצמתי מפני-חשך ומפני כסה-אפל

Yet I'm still here despite the dark—even though I can't see through the utter darkness.