איוב 23

1 ויען איוב ויאמר

And Job answers and says:

2 גם-היום מרי שחי ידי כבדה על-אנחתי

“Also—today my complaint [is] bitter, My hand has been heavy because of my sighing.

3 מי-יתן ידעתי ואמצאהו אבוא עד-תכונתו

O that I had known—and I find Him, I come to His seat,

4 אערכה לפניו משפט ופי אמלא תוכחות

I arrange the cause before Him, And fill my mouth [with] arguments.

5 אדעה מלים יענני ואבינה מה-יאמר לי

I know the words He answers me, And understand what He says to me.

6 הברב-כח יריב עמדי לא אך-הוא ישם בי

Does He strive with me in the abundance of power? No! Surely He puts [it] in me.

7 שם--ישר נוכח עמו ואפלטה לנצח משפטי

There the upright reason with Him, And I escape from mine who is judging—forever.

8 הן קדם אהלך ואיננו ואחור ולא-אבין לו

Behold, I go forward—and He is not, And backward—and I do not perceive Him.

9 שמאול בעשתו ולא-אחז יעטף ימין ולא אראה

[To] the left in His working—and I do not see, He is covered [on] the right, and I do not behold.

10 כי-ידע דרך עמדי בחנני כזהב אצא

For He has known the way with me, He has tried me—I go forth as gold.

11 באשרו אחזה רגלי דרכו שמרתי ולא-אט

My foot has laid hold on His step, I have kept His way, and do not turn aside,

12 מצות שפתיו ולא אמיש מחקי צפנתי אמרי-פיו

The command of His lips, and I do not depart. I have laid up above my allotted portion The sayings of His mouth.

13 והוא באחד ומי ישיבנו ונפשו אותה ויעש

And He [is] in one [mind], And who turns Him back? And His soul has desired—and He does [it].

14 כי ישלים חקי וכהנה רבות עמו

For He completes my portion, And many such things [are] with Him.

15 על-כן מפניו אבהל אתבונן ואפחד ממנו

Therefore, I am troubled at His presence, I consider, and am afraid of Him.

16 ואל הרך לבי ושדי הבהילני

And God has made my heart soft, And the Mighty has troubled me.

17 כי-לא נצמתי מפני-חשך ומפני כסה-אפל

For I have not been cut off before darkness, And before me He covered thick darkness.”