איוב 34
| ויען אליהוא ויאמר | 1 |
Then Elihu continued,
| שמעו חכמים מלי וידעים האזינו לי | 2 |
“Listen to my words, you men who say you are wise; pay attention to what I'm saying you who think you know.
| כי-אזן מלין תבחן וחך יטעם לאכל | 3 |
The ear distinguishes words just as the palate distinguishes foods.
| משפט נבחרה-לנו נדעה בינינו מה-טוב | 4 |
Let us discern for ourselves what is right: let us decide among ourselves what is good.
| כי-אמר איוב צדקתי ואל הסיר משפטי | 5 |
Job said, ‘I am innocent, and God has denied me justice.
| על-משפטי אכזב אנוש חצי בלי-פשע | 6 |
Even though I'm right, I'm treated like a liar; I am dying from my wounds, even though I've done nothing wrong.’
| מי-גבר כאיוב ישתה-לעג כמים | 7 |
Has there ever been a man like Job with such a thirst for ridiculing others?
| וארח לחברה עם-פעלי און וללכת עם-אנשי-רשע | 8 |
He keeps company with wicked people; he associates with those who do evil.
| כי-אמר לא יסכן-גבר-- ברצתו עם-אלהים | 9 |
He's even said, ‘What benefit is there in being God's friend?’
| לכן אנשי לבב-- שמעו-לי חללה לאל מרשע ושדי מעול | 10 |
So listen to me, you men of understanding! It's impossible for God to do evil and the Almighty to do wrong.
| כי פעל אדם ישלם-לו וכארח איש ימצאנו | 11 |
He pays people back for what they've done, and treats them as they deserve.
| אף-אמנם אל לא-ירשיע ושדי לא-יעות משפט | 12 |
It's absolutely sure that God doesn't act wickedly; the Almighty would never pervert justice.
| מי-פקד עליו ארצה ומי שם תבל כלה | 13 |
Who put him in charge of the earth? Who gave him the responsibility for all the world?
| אם-ישים אליו לבו רוחו ונשמתו אליו יאסף | 14 |
If he were to withdraw his spirit, if he were to take back his breath,
| יגוע כל-בשר יחד ואדם על-עפר ישוב | 15 |
all living things would immediately die and human beings would return to dust.
| ואם-בינה שמעה-זאת האזינה לקול מלי | 16 |
If you have understanding then hear this; pay attention to what I'm saying.
| האף שונא משפט יחבוש ואם-צדיק כביר תרשיע | 17 |
Do you really think someone who hated justice could govern? Are you going to condemn Almighty God who always does what is right?
| האמר למלך בליעל-- רשע אל-נדיבים | 18 |
He's the one who tells kings, ‘You're useless!’ or says to nobles, ‘You're wicked!’
| אשר לא-נשא פני שרים ולא נכר-שוע לפני-דל כי-מעשה ידיו כלם | 19 |
He doesn't think more of the rich than the poor, for they are all people he himself made.
| רגע ימתו-- וחצות לילה יגעשו עם ויעברו ויסירו אביר לא ביד | 20 |
They die in a moment; at midnight they shudder and pass away; the mighty are gone without effort.
| כי-עיניו על-דרכי-איש וכל-צעדיו יראה | 21 |
For he watches what they're doing and sees everywhere they go.
| אין-חשך ואין צלמות-- להסתר שם פעלי און | 22 |
There is no darkness so deep where people who do evil can hide themselves from him.
| כי לא על-איש ישים עוד-- להלך אל-אל במשפט | 23 |
God doesn't need to examine anyone in any greater detail that they should come before him for judgment.
| ירע כבירים לא-חקר ויעמד אחרים תחתם | 24 |
He brings down the mighty without needing an investigation; he sets up others in their place.
| לכן--יכיר מעבדיהם והפך לילה וידכאו | 25 |
Knowing what they've done he overthrows them in a night and destroys them.
| תחת-רשעים ספקם-- במקום ראים | 26 |
He strikes them down for their wickedness in public where they can be seen
| אשר על-כן סרו מאחריו וכל-דרכיו לא השכילו | 27 |
because they turned away from following him, disregarding all his ways.
| להביא עליו צעקת-דל וצעקת עניים ישמע | 28 |
They made the poor call out to him, and he heard the cries of the oppressed.
| והוא ישקט ומי ירשע-- ויסתר פנים ומי ישורנו ועל-גוי ועל-אדם יחד | 29 |
Yet if God wants to remain silent, who can condemn him? If he chooses to hide his face, who can see him? Whether it concerns a nation or an individual,
| ממלך אדם חנף-- ממקשי עם | 30 |
a person who rejects God should not rule so they don't mislead people.
| כי-אל-אל האמר נשאתי-- לא אחבל | 31 |
If you were to say to God, ‘I have sinned, but I won't do bad things any more.
| בלעדי אחזה אתה הרני אם-עול פעלתי לא אסיף | 32 |
Show me what I cannot see. If I have done wrong, I won't do it again,’
| המעמך ישלמנה כי-מאסת--כי-אתה תבחר ולא-אני ומה-ידעת דבר | 33 |
then should God reward you for following your own opinions since you have rejected his? You're the one who has to choose, not me! Tell us what you think.
| אנשי לבב יאמרו לי וגבר חכם שמע לי | 34 |
For people who understand—those who are wise who have heard what I said—will tell me,
| איוב לא-בדעת ידבר ודבריו לא בהשכיל | 35 |
‘Job doesn't know what he's talking about. What he says doesn't make any sense.’
| אבי--יבחן איוב עד-נצח על-תשבת באנשי-און | 36 |
If only Job were thoroughly condemned because he speaks like evil people do.
| כי יסיף על-חטאתו פשע בינינו יספוק וירב אמריו לאל | 37 |
Now he has added rebellion to his sins; he claps his hands at us, making long speeches full of accusations against God.”
