איוב 4

1 ויען אליפז התימני ויאמר

Then Eliphaz the Thaemanite answered and said,

2 הנסה דבר אליך תלאה ועצר במלין מי יוכל

Hast you been often spoken to in distress? but who shall endure the force of your words?

3 הנה יסרת רבים וידים רפות תחזק

For whereas you have instructed many, and have strengthened the hands of the weak one,

4 כושל יקימון מליך וברכים כרעות תאמץ

and have supported the failing with words, and have imparted courage to feeble knees.

5 כי עתה תבוא אליך ותלא תגע עדיך ותבהל

Yet now [that] pain has come upon you, and touched you, you are troubled.

6 הלא יראתך כסלתך תקותך ותם דרכיך

Is not your fear [founded] in folly, your hope also, and the mischief of your way?

7 זכר-נא--מי הוא נקי אבד ואיפה ישרים נכחדו

Remember then who has perished, being pure? or when were the true-hearted utterly destroyed?

8 כאשר ראיתי חרשי און וזרעי עמל יקצרהו

Accordingly as I have seen men plowing barren places, and they that sow them will reap sorrows for themselves.

9 מנשמת אלוה יאבדו ומרוח אפו יכלו

They shall perish by the command of the Lord, and shall be utterly consumed by the breath of his wrath.

10 שאגת אריה וקול שחל ושני כפירים נתעו

The strength of the lion, and the voice of the lioness, and the exulting cry of serpents are quenched.

11 ליש אבד מבלי-טרף ובני לביא יתפרדו

The old lion has perished for lack of food, and the lions' whelps have forsaken one another.

12 ואלי דבר יגנב ותקח אזני שמץ מנהו

But if there had been any truth in your words, none of these evils would have befallen you. Shall not mine ear receive excellent [revelations] from him?

13 בשעפים מחזינות לילה בנפל תרדמה על-אנשים

But [as when] terror falls upon men, with dread and a sound in the night,

14 פחד קראני ורעדה ורב עצמותי הפחיד

horror and trembling seized me, and caused all my bones greatly to shake.

15 ורוח על-פני יחלף תסמר שערת בשרי

And a spirit came before my face; and my hair and flesh quivered.

16 יעמד ולא אכיר מראהו-- תמונה לנגד עיני דממה וקול אשמע

I arose and perceived it not: I looked, and there, was no form before my eyes: but I only heard a breath and a voice, [saying],

17 האנוש מאלוה יצדק אם מעשהו יטהר-גבר

What, shall a mortal be pure before the Lord? or a man be blameless in regard to his works?

18 הן בעבדיו לא יאמין ובמלאכיו ישים תהלה

Whereas he trust not in his servants, and perceives perverseness in his angels.

19 אף שכני בתי-חמר--אשר-בעפר יסודם ידכאום לפני-עש

But [as for] them that dwell in houses of clay, of whom we also are formed of the same clay, he smites them like a moth.

20 מבקר לערב יכתו מבלי משים לנצח יאבדו

And from the morning to evening they no longer exist: they have perished, because they can’t help themselves.

21 הלא-נסע יתרם בם ימותו ולא בחכמה

For he blows upon them, and they are withered: they have perished for lack of wisdom.