< אִיּוֹב 6 >
וַיַּ֥עַן אִיּ֗וֹב וַיֹּאמַֽר׃ | 1 |
Then Job replied:
ל֗וּ שָׁק֣וֹל יִשָּׁקֵ֣ל כַּעְשִׂ֑י והיתי בְּֽמֹאזְנַ֥יִם יִשְׂאוּ־יָֽחַד׃ | 2 |
“If only my grief could be weighed and placed with my calamity on the scales.
כִּֽי־עַתָּ֗ה מֵח֣וֹל יַמִּ֣ים יִכְבָּ֑ד עַל־כֵּ֝֗ן דְּבָרַ֥י לָֽעוּ׃ | 3 |
For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas— no wonder my words have been rash.
כִּ֤י חִצֵּ֪י שַׁדַּ֡י עִמָּדִ֗י אֲשֶׁ֣ר חֲ֭מָתָם שֹׁתָ֣ה רוּחִ֑י בִּעוּתֵ֖י אֱל֣וֹהַּ יַֽעַרְכֽוּנִי׃ | 4 |
For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
הֲיִֽנְהַק־פֶּ֥רֶא עֲלֵי־דֶ֑שֶׁא אִ֥ם יִגְעֶה־שּׁ֝֗וֹר עַל־בְּלִילֽוֹ׃ | 5 |
Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grass, or an ox low over its fodder?
הֲיֵאָכֵ֣ל תָּ֭פֵל מִבְּלִי־מֶ֑לַח אִם־יֶשׁ־טַ֝֗עַם בְּרִ֣יר חַלָּמֽוּת׃ | 6 |
Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the white of an egg?
מֵאֲנָ֣ה לִנְגּ֣וֹעַ נַפְשִׁ֑י הֵ֝֗מָּה כִּדְוֵ֥י לַחְמִֽי׃ | 7 |
My soul refuses to touch them; they are loathsome food to me.
מִֽי־יִ֭תֵּן תָּב֣וֹא שֶֽׁאֱלָתִ֑י וְ֝תִקְוָתִ֗י יִתֵּ֥ן אֱלֽוֹהַּ׃ | 8 |
If only my request were granted and God would fulfill my hope:
וְיֹאֵ֣ל אֱ֭לוֹהַּ וִֽידַכְּאֵ֑נִי יַתֵּ֥ר יָ֝ד֗וֹ וִֽיבַצְּעֵֽנִי׃ | 9 |
that God would be willing to crush me, to unleash His hand and cut me off!
וּ֥תְהִי ע֨וֹד ׀ נֶ֘חָ֤מָתִ֗י וַאֲסַלְּדָ֣ה בְ֭חִילָה לֹ֣א יַחְמ֑וֹל כִּי־לֹ֥א כִ֝חַ֗דְתִּי אִמְרֵ֥י קָדֽוֹשׁ׃ | 10 |
It still brings me comfort, and joy through unrelenting pain, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
מַה־כֹּחִ֥י כִֽי־אֲיַחֵ֑ל וּמַה־קִּ֝צִּ֗י כִּֽי־אַאֲרִ֥יךְ נַפְשִֽׁי׃ | 11 |
What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What is my future, that I should be patient?
אִם־כֹּ֣חַ אֲבָנִ֣ים כֹּחִ֑י אִֽם־בְּשָׂרִ֥י נָחֽוּשׁ׃ | 12 |
Is my strength like that of stone, or my flesh made of bronze?
הַאִ֬ם אֵ֣ין עֶזְרָתִ֣י בִ֑י וְ֝תֻשִׁיָּ֗ה נִדְּחָ֥ה מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ | 13 |
Is there any help within me now that success is driven from me?
לַמָּ֣ס מֵרֵעֵ֣הוּ חָ֑סֶד וְיִרְאַ֖ת שַׁדַּ֣י יַעֲזֽוֹב׃ | 14 |
A despairing man should have the kindness of his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
אַ֭חַי בָּגְד֣וּ כְמוֹ־נָ֑חַל כַּאֲפִ֖יק נְחָלִ֣ים יַעֲבֹֽרוּ׃ | 15 |
But my brothers are as faithless as wadis, as seasonal streams that overflow,
הַקֹּדְרִ֥ים מִנִּי־קָ֑רַח עָ֝לֵ֗ימוֹ יִתְעַלֶּם־שָֽׁלֶג ׃ | 16 |
darkened because of the ice and the inflow of melting snow,
בְּ֭עֵת יְזֹרְב֣וּ נִצְמָ֑תוּ בְּ֝חֻמּ֗וֹ נִדְעֲכ֥וּ מִמְּקוֹמָֽם׃ | 17 |
but ceasing in the dry season and vanishing from their channels in the heat.
יִ֭לָּ֣פְתוּ אָרְח֣וֹת דַּרְכָּ֑ם יַעֲל֖וּ בַתֹּ֣הוּ וְיֹאבֵֽדוּ׃ | 18 |
Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go into the wasteland and perish.
הִ֭בִּיטוּ אָרְח֣וֹת תֵּמָ֑א הֲלִיכֹ֥ת שְׁ֝בָ֗א קִוּוּ־לָֽמוֹ׃ | 19 |
The caravans of Tema look for water; the travelers of Sheba hope to find it.
בֹּ֥שׁוּ כִּֽי־בָטָ֑ח בָּ֥אוּ עָ֝דֶ֗יהָ וַיֶּחְפָּֽרוּ׃ | 20 |
They are confounded because they had hoped; their arrival brings disappointment.
כִּֽי־עַ֭תָּה הֱיִ֣יתֶם לא תִּֽרְא֥וּ חֲ֝תַ֗ת וַתִּירָֽאוּ׃ | 21 |
For now you are of no help; you see terror, and you are afraid.
הֲֽכִי־אָ֭מַרְתִּי הָ֣בוּ לִ֑י וּ֝מִכֹּחֲכֶ֗ם שִׁחֲד֥וּ בַעֲדִֽי׃ | 22 |
Have I ever said, ‘Give me something; offer me a bribe from your wealth;
וּמַלְּט֥וּנִי מִיַּד־צָ֑ר וּמִיַּ֖ד עָרִיצִ֣ים תִּפְדּֽוּנִי׃ | 23 |
deliver me from the hand of the enemy; redeem me from the grasp of the ruthless’?
ה֭וֹרוּנִי וַאֲנִ֣י אַחֲרִ֑ישׁ וּמַה־שָּׁ֝גִ֗יתִי הָבִ֥ינוּ לִֽי׃ | 24 |
Teach me, and I will be silent. Help me understand how I have erred.
מַה־נִּמְרְצ֥וּ אִמְרֵי־יֹ֑שֶׁר וּמַה־יּוֹכִ֖יחַ הוֹכֵ֣חַ מִכֶּֽם׃ | 25 |
How painful are honest words! But what does your argument prove?
הַלְהוֹכַ֣ח מִלִּ֣ים תַּחְשֹׁ֑בוּ וּ֝לְר֗וּחַ אִמְרֵ֥י נֹאָֽשׁ׃ | 26 |
Do you intend to correct my words, and treat as wind my cry of despair?
אַף־עַל־יָת֥וֹם תַּפִּ֑ילוּ וְ֝תִכְר֗וּ עַל־רֵֽיעֲכֶֽם׃ | 27 |
You would even cast lots for an orphan and barter away your friend.
וְ֭עַתָּה הוֹאִ֣ילוּ פְנוּ־בִ֑י וְעַל־פְּ֝נֵיכֶ֗ם אִם־אֲכַזֵּֽב׃ | 28 |
But now, please look at me. Would I lie to your face?
שֻֽׁבוּ־נָ֭א אַל־תְּהִ֣י עַוְלָ֑ה ושבי ע֝וֹד צִדְקִי־בָֽהּ׃ | 29 |
Reconsider; do not be unjust. Reconsider, for my righteousness is at stake.
הֲיֵשׁ־בִּלְשׁוֹנִ֥י עַוְלָ֑ה אִם־חִ֝כִּ֗י לֹא־יָבִ֥ין הַוּֽוֹת׃ | 30 |
Is there iniquity on my tongue? Can my mouth not discern malice?