איוב 21
| ויען איוב ויאמר׃ | 1 |
Then Job responded by saying:
| שמעו שמוע מלתי ותהי זאת תנחומתיכם׃ | 2 |
I beseech you to hear my words and to do penance.
| שאוני ואנכי אדבר ואחר דברי תלעיג׃ | 3 |
Permit me, and I will speak, and afterwards, if you see fit, you can laugh at my words.
| האנכי לאדם שיחי ואם מדוע לא תקצר רוחי׃ | 4 |
Is my dispute against man, so that I would have no reason to be discouraged?
| פנו אלי והשמו ושימו יד על פה׃ | 5 |
Listen to me and be astonished, and place a finger over your mouth.
| ואם זכרתי ונבהלתי ואחז בשרי פלצות׃ | 6 |
As for me, when I think it over, I am afraid, and trembling convulses my body.
| מדוע רשעים יחיו עתקו גם גברו חיל׃ | 7 |
Why then do the impious live, having been lifted up and strengthened with riches?
| זרעם נכון לפניהם עמם וצאצאיהם לעיניהם׃ | 8 |
They see their offspring continue before them: a commotion of close relatives and of children’s children in their sight.
| בתיהם שלום מפחד ולא שבט אלוה עליהם׃ | 9 |
Their houses have been secure and peaceable, and there is no staff of God over them.
| שורו עבר ולא יגעל תפלט פרתו ולא תשכל׃ | 10 |
Their cattle have conceived and have not miscarried; their cow has given birth and is not deprived of her newborn.
| ישלחו כצאן עויליהם וילדיהם ירקדון׃ | 11 |
Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children jump around playfully.
| ישאו כתף וכנור וישמחו לקול עוגב׃ | 12 |
They take up the timbrel and the lyre, and they rejoice at the sound of the organ.
| יבלו בטוב ימיהם וברגע שאול יחתו׃ (Sheol h7585) | 13 |
Their days are prolonged in wealth, yet, in an instant, they descend into hell. (Sheol h7585)
| ויאמרו לאל סור ממנו ודעת דרכיך לא חפצנו׃ | 14 |
Who has said to God, “Depart from us, for we do not want the knowledge of your ways.
| מה שדי כי נעבדנו ומה נועיל כי נפגע בו׃ | 15 |
Who is the Almighty that we should serve him? And how is it helpful to us if we pray to him?”
| הן לא בידם טובם עצת רשעים רחקה מני׃ | 16 |
It is true that their good things are not in their power. May the counsel of the impious be far from me!
| כמה נר רשעים ידעך ויבא עלימו אידם חבלים יחלק באפו׃ | 17 |
How often will the lamp of the wicked be extinguished, and a deluge overtake them, and how often will he distribute the afflictions of his wrath?
| יהיו כתבן לפני רוח וכמץ גנבתו סופה׃ | 18 |
They will be like chaff before the face of the wind, and like ashes that the whirlwind scatters.
| אלוה יצפן לבניו אונו ישלם אליו וידע׃ | 19 |
God will preserve the grief of the father for his sons, and, when he repays, then he will understand.
| יראו עינו כידו ומחמת שדי ישתה׃ | 20 |
His eyes will see his own destruction, and he will drink from the wrath of the Almighty.
| כי מה חפצו בביתו אחריו ומספר חדשיו חצצו׃ | 21 |
For what does he care what happens to his house after him, or if the number of its months are reduced by half?
| הלאל ילמד דעת והוא רמים ישפוט׃ | 22 |
Can anyone teach holy knowledge to God, who judges the exalted?
| זה ימות בעצם תמו כלו שלאנן ושליו׃ | 23 |
This one dies strong and healthy, rich and happy.
| עטיניו מלאו חלב ומח עצמותיו ישקה׃ | 24 |
His gut is full of fat and his bones are moistened with marrow.
| וזה ימות בנפש מרה ולא אכל בטובה׃ | 25 |
In truth, another dies in bitterness of soul, without any resources.
| יחד על עפר ישכבו ורמה תכסה עליהם׃ | 26 |
And yet they will sleep together in the dust, and worms will cover them.
| הן ידעתי מחשבותיכם ומזמות עלי תחמסו׃ | 27 |
Surely, I know your thoughts and your sinful judgments against me.
| כי תאמרו איה בית נדיב ואיה אהל משכנות רשעים׃ | 28 |
For you say, “Where is the house of the ruler, and where are the tabernacles of the impious?”
| הלא שאלתם עוברי דרך ואתתם לא תנכרו׃ | 29 |
Ask any passerby whom you wish, and you will realize that he understands these same things:
| כי ליום איד יחשך רע ליום עברות יובלו׃ | 30 |
that the evil-doer is reserved for the day of destruction, and he will be led to the day of wrath.
| מי יגיד על פניו דרכו והוא עשה מי ישלם לו׃ | 31 |
Who will reprove his way to his face, and who will repay him for what he has done?
| והוא לקברות יובל ועל גדיש ישקוד׃ | 32 |
He will be led to the tomb, and he will remain awake in the chaos of the dead.
| מתקו לו רגבי נחל ואחריו כל אדם ימשוך ולפניו אין מספר׃ | 33 |
He has been found acceptable to the banks of the River of Lamentation, and he will draw any man towards him, and there are countless before him.
| ואיך תנחמוני הבל ותשובתיכם נשאר מעל׃ | 34 |
Therefore, how long will you console me in vain, when your answer is shown to be repugnant to truth?
