איוב 23

1 ויען איוב ויאמר׃

Then Job answered:

2 גם היום מרי שחי ידי כבדה על אנחתי׃

“Even today my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning.

3 מי יתן ידעתי ואמצאהו אבוא עד תכונתו׃

If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat.

4 אערכה לפניו משפט ופי אמלא תוכחות׃

I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 אדעה מלים יענני ואבינה מה יאמר לי׃

I would learn how He would answer, and consider what He would say.

6 הברב כח יריב עמדי לא אך הוא ישם בי׃

Would He contend with me in His great power? No, He would certainly take note of me.

7 שם ישר נוכח עמו ואפלטה לנצח משפטי׃

Then an upright man could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

8 הן קדם אהלך ואיננו ואחור ולא אבין לו׃

If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot find Him.

9 שמאול בעשתו ולא אחז יעטף ימין ולא אראה׃

When He is at work in the north, I cannot behold Him; when He turns to the south, I cannot see Him.

10 כי ידע דרך עמדי בחנני כזהב אצא׃

Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

11 באשרו אחזה רגלי דרכו שמרתי ולא אט׃

My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept His way without turning aside.

12 מצות שפתיו ולא אמיש מחקי צפנתי אמרי פיו׃

I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.

13 והוא באחד ומי ישיבנו ונפשו אותה ויעש׃

But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.

14 כי ישלים חקי וכהנה רבות עמו׃

For He carries out His decree against me, and He has many such plans.

15 על כן מפניו אבהל אתבונן ואפחד ממנו׃

Therefore I am terrified in His presence; when I consider this, I fear Him.

16 ואל הרך לבי ושדי הבהילני׃

God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.

17 כי לא נצמתי מפני חשך ומפני כסה אפל׃

Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.