Job 23

ויען איוב ויאמר׃

Then Job answered and said,

גם היום מרי שחי ידי כבדה על אנחתי׃

Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

מי יתן ידעתי ואמצאהו אבוא עד תכונתו׃

Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!

אערכה לפניו משפט ופי אמלא תוכחות׃

I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

אדעה מלים יענני ואבינה מה יאמר לי׃

I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

הברב כח יריב עמדי לא אך הוא ישם בי׃

Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.

שם ישר נוכח עמו ואפלטה לנצח משפטי׃

There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

הן קדם אהלך ואיננו ואחור ולא אבין לו׃

Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

שמאול בעשתו ולא אחז יעטף ימין ולא אראה׃

On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

כי ידע דרך עמדי בחנני כזהב אצא׃

But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

באשרו אחזה רגלי דרכו שמרתי ולא אט׃

My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

מצות שפתיו ולא אמיש מחקי צפנתי אמרי פיו׃

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

והוא באחד ומי ישיבנו ונפשו אותה ויעש׃

But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

כי ישלים חקי וכהנה רבות עמו׃

For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

על כן מפניו אבהל אתבונן ואפחד ממנו׃

Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

ואל הרך לבי ושדי הבהילני׃

For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:

כי לא נצמתי מפני חשך ומפני כסה אפל׃

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.