Job 23

Then Job answered and said,

ויען איוב ויאמר׃

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

גם היום מרי שחי ידי כבדה על אנחתי׃

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

מי יתן ידעתי ואמצאהו אבוא עד תכונתו׃

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

אערכה לפניו משפט ופי אמלא תוכחות׃

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

אדעה מלים יענני ואבינה מה יאמר לי׃

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

הברב כח יריב עמדי לא אך הוא ישם בי׃

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

שם ישר נוכח עמו ואפלטה לנצח משפטי׃

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

הן קדם אהלך ואיננו ואחור ולא אבין לו׃

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:

שמאול בעשתו ולא אחז יעטף ימין ולא אראה׃

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

כי ידע דרך עמדי בחנני כזהב אצא׃

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

באשרו אחזה רגלי דרכו שמרתי ולא אט׃

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

מצות שפתיו ולא אמיש מחקי צפנתי אמרי פיו׃

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

והוא באחד ומי ישיבנו ונפשו אותה ויעש׃

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

כי ישלים חקי וכהנה רבות עמו׃

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

על כן מפניו אבהל אתבונן ואפחד ממנו׃

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

ואל הרך לבי ושדי הבהילני׃

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

כי לא נצמתי מפני חשך ומפני כסה אפל׃