¹ויען איוב ויאמר׃

¹Then Job answered and said,

²גם היום מרי שחי ידי כבדה על אנחתי׃

²Even to-day is my complaint rebellious: My stroke is heavier than my groaning.

³מי יתן ידעתי ואמצאהו אבוא עד תכונתו׃

³Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!

⁴אערכה לפניו משפט ופי אמלא תוכחות׃

⁴I would set my cause in order before him, And fill my mouth with arguments.

⁵אדעה מלים יענני ואבינה מה יאמר לי׃

⁵I would know the words which he would answer me, And understand what he would say unto me.

⁶הברב כח יריב עמדי לא אך הוא ישם בי׃

⁶Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me.

⁷שם ישר נוכח עמו ואפלטה לנצח משפטי׃

⁷There the upright might reason with him; So should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

⁸הן קדם אהלך ואיננו ואחור ולא אבין לו׃

⁸Behold, I go forward, but he is not [there]; And backward, but I cannot perceive him;

⁹שמאול בעשתו ולא אחז יעטף ימין ולא אראה׃

⁹On the left hand, when he doth work, but I cannot behold him; He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him.

¹⁰כי ידע דרך עמדי בחנני כזהב אצא׃

¹⁰But he knoweth the way that I take; When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

¹¹באשרו אחזה רגלי דרכו שמרתי ולא אט׃

¹¹My foot hath held fast to his steps; His way have I kept, and turned not aside.

¹²מצות שפתיו ולא אמיש מחקי צפנתי אמרי פיו׃

¹²I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

¹³והוא באחד ומי ישיבנו ונפשו אותה ויעש׃

¹³But he is in one [mind], and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

¹⁴כי ישלים חקי וכהנה רבות עמו׃

¹⁴For he performeth that which is appointed for me: And many such things are with him.

¹⁵על כן מפניו אבהל אתבונן ואפחד ממנו׃

¹⁵Therefore am I terrified at his presence; When I consider, I am afraid of him.

¹⁶ואל הרך לבי ושדי הבהילני׃

¹⁶For God hath made my heart faint, And the Almighty hath terrified me;

¹⁷כי לא נצמתי מפני חשך ומפני כסה אפל׃

¹⁷Because I was not cut off before the darkness, Neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.