¹ויען איוב ויאמר׃

¹Then Job answered,

²גם היום מרי שחי ידי כבדה על אנחתי׃

²“Even today my complaint is rebellious. His hand is heavy in spite of 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 tell me.

⁶הברב כח יריב עמדי לא אך הוא ישם בי׃

⁶Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No, but he would listen to me.

⁷שם ישר נוכח עמו ואפלטה לנצח משפטי׃

⁷There the upright might reason with him, so I should be delivered forever from my judge.

⁸הן קדם אהלך ואיננו ואחור ולא אבין לו׃

⁸“If I go east, he is not there; if west, I can’t find him;

⁹שמאול בעשתו ולא אחז יעטף ימין ולא אראה׃

⁹He works to the north, but I can’t see him. He turns south, but I can’t catch a glimpse of him.

¹⁰כי ידע דרך עמדי בחנני כזהב אצא׃

¹⁰But he knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I shall come forth like gold.

¹¹באשרו אחזה רגלי דרכו שמרתי ולא אט׃

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

¹²מצות שפתיו ולא אמיש מחקי צפנתי אמרי פיו׃

¹²I haven’t 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 stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does.

¹⁴כי ישלים חקי וכהנה רבות עמו׃

¹⁴For he performs that which is appointed for me. Many such things are with him.

¹⁵על כן מפניו אבהל אתבונן ואפחד ממנו׃

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

¹⁶ואל הרך לבי ושדי הבהילני׃

¹⁶For God has made my heart faint. The Almighty has 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.