Job 23

vayya'an iyyov vayyomar

Job said in reply:

gam-hayyom meri sikhi yadi kavedah al-ankhati

Today again my complaint is bitter; My strength is spent on account of my groaning.

mi-yitten yadati ve'emtsa'ehu avo ad-tekhunato

Would that I knew how to reach [God], How to get to the heavenly dwelling-place.

e'erkhah lefanayw mishpat ufi amalle tokhakhot

I would set out my case, And fill my mouth with arguments.

ede'ah millim ya'aneni ve'avinah mah-yyomar li

I would learn what answers were waiting for me, And know how the reply would be.

habberov-koakh yariv immadi lo akh-hu yasim bi

Would [God] contend with me overbearingly? Surely I would not be accused!

sham yashar nokhakh immo va'afalletah lanetsakh mishofeti

There the upright would be cleared by divine decree, And I would escape forever from my judge.

hen qedem ehelokh ve'enennu ve'akhor velo-avin lo

But if I go East—[God] is not there; West—I still appear to be alone;

semovl ba'asoto velo-akhaz yatof yamin velo ereh

North—I cannot discern One who is concealed; South—also there hidden from my sight.

ki-yada derekh immadi bekhanani kazzahav etse

But [God] knows the way I take; Would it be assayed, I should emerge pure as gold.

ba'ashuro akhazah ragli darko shamarti velo-at

I have followed in God’s tracks, Kept that way without swerving,

mitsvat sefatayw velo amish mekhuqqi tsafanti imre-fiv

I have not deviated from what God’s lips commanded; I have treasured those words more than my daily bread.

vehu ve'ekhad umi yeshivennu venafsho ivvetah vayya'as

Single-minded, not readily dissuaded, [God] desires, and it comes to pass.

ki yashlim khuqqi vekhahennah rabbot immo

For this One will bring my term to an end, But there are many more such who are held in reserve.

al-ken mippanayw ebbahel etbonen ve'efkhad mimmennu

Therefore I am terrified at God’s presence; When I consider, I feel dread.

ve'el herakh libbi veshadday hivhilani

God has made me fainthearted; Shaddai has terrified me.

ki-lo nitsmatti mippene-khoshekh umippanay kissah-ofel

Yet I am not cut off by the darkness; The thick gloom has been concealed from me.