Job 34

vayya'an elihu vayyomar

Elihu said in reply:

shimu khakhamim millay veyode'im ha'azinu li

Listen, O wise men, to my words; You who have knowledge, give ear to me.

ki-ozen millin tivkhan vekhekh yitam le'ekhol

For the ear tests arguments As the palate tastes food.

mishpat nivkharah-llanu nede'ah venenu mah-ttov

Let us decide for ourselves what is just; Let us know among ourselves what is good.

ki-amar iyyov tsadaqti ve'el hesir mishpati

For Job has said, “I am right; God has deprived me of justice.

al-mishpati akhazzev anush khitsi veli-fasha

I declare the judgment against me false; My arrow-wound is deadly, though I am free from transgression.”

mi-gever ke'iyyov yishteh-lla'ag kammayim

What man is like Job, Who drinks mockery like water;

ve'arakh lekhevrah im-po'ale aven velalekhet im-anshe-resha

Who makes common cause with evildoers, And goes with those who are wicked?

ki-amar lo yiskon-gaver birtsoto im-elohim

For he says, “A man gains nothing When he is in God’s favor.”

lakhen anshe levav shimu-li khalilah la'el meresha veshadday me'avel

Therefore, men of understanding, listen to me; Wickedness be far from God, Wrongdoing, from Shaddai!

ki fo'al adam yeshallem-lo ukhe'orakh ish yamtsi'ennu

For [God] pays mortals according to their actions, And provides for people according to their conduct;

af-omnam el lo-yarshia veshadday lo-ye'avvet mishpat

For God surely does not act wickedly; Shaddai does not pervert justice.

mi-faqad alayw aretsah umi sam tevel kullah

Who placed the earth in God’s charge? Who ordered the entire world?

im-yasim elayw libbo rukho venishmato elayw ye'esof

If [God] but intends it, Spirit and breath can be recalled;

yigva kol-basar yakhad ve'adam al-afar yashuv

All flesh would at once expire, And humankind return to dust.

ve'im-binah shimah-zzot ha'azinah leqol millay

If you would understand, listen to this; Give ear to what I say.

ha'af sone mishpat yakhavosh ve'im-tsaddiq kabbir tarshia

Would one who hates justice govern? Would you condemn the Just Mighty One?

ha'amor lemelekh beliyya'al rasha el-nedivim

Would you call a king a scoundrel, Nobles, wicked?

asher lo-nasa pene sarim velo nikkar-shoa lifne-dal ki-ma'aseh yadayw kullam

[God] is not partial to princes; The honorable are not preferred to the wretched; For all of them are the work of God’s hands.

rega yamutu vakhatsot layelah yego'ashu am veya'avoru veyasiru abbir lo veyad

Some die suddenly in the middle of the night; People are in turmoil and pass on; Even heroes are removed—not by human hands.

ki-enayw al-darkhe-ish vekhol-tse'adayw yireh

For God’s eyes are upon everyone’s ways, Observing their every step.

en-khoshekh ve'en tsalmavet lehissater sham po'ale aven

Neither darkness nor gloom offers A hiding-place for evildoers.

ki lo al-ish yasim od lahalokh el-el bammishpat

There is no set time for anyone To appear before God in judgment.

yaroa kabbirim lo-kheqer vayya'amed akherim takhtam

The mighty are shattered without number And others set in their place.

lakhen yakkir mabadehem vehafakh laylah veyiddakka'u

Truly, [God] knows their deeds; Night is over, and they are crushed.

takhat-resha'im sefaqam bimqom ro'im

The wicked are struck down Where people can see,

asher al-ken saru me'akharayw vekhol-derakhayw lo hiskilu

Because they acted disloyally And have not understood any of God’s ways;

lehavi alayw tsa'aqat-dal vetsa'aqat aniyyim yishma

Thus the cry of the poor is admitted; The cry of the needy is heard.

vehu yashqit umi yarshia veyaster panim umi yeshurennu ve'al-goy ve'al-adam yakhad

When [God] is silent, who will condemn? If the divine face becomes hidden, who will see it, Be it nation or person?

mimmelokh adam khanef mimmoqeshe am

No one impious rules anymore, Nor do those who ensnare the people.

ki-el-el he'amar nasati lo ekhbol

Has anyone said to God, “I will bear [my punishment] and offend no more.

bilade ekhezeh attah horeni im-avel pa'alti lo osif

What I cannot see You teach me. If I have done iniquity, I shall not do so again”?

hame'immekha yeshallemennah ki-ma'asta ki-attah tivkhar velo-ani umah-yyadata dabber

Should [God] requite as you see fit? But you have acted with disdain! You must decide, not I; Speak what you know.

anshe levav yomeru li vegever khakham shomea li

Men of understanding say to me, Wise men who hear me,

iyyov lo-veda'at yedabber udevarayw lo vehaskel

“Job does not speak with knowledge; His words lack understanding.”

avi yibbakhen iyyov ad-netsakh al-teshuvot be'anshe-aven

Would that Job were tried to the limit For answers that befit those who are evil.

ki-yosif al-khattato fesha benenu yispoq veyerev amarayw la'el

He adds to his sin; He increases his transgression among us; He multiplies his statements against God.