Job 9

vayya'an iyyov vayyomar

Job said in reply:

omnam yadati khi-khen umah-yyitsdaq enosh im-el

Indeed I know that it is so: A mortal cannot win a suit against God.

im-yakhpots lariv immo lo-ya'anennu akhat minni-alef

If someone insisted on such a trial, Not one charge in a thousand would be answered.

khakham levav ve'ammits koakh mi-hiqshah elayw vayyishlam

Wise of heart and mighty in power— Who ever challenged divine decree and came out whole?—

hammatiq harim velo yada'u asher hafakham be'appo

The One who moves mountains without their knowing it, Who overturns them in anger;

hammargiz erets mimmeqomah ve'ammudeha yitpallatsun

Who shakes the earth from its place, Till its pillars quake;

ha'omer lakheres velo yizrakh uve'ad kokhavim yakhtom

Who commands the sun not to shine; Who seals up the stars;

noteh shamayim levaddo vedorekh al-bomote yam

Who alone spread out the heavens, And trod on the back of the sea;

oseh-ash kesil vekhimah vekhadre teman

Who made the Bear and Orion, Pleiades, and the chambers of the south wind;

oseh gedolot ad-en kheqer venifla'ot ad-en mispar

Who performs great deeds that cannot be fathomed, And wondrous things without number.

hen ya'avor alay velo ereh veyakhalof velo-avin lo

[God] passes me by—I am oblivious; [God] goes by me, but I do not notice.

hen yakhtof mi yeshivennu mi-yomar elayw mah-tta'aseh

[God] snatches away—who can put a stop to it? Who can say, “What are You doing?”

eloah lo-yashiv appo takhtav shakhakhu ozere rahav

Rahab’s helpers sink down under God Who does not refrain from anger.

af ki-anokhi e'enennu evkharah devaray immo

How then can I answer, Or choose what arguments to make?

asher im-tsadaqti lo e'eneh limshofeti etkhannan

Though I were in the right, I could not speak out, But I would plead for mercy with my judge.

im-qarati vayya'aneni lo-a'amin ki-ya'azin qoli

If I issued a summons and were answered, I do not believe my voice would be heard.

asher-bisarah yeshufeni vehirbah fetsa'ay khinnam

For [God] crushes me for a hair, And wounds me much for no cause—

lo-yitteneni hashev rukhi ki yasbi'ani mammerorim

Not letting me catch my breath, But sating me with bitterness.

im-lekhoakh ammits hinneh ve'im-lemishpat mi yo'ideni

If a trial of strength—[God] is the strong one; If a trial in court—who will make the arrangements for me?

im-etsdaq pi yarshi'eni tom-ani vayyaqesheni

Though I were innocent, My mouth would condemn me; Though I were blameless, [God] would prove me crooked.

tom-ani lo-eda nafshi emas khayyay

I am blameless—I am distraught; I am sick of life.

akhat hi al-ken amarti tam verasha hu mekhalleh

It is all one; therefore I say, “The blameless are destroyed along with the guilty.”

im-shot yamit pitom lemassat neqiyyim yilag

When suddenly a scourge brings death, [God] mocks as the innocent fail.

erets nittenah veyad-rasha pene-shofeteha yekhasseh im-lo efo mi-hu

The earth is handed over to the wicked one; The eyes of its judges are covered. If it is not [God], then who?

veyamay qallu minni-rats barekhu lo-ra'u tovah

My days fly swifter than a runner; They flee without seeing happiness;

khalefu im-oniyyot eveh kenesher yatus ale-okhel

They pass like reed-boats, Like an eagle swooping onto its prey.

im-omri eshkekhah sikhi e'ezvah fanay ve'avligah

If I say, “I will forget my complaint; Abandon my sorrow and be diverted,”

yagoreti khol-atsevotay yadati ki-lo tenaqqeni

I remain in dread of all my suffering; I know that You will not acquit me.

anokhi ersha lammah-zzeh hevel iga

It will be I who am in the wrong; Why then should I waste effort?

im-hitrakhatsti (vmv) [veme-]shaleg vahazikkoti bevor kappay

If I washed with soap, Cleansed my hands with lye,

az bashakhat titbeleni veti'avuni salmotay

You would dip me in muck Till my clothes would abhor me.

ki-lo-ish kamoni e'enennu navo yakhdav bammishpat

[God] is not someone like me whom I can answer, That we can go to law together.

lo yesh-benenu mokhiakh yashet yado al-shenenu

No arbiter is between us To lay his hand on us both.

yaser me'alay shivto ve'emato al-teva'atanni

If [God] would only take the rod away from me And call off the terror that frightens,

adabberah velo ira'ennu ki lo-khen anokhi immadi

Then I would speak out without fear; For I know myself not to be so.