1 And Job answered and said,
2 Even to-day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
3 Oh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come to his seat!
4 I would order the cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments;
5 I would know the words he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
6 Would he plead against me with {his} great power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me.
7 There would an upright man reason with him; and I should be delivered for ever from my judge.
8 Lo, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I do not perceive him;
9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I behold {him} not; he hideth himself on the right hand, and I see {him} not.
10 But he knoweth the way that I take; he trieth me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 My foot hath held to his steps; his way have I kept, and not turned aside.
12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have laid up the words of his mouth more than the purpose of my own heart.
13 But he is in one {mind}, and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, that will he do.
14 For he will perform {what} is appointed for me; and many such things are with him.
15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence; I consider, and I am afraid of him.
16 For *God hath made my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me;
17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he hidden the gloom from me.
1 א ויען איוב ויאמר br
2 ב גם-היום מרי שחי ידי כבדה על-אנחתי br
3 ג מי-יתן ידעתי ואמצאהו אבוא עד-תכונתו br
4 ד אערכה לפניו משפט ופי אמלא תוכחות br
5 ה אדעה מלים יענני ואבינה מה-יאמר לי br
6 ו הברב-כח יריב עמדי לא אך-הוא ישם בי br
7 ז שם--ישר נוכח עמו ואפלטה לנצח משפטי br
8 ח הן קדם אהלך ואיננו ואחור ולא-אבין לו br
9 ט שמאול בעשתו ולא-אחז יעטף ימין ולא אראה br
10 י כי-ידע דרך עמדי בחנני כזהב אצא br
11 יא באשרו אחזה רגלי דרכו שמרתי ולא-אט br
12 יב מצות שפתיו ולא אמיש מחקי צפנתי אמרי-פיו br
13 יג והוא באחד ומי ישיבנו ונפשו אותה ויעש br
14 יד כי ישלים חקי וכהנה רבות עמו br
15 טו על-כן מפניו אבהל אתבונן ואפחד ממנו br
16 טז ואל הרך לבי ושדי הבהילני br
17 יז כי-לא נצמתי מפני-חשך ומפני כסה-אפל