1
וַיַּעַן אִיּוֹב וַיֹּאמַר
Then Job answered and said:
Ὑπολαβὼν δὲ Ἰὼβ, λέγει,
And Job answered and said,
2
אָמְנָם כִּי אַתֶּם־עָם וְעִמָּכֶם תָּמוּת חָכְמָה
No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
Εἶτα ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἄνθρωποι, ἢ μεθʼ ὑμῶν τελευτήσει σοφία;
So then ye [alone] are men, And wisdom shall die with you?
3
גַּם־לִי לֵבָב כְּמוֹכֶם לֹא־נֹפֵל אָנֹכִי מִכֶּם וְאֶת־מִי־אֵין כְּמוֹ־אֵלֶּה
But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you; yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
Κᾀμοὶ μὲν καρδία καθʼ ὑμᾶς ἐστι.
[But] I also have a heart as well as you.
4
שְׂחֹק לְרֵעֵהוּ אֶהְיֶה קֹרֵא לֶאֱלוֹהַּ וַיַּעֲנֵהוּ שְׂחוֹק צַדִּיק תָּמִים
I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbour, a man that called upon G-d, and He answered him; the just, the innocent man is a laughing-stock,
Δίκαιος γὰρ ἀνὴρ καὶ ἄμεμπτος ἐγεννήθη εἰς χλεύασμα·
For a righteous and blameless man has become a subject for mockery.
5
לַפִּיד בּוּז לְעַשְׁתּוּת שַׁאֲנָן נָכוֹן לְמוֹעֲדֵי רָגֶל
A contemptible brand in the thought of him that is at ease, a thing ready for them whose foot slippeth.
Εἰς χρόνον γὰρ τακτὸν ἡτοίμαστο πεσεῖν ὑπὸ ἄλλων, οἴκους τε αὐτοῦ ἐκπορθεῖσθαι ὑπὸ ἀνόμων·
For it had been ordained that he should fall under others at the appointed time, And that his houses should be spoiled by transgressors: Let not however anyone trust that, being evil, he shall be [held] guiltless,
6
יִשְׁלָיוּ אֹהָלִים לְשֹׁדְדִים וּבַטֻּחוֹת לְמַרְגִּיזֵי אֵל לַאֲשֶׁר הֵבִיא אֱלוֹהַּ בְּיָדוֹ
The tents of robbers prosper, and they that provoke G-d are secure, in whatsoever G-d bringeth into their hand.
οὐ μὴν δὲ ἀλλὰ μηδεὶς πεποιθέτω πονηρὸς ὢν ἀθῶος ἔσεσθαι, ὅσοι παροργίζουσι τὸν Κύριον, ὡς οὐχὶ καὶ ἔτασις αὐτῶν ἔσται.
Even as many as provoke the Lord, As if there were indeed to be no inquisition [made] of them.
7
וְאוּלָם שְׁאַל־נָא בְהֵמוֹת וְתֹרֶךָּ וְעוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם וְיַגֶּד־לָךְ
But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee;
Ἀλλὰ δὴ ἐρώτησον τετράποδα ἐάν σοι εἴπωσι, πετεινὰ δὲ οὐρανοῦ ἐάν σοι ἀπαγγείλωσιν.
But ask now the beasts, if they may speak to thee; And the birds of the air, if they may declare to thee.
8
אוֹ שִׂיחַ לָאָרֶץ וְתֹרֶךָּ וִיסַפְּרוּ לְךָ דְּגֵי הַיָּם
Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee;
Ἐκδιήγησαι γῇ, ἐάν σοι φράσῃ, καὶ ἐξηγήσονταί σοι οἱ ἰχθύες τῆς θαλάσσης.
Tell the earth, if it may speak to thee: And the fish of the sea shall explain to thee.
9
מִי לֹא־יָדַע בְּכָל־אֵלֶּה כִּי יַד־יְהוָה עָשְׂתָה זֹּאת
Who knoweth not among all these, that the hand of HaShem hath wrought this?
Τίς οὖν οὐκ ἔγνω ἐν πᾶσι τούτοις, ὅτι χεὶρ Κυρίου ἐποίησε ταῦτα;
Who then has not known in all these things, That the hand of the Lord has made them?
10
אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדוֹ נֶפֶשׁ כָּל־חָי וְרוּחַ כָּל־בְּשַׂר־אִישׁ
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.--
Εἰ μὴ ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ ψυχὴ πάντων ζώντων, καὶ πνεῦμα παντὸς ἀνθρώπου.
Whereas the life of all living things is in his hand, And the breath of every man.
11
הֲלֹא־אֹזֶן מִלִּין תִּבְחָן וְחֵךְ אֹכֶל יִטְעַם־לוֹ
Doth not the ear try words, even as the palate tasteth its food?
Οὖς μὲν γὰρ ῥήματα διακρίνει, λάρυγξ δὲ σῖτα γεύεται.
For the ear tries words, And the palate tastes meats.
12
בִּישִׁישִׁים חָכְמָה וְאֹרֶךְ יָמִים תְּבוּנָה
Is wisdom with aged men, and understanding in length of days?--
Ἐν πολλῷ χρόνῳ σοφία, ἐν δὲ πολλῷ βίῳ ἐπιστήμη.
In length of time is wisdom, And in long life knowledge.
13
עִמּוֹ חָכְמָה וּגְבוּרָה לוֹ עֵצָה וּתְבוּנָה
With Him is wisdom and might; He hath counsel and understanding.
Παρʼ αὐτῷ σοφία καὶ δύναμις, αὐτῷ βουλὴ καὶ σύνεσις.
With him are wisdom and power, With him counsel and understanding.
14
הֵן יַהֲרוֹס וְלֹא יִבָּנֶה יִסְגֹּר עַל־אִישׁ וְלֹא יִפָּתֵחַ
Behold, He breaketh down, and it cannot be built again; He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
Ἐὰν καταβάλῃ, τίς οἰκοδομήσει; ἐὰν κλείσῃ κατʼ ἀνθρώπων, τίς ἀνοίξει;
If he should cast down, who will build up? If he should shut up against men, who shall open?
15
הֵן יַעְצֹר בַּמַּיִם וְיִבָשׁוּ וִישַׁלְּחֵם וְיַהַפְכוּ אָרֶץ
Behold, He withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; also He sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
Ἐὰν κωλύσῃ τὸ ὕδωρ, ξηρανεῖ τὴν γῆν· ἐὰν δὲ ἐπαφῇ, ἀπώλεσεν αὐτὴν καταστρέψας.
If he should withhold the water, he will dry the earth: And if he should let it loose, he overthrows and destroys it.
16
עִמּוֹ עֹז וְתוּשִׁיָּה לוֹ שֹׁגֵג וּמַשְׁגֶּה
With Him is strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are His.
Παρʼ αὐτῷ κράτος καὶ ἰσχὺς, αὐτῷ ἐπιστήμη καὶ σύνεσις.
With him are strength and power: He has knowledge and understanding.
17
מוֹלִיךְ יוֹעֲצִים שׁוֹלָל וְשֹׁפְטִים יְהוֹלֵל
He leadeth counsellors away stripped, and judges maketh He fools.
Διάγων βουλευτὰς αἰχμαλώτους, κριτὰς δὲ γῆς ἐξέστησε.
He leads counselors away captive, And maddens the judges of the earth.
18
מוּסַר מְלָכִים פִּתֵּחַ וַיֶּאְסֹר אֵזוֹר בְּמָתְנֵיהֶם
He looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth their loins with a girdle.
Καθιζάνων βασιλεῖς ἐπὶ θρόνους, καὶ περιεδησε ζώνῃ ὀσφύας αὐτῶν.
He seats kings upon thrones, And girds their loins with a girdle.
19
מוֹלִיךְ כֹּהֲנִים שׁוֹלָל וְאֵתָנִים יְסַלֵּף
He leadeth priests away stripped, and overthroweth the mighty.
Ἐξαποστέλλων ἱερεῖς αἰχμαλώτους, δυνάστας δὲ γῆς κατέστρεψε.
He sends away priests into captivity, And overthrows the mighty ones of the earth.
20
מֵסִיר שָׂפָה לְנֶאֱמָנִים וְטַעַם זְקֵנִים יִקָּח
He removeth the speech of men of trust, and taketh away the sense of the elders.
21
שׁוֹפֵךְ בּוּז עַל־נְדִיבִים וּמְזִיחַ אֲפִיקִים רִפָּה
He poureth contempt upon princes, and looseth the belt of the strong.
Ἐκχέων ἀτιμίαν ἐπʼ ἄρχοντας, ταπεινοὺς δὲ ἰάσατο.
He pours dishonor upon princes, And heals the lowly.
22
מְגַלֶּה עֲמֻקוֹת מִנִּי־חֹשֶׁךְ וַיֹּצֵא לָאוֹר צַלְמָוֶת
He uncovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
Ἀνακαλύπτων βαθέα ἐκ σκότους, ἐξήγαγε δὲ εἰς φῶς σκιὰν θανάτου.
Revealing deep things out of darkness: And he has brought into light the shadow of death.
23
מַשְׂגִּיא לַגּוֹיִם וַיְאַבְּדֵם שֹׁטֵחַ לַגּוֹיִם וַיַּנְחֵם
He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; He enlargeth the nations, and leadeth them away.
Πλανῶν ἔθνη καὶ ἀπολλύων αὐτὰ, καταστρωννύων ἔθνη καὶ καθοδηγῶν αὐτά.
Causing the nations to wander, and destroying them: Overthrowing the nations, and leading them [away].
24
מֵסִיר לֵב רָאשֵׁי עַם־הָאָרֶץ וַיַּתְעֵם בְּתֹהוּ לֹא־דָרֶךְ
He taketh away the heart of the chiefs of the people of the land, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
Διαλλάσσων καρδίας ἀρχόντων γῆς· ἐπλάνησε δὲ αὐτοὺς ἐν ὁδῷ ᾗ οὐκ ᾔδεισαν.
Perplexing the minds of the princes of the earth: And he causes them to wander in a way they have not known, [saying],
25
יְמַשְׁשׁוּ־חֹשֶׁךְ וְלֹא־אוֹר וַיַּתְעֵם כַּשִּׁכּוֹר
They grope in the dark without light, and He maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
Ψηλαφήσαισαν σκότος καὶ μὴ φῶς, πλανηθείησαν δὲ ὥσπερ ὁ μεθύων.
Let them grope [in] darkness, and [let there be] no light, And let them wander as a drunken man.