1
הֶן־כֹּל רָאֲתָה עֵינִי שָׁמְעָה אָזְנִי וַתָּבֶן לָהּ
Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.
Ἰδοὺ ταῦτα ἑώρακέ μου ὁ ὀφθαλμὸς, καὶ ἀκήκοέ μου τὸ οὖς.
Behold, mine eye has seen these things, And mine ear has heard [them].
2
כְּדַעְתְּכֶם יָדַעְתִּי גַם־אָנִי לֹא־נֹפֵל אָנֹכִי מִכֶּם
What ye know, do I know also; I am not inferior unto you.
Καὶ οἶδα ὅσα καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐπίστασθε, καὶ οὐκ ἀσυνετώτερός εἰμι ὑμῶν.
And I know all that ye too know; And I have not less understanding than you.
3
אוּלָם אֲנִי אֶל־שַׁדַּי אֲדַבֵּר וְהוֹכֵחַ אֶל־אֵל אֶחְפָּץ
Notwithstanding I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with G-d.
Οὐ μὴν δὲ ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ πρὸς Κύριον λαλήσω, ἐλέγξω δὲ ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ ἐὰν βούληται.
Nevertheless I will speak to the Lord, And I will reason before him, if he will.
4
וְאוּלָם אַתֶּם טֹפְלֵי־שָׁקֶר רֹפְאֵי אֱלִל כֻּלְּכֶם
But ye are plasterers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
Ὑμεῖς δὲ ἐστὲ ἰατροὶ ἄδικοι, καὶ ἰαταὶ κακῶν πάντες.
But ye are all bad physicians, And healers of diseases.
5
מִי־יִתֵּן הַחֲרֵשׁ תַּחֲרִישׁוּן וּתְהִי לָכֶם לְחָכְמָה
Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it would be your wisdom.
Εἴη δὲ ὑμῖν κωφεῦσαι, καὶ ἀποβήσεται ὑμῖν σοφία.
But would that ye were silent, And it would be wisdom to you in the end.
6
שִׁמְעוּ־נָא תוֹכַחְתִּי וְרִבוֹת שְׂפָתַי הַקְשִׁיבוּ
Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
Ἀκούσατε δὲ ἔλεγχον τοῦ στόματός μου, κρίσιν δὲ χειλέων μου προσέχετε.
But hear ye the reasoning of my mouth, And attend to the judgment of my lips.
7
הַלְאֵל תְּדַבְּרוּ עַוְלָה וְלוֹ תְּדַבְּרוּ רְמִיָּה
Will ye speak unrighteously for G-d, and talk deceitfully for Him?
Πότερον οὐκ ἔναντι Κυρίου λαλεῖτε, ἔναντι δὲ αὐτοῦ φθέγγεσθε δόλον;
Do ye not speak before the Lord, And utter deceit before him?
8
הֲפָנָיו תִּשָּׂאוּן אִם־לָאֵל תְּרִיבוּן
Will ye show Him favour? Will ye contend for G-d?
Ἢ ὑποστελεῖσθε; ὑμεῖς δὲ αὐτοὶ κριταὶ γίνεσθε.
Or will ye draw back? Nay, do ye yourselves be judges.
9
הֲטוֹב כִּי־יַחְקֹר אֶתְכֶם אִם־כְּהָתֵל בֶּאֱנוֹשׁ תְּהָתֵלּוּ בוֹ
Would it be good that He should search you out? Or as one mocketh a man, will ye mock Him?
Καλὸν γὰρ ἐὰν ἐξιχνιάσῃ ὑμᾶς, εἰ γὰρ τὰ πάντα ποιοῦντες προστεθήσεσθε αὐτῷ,
For [it were] well if he would thoroughly search you: For though doing all things [in your power] ye should attach yourselves to him,
10
הוֹכֵחַ יוֹכִיחַ אֶתְכֶם אִם־בַּסֵּתֶר פָּנִים תִּשָּׂאוּן
He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly show favour.
οὐθὲν ἧττον ἐλέγξει ὑμᾶς· εἰ δὲ καὶ κρυφῇ πρόσωπα θαυμάσεσθε,
He will not reprove you at all the less: But if moreover ye should secretly respect persons,
11
הֲלֹא שְׂאֵתוֹ תְּבַעֵת אֶתְכֶם וּפַחְדּוֹ יִפֹּל עֲלֵיכֶם
Shall not His majesty terrify you, and His dread fall upon you?
πότερον οὐχ ἡ δῖνα αὐτοῦ στροβήσει ὑμᾶς; ὁ φόβος δὲ παρʼ αὐτοῦ ἐπιπεσεῖται ὑμῖν,
Shall not his whirlpool sweep you round, And terror from him fall upon you?
12
זִכְרֹנֵיכֶם מִשְׁלֵי־אֵפֶר לְגַבֵּי־חֹמֶר גַּבֵּיכֶם
Your memorials shall be like unto ashes, your eminences to eminences of clay.
ἀποβήσεται δὲ ὑμῶν τὸ γαυρίαμα ἶσα σποδῷ, τὸ δὲ σῶμα πήλινον.
And your glorying shall prove in the end to you like ashes, And your body [like a body] of clay.
13
הַחֲרִישׁוּ מִמֶּנִּי וַאֲדַבְּרָה־אָנִי וְיַעֲבֹר עָלַי מָה
Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
Κωφεύσατε ἵνα λαλήσω, καὶ ἀναπαύσωμαι θυμοῦ,
Be silent, that I may speak, and cease from [mine] anger,
14
עַל־מָה אֶשָּׂא בְשָׂרִי בְשִׁנָּי וְנַפְשִׁי אָשִׂים בְּכַפִּי
Wherefore? I will take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.
ἀναλαβὼν τὰς σάρκας μου τοῖς ὀδοῦσι, ψυχὴν δέ μου θήσω ἐν χειρί.
While I may take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hand.
15
הֵן יִקְטְלֵנִי לא לוֹ אֲיַחֵל אַךְ־דְּרָכַי אֶל־פָּנָיו אוֹכִיחַ
Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him; but I will argue my ways before Him.
Ἐάν με χειρώσηται ὁ δυνάστης, ἐπεὶ καὶ ἦρκται, ἦ μὴν λαλήσω καὶ ἐλέγξω ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ·
Though the Mighty One should lay hand upon me, forasmuch as he has begun, Verily I will speak, and plead before him.
16
גַּם־הוּא־לִי לִישׁוּעָה כִּי־לֹא לְפָנָיו חָנֵף יָבוֹא
This also shall be my salvation, that a hypocrite cannot come before Him.
Καὶ τοῦτό μοι ἀποβήσεται εἰς σωτηρίαν, οὐ γὰρ ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ δόλος εἰσελεύσεται.
And this shall turn to me for salvation; For fraud shall have no entrance before him.
17
שִׁמְעוּ שָׁמוֹעַ מִלָּתִי וְא͏ַחֲוָתִי בְּאָזְנֵיכֶם
Hear diligently my speech, and let my declaration be in your ears.
Ἀκούσατε ἀκούσατε τὰ ῥήματά μου, ἀναγγελῶ γὰρ ὑμῶν ἀκουόντων.
Hear, hear ye my words, For I will declare in your hearing.
18
הִנֵּה־נָא עָרַכְתִּי מִשְׁפָּט יָדַעְתִּי כִּי־אֲנִי אֶצְדָּק
Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
Ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐγγύς εἰμι τοῦ κρίματός μου, οἶδα ἐγὼ ὅτι δίκαιος ἀναφανοῦμαι.
Behold, I am near my judgment: I know that I shall appear evidently just.
Τίς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ κριθησόμενός μοι, ὅτι νῦν κωφεύσω καὶ ἐκλείψω;
For who is he that shall plead with me, That I should now be silent, and expire?
19
מִי־הוּא יָרִיב עִמָּדִי כִּי־עַתָּה אַחֲרִישׁ וְאֶגְוָע
Who is he that will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and die.
20
אַךְ־שְׁתַּיִם אַל־תַּעַשׂ עִמָּדִי אָז מִפָּנֶיךָ לֹא אֶסָּתֵר
Only do not two things unto me, then will I not hide myself from Thee:
Δυεῖν δέ μοι χρήσῃ, τότε ἀπὸ τοῦ προσώπου σου οὐ κρυβήσομαι.
But grant me two things: Then I will not hide myself from thy face.
21
כַּפְּךָ מֵעָלַי הַרְחַק וְאֵמָתְךָ אַל־תְּבַעֲתַנִּי
Withdraw Thy hand far from me; and let not Thy terror make me afraid.
Τὴν χεῖρα ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ ἀπέχου, καὶ ὁ φόβος σου μή με καταπλησσέτω.
Withhold [thine] hand from me: And let not thy fear terrify me.
22
וּקְרָא וְאָנֹכִי אֶעֱנֶה אוֹ־אֲדַבֵּר וַהֲשִׁיבֵנִי
Then call Thou, and I will answer; or let me speak, and answer Thou me.
Εἶτα καλέσεις, ἐγὼ δέ σοι ὑπακούσομαι, ἢ λαλήσεις, ἐγὼ δέ σοι δώσω ἀνταπόκρισιν·
Then shalt thou call, and I will hearken to thee: Or thou shalt speak, and I will give thee an answer.
23
כַּמָּה לִי עֲוֺנוֹת וְחַטָּאוֹת פִּשְׁעִי וְחַטָּאתִי הֹדִיעֵנִי
How many are mine iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin.
Πόσαι εἰσὶν αἱ ἁμαρτίαι μου καὶ ἀνομίαι μου; δίδαξόν με τίνες εἰσί.
How many are my sins and my transgressions? Teach me what they are.
24
לָמָּה־פָנֶיךָ תַסְתִּיר וְתַחְשְׁבֵנִי לְאוֹיֵב לָךְ
Wherefore hidest Thou Thy face, and holdest me for Thine enemy?
Διατί ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ κρύπτῃ, ἥγησαι δέ με ὑπεναντίον σοι;
Wherefore hidest thou thyself from me, And deemest me thine enemy?
25
הֶעָלֶה נִדָּף תַּעֲרוֹץ וְאֶת־קַשׁ יָבֵשׁ תִּרְדֹּף
Wilt Thou harass a driven leaf? And wilt Thou pursue the dry stubble?
Ἢ ὡς φῦλλον κινούμενον ὑπὸ ἀνέμου εὐλαβηθήσῃ, ἢ ὡς χόρτῳ φερομένῳ ὑπὸ πνεύματος ἀντίκεισαί μοι;
Wilt thou be startled [at me], as [at] a leaf shaken by the wind? Or wilt thou set thyself against me as against grass borne upon the breeze?
26
כִּי־תִכְתֹּב עָלַי מְרֹרוֹת וְתוֹרִישֵׁנִי עֲוֺנוֹת נְעוּרָי
That Thou shouldest write bitter things against me, and make me to inherit the iniquities of my youth.
Ὅτι κατέγραψας κατʼ ἐμοῦ κακὰ, περιέθηκας δέ μοι νεότητος ἁμαρτίας.
For thou hast written evil things against me, And thou hast compassed me with the sins of my youth.
27
וְתָשֵׂם בַּסַּד רַגְלַי וְתִשְׁמוֹר כָּל־אָרְחוֹתָי עַל־שָׁרְשֵׁי רַגְלַי תִּתְחַקֶּה
Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; Thou drawest Thee a line about the soles of my feet;
Ἔθου δέ μου τὸν πόδα ἐν κωλύματι, ἐφύλαξας δέ μου πάντα τὰ ἔργα, εἰς δὲ ῥίζας τῶν ποδῶν μου ἀφίκου.
And thou hast placed my foot in the stocks; And thou hast watched all my works, And hast penetrated to my heels.
28
וְהוּא כְּרָקָב יִבְלֶה כְּבֶגֶד אֲכָלוֹ עָשׁ
Though I am like a wine-skin that consumeth, like a garment that is moth-eaten.
Ὃ παλαιοῦται ἶσα ἀσκῷ, ἢ ὥσπερ ἱμάτιον σητόβρωτον.
[I am as] that which waxes old like a bottle, Or like a moth-eaten garment.