1
וַיַּעַן אִיּוֹב וַיֹּאמַר
Then Job answered and said:
Ὑπολαβὼν δὲ Ἰὼβ, λέγει,
But Job answered and said,
2
לוּ שָׁקוֹל יִשָּׁקֵל כַּעְשִׂי והיתי וְהַוָּתִי בְּמֹאזְנַיִם יִשְׂאוּ־יָחַד
Oh that my vexation were but weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances altogether!
Εἰ γάρ τις ἱστῶν στήσαι μου τὴν ὀργὴν, τὰς δὲ ὀδύνας μου ἄραι ἐν ζυγῷ ὁμοθυμαδὸν,
Oh that one would indeed weigh the wrath that is upon me, And take up my griefs in a balance together!
3
כִּי־עַתָּה מֵחוֹל יַמִּים יִכְבָּד עַל־כֵּן דְּבָרַי לָעוּ
For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore are my words broken.
καὶ δὴ ἄμμου παραλίας βαρυτέρα ἔσται· ἀλλʼ ὡς ἔοικε τὰ ῥήματά μου ἐστὶ φαῦλα.
And verily they would be heavier than the sand by the seashore: But, as it seems, my words are vain.
4
כִּי חִצֵּי שַׁדַּי עִמָּדִי אֲשֶׁר חֲמָתָם שֹׁתָה רוּחִי בִּעוּתֵי אֱלוֹהַּ יַעַרְכוּנִי
For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof my spirit drinketh up; the terrors of G-d do set themselves in array against me.
Βέλη γὰρ Κυρίου ἐν τῷ σώματί μου ἐστὶν, ὧν ὁ θυμὸς αὐτῶν ἐκπίνει μου τὸ αἷμα· ὅταν ἄρξωμαι λαλεῖν, κεντοῦσί με.
For the arrows of the Lord are in my body, Whose violence drinks up my blood: Whenever I am going to speak, they pierce me.
5
הֲיִנְהַק־פֶּרֶא עֲלֵי־דֶשֶׁא אִם יִגְעֶה־שּׁוֹר עַל־בְּלִילוֹ
Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?
Τί γάρ; μὴ διακενῆς κεκράξεται ὄνος ἄγριος, ἀλλʼ ἢ τὰ σῖτα ζητῶν; εἰ δὲ καὶ ῥήξει φωνὴν βοῦς ἐπὶ φάτνης ἔχων τὰ βρώματα;
What then? will the wild ass bray for nothing, if he is not seeking food? Or again, will the ox low at the manger, when he has fodder?
6
הֲיֵאָכֵל תָּפֵל מִבְּלִי־מֶלַח אִם־יֶשׁ־טַעַם בְּרִיר חַלָּמוּת
Can that which hath no savour be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the juice of mallows?
Εἰ βρωθήσεται ἄρτος ἄνευ ἁλός; εἰ δὲ καὶ ἔστι γεῦμα ἐν ῥήμασι κενοῖς;
Shall bread be eaten without salt? Or again, is there taste in empty words?
7
מֵאֲנָה לִנְגּוֹעַ נַפְשִׁי הֵמָּה כִּדְוֵי לַחְמִי
My soul refuseth to touch them; they are as the sickness of my flesh.
Οὐ δύναται γὰρ παύσασθαί μου ἡ ὀργή· βρόμον γὰρ ὁρῶ τὰ σῖτά μου ὥσπερ ὀσμὴν λέοντος.
For my wrath cannot cease; For I perceive my food as the smell of a lion [to be] loathsome.
8
מִי־יִתֵּן תָּבוֹא שֶׁאֱלָתִי וְתִקְוָתִי יִתֵּן אֱלוֹהַּ
Oh that I might have my request, and that G-d would grant me the thing that I long for!
Εἰ γὰρ δώῃ καὶ ἔλθοι μου ἡ αἴτησις, καὶ τὴν ἐλπίδα μου δώῃ ὁ Κύριος.
For oh that he would grant [my desire], and my petition might come, And the Lord would grant my hope!
9
וְיֹאֵל אֱלוֹהַּ וִידַכְּאֵנִי יַתֵּר יָדוֹ וִיבַצְּעֵנִי
Even that it would please G-d to crush me; that He would let loose His hand, and cut me off!
Ἀρξάμενος ὁ Κύριος τρωσάτω με, εἰς τέλος δὲ μή με ἀνελέτω.
Let the Lord begin and wound me, But let him not utterly destroy me.
10
וּתְהִי עוֹד נֶחָמָתִי וַאֲסַלְּדָה בְחִילָה לֹא יַחְמוֹל כִּי־לֹא כִחַדְתִּי אִמְרֵי קָדוֹשׁ
Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would exult in pain, though He spare not; for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
Εἴη δέ μου πόλις τάφος, ἐφʼ ἧς ἐπὶ τειχέων ἡλλόμην, ἐπʼ αὐτῆς οὐ φείσομαι· οὐ γὰρ ἐψευσάμην ῥήματα ἅγια Θεοῦ μου.
Let the grave be my city, upon the walls of which I have leaped: I will not shrink from it; For I have not denied the holy words of my God.
11
מַה־כֹּחִי כִי־אֲיַחֵל וּמַה־קִּצִּי כִּי־אַאֲרִיךְ נַפְשִׁי
What is my strength, that I should wait? and what is mine end, that I should be patient?
Τίς γάρ μου ἡ ἰσχύς, ὅτι ὑπομένω; τίς μου ὁ χρόνος, ὅτι ἀνέχεταί μου ἡ ψυχή;
For what is my strength, that I continue? What is my time, that my soul endures?
12
אִם־כֹּחַ אֲבָנִים כֹּחִי אִם־בְּשָׂרִי נָחוּשׁ
Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
Μὴ ἰσχὺς λίθων ἡ ἰσχύς μου; ἢ αἱ σάρκες μου εἰσὶ χάλκεαι;
Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass?
13
הַאִם אֵין עֶזְרָתִי בִי וְתֻשִׁיָּה נִדְּחָה מִמֶּנִּי
Is it that I have no help in me, and that sound wisdom is driven quite from me?
Ἢ οὐκ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἐπεποίθειν; βοήθεια δὲ ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ ἄπεστιν.
Or have I not trusted in him? But help is [far] from me.
14
לַמָּס מֵרֵעֵהוּ חָסֶד וְיִרְאַת שַׁדַּי יַעֲזוֹב
To him that is ready to faint kindness is due from his friend, even to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
Ἀπείπατό με ἔλεος, ἐπισκοπὴ δὲ Κυρίου ὑπερεῖδέ με.
Mercy has rejected me; And the visitation of the Lord has disregarded me.
15
אַחַי בָּגְדוּ כְמוֹ־נָחַל כַּאֲפִיק נְחָלִים יַעֲבֹרוּ
My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that overflow,
Οὐ προσεῖδόν με οἱ ἐγγύτατοί μου, ὥσπερ χειμάῤῥους ἐκλείπων, ἢ ὥσπερ κῦμα παρῆλθόν με
My nearest relations have not regarded me; They have passed me by like a failing brook, or like a wave.
16
הַקֹּדְרִים מִנִּי־קָרַח עָלֵימוֹ יִתְעַלֶּם־שָׁלֶג
Which are black by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow hideth itself;
Οἵτινές με διευλαβοῦντο, νῦν ἐπιπεπτώκασί μοι ὥσπερ χιὼν ἢ κρύσταλλος πεπηγώς·
They who used to reverence me, now have come against me Like snow or congealed ice.
17
בְּעֵת יְזֹרְבוּ נִצְמָתוּ בְּחֻמּוֹ נִדְעֲכוּ מִמְּקוֹמָם
What time they wax warm, they vanish, when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
Καθὼς τακεῖσα θέρμης γενομένης, οὐκ ἐπεγνώσθη ὅπερ ἦν,
When it has melted at the approach of heat, it is not known what it was.
18
οὕτω κᾀγὼ κατελείφηθν ὑπὸ πάντων, ἀπωλόμην δὲ καὶ ἔξοικος ἐγενόμην.
Thus I also have been deserted of all; And I am ruined, and become an outcast.
18
יִלָּפְתוּ אָרְחוֹת דַּרְכָּם יַעֲלוּ בַתֹּהוּ וְיֹאבֵדוּ
The paths of their way do wind, they go up into the waste, and are lost.
Ἴδετε ὁδοὺς Θαιμανῶν, ἀτραποὺς, Σαβῶν οἱ διορῶντες.
Behold the ways of the Temanites, Ye that mark the paths of the Sabeans.
19
הִבִּיטוּ אָרְחוֹת תֵּמָא הֲלִיכֹת שְׁבָא קִוּוּ־לָמוֹ
The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them--
20
בֹּשׁוּ כִּי־בָטָח בָּאוּ עָדֶיהָ וַיֶּחְפָּרוּ
They were ashamed because they had hoped; they came thither, and were confounded.
Καὶ αἰσχύνην ὀφειλήσουσιν, οἱ ἐπὶ πόλεσι καὶ χρήμασι πεποιθότες.
They too that trust in cities and riches Shall come to shame.
21
כִּי־עַתָּה הֱיִיתֶם לא לוֹ תִּרְאוּ חֲתַת וַתִּירָאוּ
For now ye are become His; ye see a terror, and are afraid.
Ἀτὰρ δὲ καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐπέβητέ μοι ἀνελεημόνως, ὥστε ἰδόντες τὸ ἐμὸν τραῦμα φοβήθητε.
But ye also have come to me without pity; So that beholding my wound ye are afraid.
22
הֲכִי־אָמַרְתִּי הָבוּ לִי וּמִכֹּחֲכֶם שִׁחֲדוּ בַעֲדִי
Did I say: 'Give unto me'? or: 'Offer a present for me of your substance'?
Τί γάρ; μήτι ὑμᾶς ἢτησα, ἢ τῆς παρʼ ὑμῶν ἰσχύος ἐπιδέομαι,
What? have I made any demand of you? Or do I ask for strength from you,
23
וּמַלְּטוּנִי מִיַּד־צָר וּמִיַּד עָרִיצִים תִּפְדּוּנִי
or: 'Deliver me from the adversary's hand'? or: 'Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors'?
ὥστε σῶσαί με ἑξ ἐχθρῶν, ἢ ἐκ χειρὸς δυναστῶν ῥύσασθαί με;
To deliver me from enemies, Or to rescue me from the hand of the mighty ones?
24
הוֹרוּנִי וַאֲנִי אַחֲרִישׁ וּמַה־שָּׁגִיתִי הָבִינוּ לִי
Teach me, and I will hold my peace; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
Διδάξατέ με, ἐγὼ δὲ κωφεύσω· εἴ τι πεπλάνημαι, φράσατέ μοι.
Teach ye me, and I will be silent: If in anything I have erred, tell me.
25
מַה־נִּמְרְצוּ אִמְרֵי־יֹשֶׁר וּמַה־יּוֹכִיחַ הוֹכֵחַ מִכֶּם
How forcible are words of uprightness! But what doth your arguing argue?
Ἀλλʼ ὡς ἔοικε φαῦλα ἀληθινοῦ ῥήματα, οὐ γὰρ παρʼ ὑμῶν ἰσχὺν αἰτοῦμαι.
But as it seems, the words of a true man are vain, Because I do not ask strength of you.
26
הַלְהוֹכַח מִלִּים תַּחְשֹׁבוּ וּלְרוּחַ אִמְרֵי נֹאָשׁ
Do ye hold words to be an argument, but the speeches of one that is desperate to be wind?
Οὐδὲ ἔλεγχος ὑμῶν ῥήμασί με παύσει, οὐδὲ γὰρ ὑμῶν φθέγμα ῥήματος ἀνέξομαι.
Neither will your reproof cause me to cease my words, For neither will I endure the sound of your speech.
27
אַף־עַל־יָתוֹם תַּפִּילוּ וְתִכְרוּ עַל־רֵיעֲכֶם
Yea, ye would cast lots upon the fatherless, and dig a pit for your friend.
Πλὴν ὅτι ἐπʼ ὀρφανῷ ἐπιπίπτετε, ἐνάλλεσθε δὲ ἐπὶ φίλῳ ὑμῶν.
Even because ye attack the fatherless, And insult your friend.
28
וְעַתָּה הוֹאִילוּ פְנוּ־בִי וְעַל־פְּנֵיכֶם אִם־אֲכַזֵּב
Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; for surely I shall not lie to your face.
Νυνὶ δὲ εἰσβλέψας εἰς πρόσωπα ὑμῶν, οὐ ψεύσομαι.
But now, having looked upon your countenances, I will not lie.
29
שֻׁבוּ־נָא אַל־תְּהִי עַוְלָה ושבי וְשׁוּבוּ עוֹד צִדְקִי־בָהּ
Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice; yea, return again, my cause is righteous.
Καθίσατε δὴ καὶ μὴ εἴη ἄδικον, καὶ πάλιν τῷ δικαίῳ συνέρχεσθε.
Sit down now, and let there not be unrighteousness; And unite again with the just.
30
הֲיֵשׁ־בִּלְשׁוֹנִי עַוְלָה אִם־חִכִּי לֹא־יָבִין הַוּוֹת
Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern crafty devices?
Οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ἐν γλώσσῃ μουἄδικον, ἢ ὁ λάρυγξ μου οὐχὶ σύνεσιν μελετᾷ.
For there is no injustice in my tongue; And does not my throat meditate understanding?