1
בְּרִית כָּרַתִּי לְעֵינָי וּמָה אֶתְבּוֹנֵן עַל־בְּתוּלָה
I made a covenant with mine eyes; how then should I look upon a maid?
Διαθήκην ἐθέμην τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς μου, καὶ οὐ συνήσω ἐπὶ παρθένον.
I made a covenant with mine eyes, And I will not think upon a virgin.
2
וּמֶה חֵלֶק אֱלוֹהַּ מִמָּעַל וְנַחֲלַת שַׁדַּי מִמְּרֹמִים
For what would be the portion of G-d from above, and the heritage of the Almighty from on high?
Καὶ τί ἐμέρισεν ὁ Θεὸς ἄνωθεν, καὶ κληρονομία ἱκανοῦ ἐξ ὑψίστων;
Now what portion has God given from above? And is there an inheritance [given] of the Mighty One from the highest?
3
הֲלֹא־אֵיד לְעַוָּל וְנֵכֶר לְפֹעֲלֵי אָוֶן
Is it not calamity to the unrighteous, and disaster to the workers of iniquity?
Οὐαί, ἀπώλεια τῷ ἀδίκῳ, καὶ ἀπαλλοτρίωσις τοῖς ποιοῦσιν ἀνομίαν.
Alas! destruction to the unrighteous, And rejection to them that do iniquity.
4
הֲלֹא־הוּא יִרְאֶה דְרָכָי וְכָל־צְעָדַי יִסְפּוֹר
Doth not He see my ways, and count all my steps?
Οὐχὶ αὐτὸς ὄψεται ὁδόν μου, καὶ πάντα τὰ διαβήματά μου ἐξαριθμήσεται;
Will he not see my way, And number all my steps?
5
אִם־הָלַכְתִּי עִם־שָׁוְא וַתַּחַשׁ עַל־מִרְמָה רַגְלִי
If I have walked with vanity, and my foot hath hasted to deceit--
Εἰ δὲ ἤμην πεπορευμένος μετὰ γελοιαστῶν, εἰ δὲ καὶ ἐσπούδασεν ὁ πούς μου εἰς δόλον·
But if I had gone with scorners, And if too my foot has hastened to deceit
6
יִשְׁקְלֵנִי בְמֹאזְנֵי־צֶדֶק וְיֵדַע אֱלוֹהַּ תֻּמָּתִי
Let me be weighed in a just balance, that G-d may know mine integrity--
Ἕσταμαι γὰρ ἐν ζυγῷ δικαίῳ, οἶδε δὲ ὁ Κύριος τὴν ἀκακίαν μου·
(For I am weighed in a just balance, And the Lord knows my innocence):
7
אִם תִּטֶּה אַשֻּׁרִי מִנִּי הַדָּרֶךְ וְאַחַר עֵינַי הָלַךְ לִבִּי וּבְכַפַּי דָּבַק מֻאוּם
If my step hath turned out of the way, and my heart walked after mine eyes, and if any spot hath cleaved to my hands;
Εἰ ἐξέκλινεν ὁ πούς μου ἐκ τῆς ὁδοῦ, εἰ δὲ καὶ τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ ἐπηκολούθησεν ἡ καρδία μου, εἰ δὲ καὶ ταῖς χερσί μου ἡψάμην δώρων,
If my foot has turned aside out of the way, Or if my heart has followed mine eye, And if too I have touched gifts with my hands;
8
אֶזְרְעָה וְאַחֵר יֹאכֵל וְצֶאֱצָאַי יְשֹׁרָשׁוּ
Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let the produce of my field be rooted out.
σπείραιμι ἄρα καὶ ἄλλοι φάγοισαν, ἄῤῥιζος δὲ γενοίμην ἐπὶ γῆς.
Then let me sow, and let others eat; And let me be uprooted on the earth.
9
אִם־נִפְתָּה לִבִּי עַל־אִשָּׁה וְעַל־פֶּתַח רֵעִי אָרָבְתִּי
If my heart have been enticed unto a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbour's door;
Εἰ ἐξηκολούθησεν ἡ καρδία μου γυναικὶ ἀνδρὸς ἑτέρου, εἰ καὶ ἐγκάθετος ἐγενόμην ἐπὶ θύραις αὐτῆς,
If my heart has gone forth after another man’s wife, And if I laid wait at her doors;
10
תִּטְחַן לְאַחֵר אִשְׁתִּי וְעָלֶיהָ יִכְרְעוּן אֲחֵרִין
Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.
ἀρέσαι ἄρα καὶ ἡ γυνή μου ἑτέρῳ, τὰ δὲ νήπιά μου ταπεινωθείη.
Then let my wife also please another, And let my children be brought low.
Θυμὸς γὰρ ὀργῆς ἀκατάσχετος, τὸ μιᾶναι ἀνδρὸς γυναῖκα.
For the rage of anger is not to be controlled, [In the case] of defiling [another] man’s wife.
11
כִּי־הוא הִיא זִמָּה והיא וְהוּא עָוֺן פְּלִילִים
For that were a heinous crime; yea, it were an iniquity to be punished by the judges.
12
כִּי אֵשׁ הִיא עַד־אֲבַדּוֹן תֹּאכֵל וּבְכָל־תְּבוּאָתִי תְשָׁרֵשׁ
For it is a fire that consumeth unto destruction, and would root out all mine increase.
Πῦρ γάρ ἐστι καιόμενον ἐπὶ πάντων τῶν μερῶν, οὗδʼ ἂν ἐπέλθῃ ἐκ ῥιζῶν ἀπώλεσεν.
For it is a fire burning on every side, And whomsoever it attacks, it utterly destroys.
13
אִם־אֶמְאַס מִשְׁפַּט עַבְדִּי וַאֲמָתִי בְּרִבָם עִמָּדִי
If I did despise the cause of my man-servant, or of my maid-servant, when they contended with me--
Εἰ δὲ καὶ ἐφαύλισα κρίμα θεράποντός μου ἢ θεραπαίνης, κρινομένων αὐτῶν πρὸς μὲ,
And if too I despised the judgment of my servant or [my] handmaid, When they pleaded with me;
14
וּמָה אֶעֱשֶׂה כִּי־יָקוּם אֵל וְכִי־יִפְקֹד מָה אֲשִׁיבֶנּוּ
What then shall I do when G-d riseth up? And when He remembereth, what shall I answer Him?
τί γὰρ ποιήσω ἐὰν ἔτασίν μου ποιῆται ὁ Κύριος; ἐὰν δὲ καὶ ἐπισκοπήν τινα, ἀπόκρισιν ποιήσομαι;
What then shall I do if the Lord should try me? And if also he should at all visit me, can I make an answer?
15
הֲלֹא־בַבֶּטֶן עֹשֵׂנִי עָשָׂהוּ וַיְכֻנֶנּוּ בָּרֶחֶם אֶחָד
Did not He that made me in the womb make him? And did not One fashion us in the womb?
Πότερον οὐχ ὡς καὶ ἐγὼ ἐγενόμην ἐν γαστρὶ, καὶ ἐκεῖνοι γεγόνασι; γεγόναμεν δὲ ἐν τῇ αὐτῇ κοιλίᾳ.
Were not they too formed as I also was formed in the womb? Yea, we were formed in the same womb.
16
אִם־אֶמְנַע מֵחֵפֶץ דַּלִּים וְעֵינֵי אַלְמָנָה אֲכַלֶּה
If I have withheld aught that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
Ἀδύνατοι δὲ χρείαν ἥν ποτε εἶχον οὐκ ἀπέτυχον, χήρας δὲ τὸν ὀφθαλμὸν οὐκ ἐξέτηξα·
But the helpless missed not whatever need they had, And I did not cause the eye of the widow to fail.
17
וְאֹכַל פִּתִּי לְבַדִּי וְלֹא־אָכַל יָתוֹם מִמֶּנָּה
Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof--
Εἰ δὲ καὶ τὸν ψωμόν μου ἔφαγον μόνος, καὶ οὐχὶ ὀρφανῷ μετέδωκα·
And if too I ate my morsel alone, And did not impart [of it] to the orphan
18
כִּי מִנְּעוּרַי גְּדֵלַנִי כְאָב וּמִבֶּטֶן אִמִּי אַנְחֶנָּה
Nay, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and I have been her guide from my mother's womb.
Ὅτι ἐκ νεότητός μου ἐξέτρεφον ὡς πατὴρ, καὶ ἐκ γαστρὸς μητρός μου ὡδήγησα·
(For I nourished [them] as a father from my youth, And guided [them] from my mother’s womb).
19
אִם־אֶרְאֶה אוֹבֵד מִבְּלִי לְבוּשׁ וְאֵין כְּסוּת לָאֶבְיוֹן
If I have seen any wanderer in want of clothing, or that the needy had no covering;
Εἰ δὲ καὶ ὑπερεῖδον γυμνὸν ἀπολλύμενον, καὶ οὐκ ἠμφίασα αὐτόν·
And if too I overlooked the naked as he was perishing, and did not clothe him;
20
אִם־לֹא בֵרֲכוּנִי חלצו חֲלָצָיו וּמִגֵּז כְּבָשַׂי יִתְחַמָּם
If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
Ἀδύνατοι δὲ εἰ μὴ εὐλόγησάν με, ἀπὸ δὲ κουρᾶς ἀμνῶν μοῦ ἐθερμάνθησαν οἱ ὦμοι αὐτῶν·
And if the poor did not bless me, And their shoulders were [not] warmed with the fleece of my lambs;
21
אִם־הֲנִיפוֹתִי עַל־יָתוֹם יָדִי כִּי־אֶרְאֶה בַשַּׁעַר עֶזְרָתִי
If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate;
Εἰ ἐπῆρα ὀρφανῷ χεῖρα, πεποιθὼς ὅτι πολλή μοι βοήθεια περίεστιν·
If I lifted my hand against an orphan, Trusting that my strength was far superior [to his]:
22
כְּתֵפִי מִשִּׁכְמָה תִפּוֹל וְאֶזְרֹעִי מִקָּנָה תִשָּׁבֵר
Then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.
Ἀποσταίη ἄρα ὁ ὦμός μου ἀπὸ τῆς κλειδός, ὁ δὲ βραχίων μου ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀγκῶνος συντριβείη.
Let then my shoulder start from the bladebone, And my arm be crushed off from the elbow.
23
כִּי פַחַד אֵלַי אֵיד אֵל וּמִשְּׂאֵתוֹ לֹא אוּכָל
For calamity from G-d was a terror to me, and by reason of His majesty I could do nothing.
Φόβος γὰρ Κυρίου συνέσχε με, ἀπὸ τοῦ λήμματος αὐτοῦ οὐχ ὑποίσω.
For the fear of the Lord constrained me, And I cannot bear up by reason of his burden.
24
אִם־שַׂמְתִּי זָהָב כִּסְלִי וְלַכֶּתֶם אָמַרְתִּי מִבְטַחִי
If I have made gold my hope, and have said to the fine gold: 'Thou art my confidence';
Εἰ ἔταξα χρυσίον εἰς χοῦν μου, εἰ δὲ καὶ λίθῳ πολυτελεῖ ἐπεποίθησα,
If I made gold my treasure, And if too I trusted the precious stone;
25
אִם־אֶשְׂמַח כִּי־רַב חֵילִי וְכִי־כַבִּיר מָצְאָה יָדִי
If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much;
εἰ δὲ καὶ εὐφράνθην πολλοῦ πλούτου μου γενομένου, εἰ δὲ καὶ ἐπʼ ἀναριθμήτοις ἐθέμην χεῖρά μου·
And if too I rejoiced when my wealth was abundant, And if too I laid my hand on innumerable [treasures]
26
אִם־אֶרְאֶה אוֹר כִּי יָהֵל וְיָרֵחַ יָקָר הֹלֵךְ
If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;
Ἢ οὐχ ὁρῶμεν ἥλιον τὸν ἐπιθαύσκοντα ἐκλείποντα, σελήνην δὲ φθίνουσαν; οὐ γὰρ ἐπʼ αὐτοῖς ἐστί·
(Do we not see the shining sun eclipsed, And the moon waning? for they have not [power to continue]):
27
וַיִּפְתְּ בַּסֵּתֶר לִבִּי וַתִּשַּׁק יָדִי לְפִי
And my heart hath been secretly enticed, and my mouth hath kissed my hand;
Καὶ εἰ ἠπατήθη λάθρα ἡ καρδία μου, εἰ δὲ χεῖρά μου ἐπιθεὶς ἐπὶ στόματί μου ἐφίλησα.
And if my heart was secretly deceived, And if I have laid my hand upon my mouth and kissed it:
28
גַּם־הוּא עָוֺן פְּלִילִי כִּי־כִחַשְׁתִּי לָאֵל מִמָּעַל
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges; for I should have lied to G-d that is above.
Καὶ τοῦτό μοι ἄρα ἀνομία ἡ μεγίστη λογισθείη, ὅτι ἐψευσάμην ἐναντίον Κυρίου τοῦ ὑψίστου.
Let this also then be reckoned to me as the greatest iniquity: For I [should] have lied against the Lord Most High.
29
אִם־אֶשְׂמַח בְּפִיד מְשַׂנְאִי וְהִתְעֹרַרְתִּי כִּי־מְצָאוֹ רָע
If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or exulted when evil found him--
Εἰ δὲ καὶ ἐπιχαρὴς ἐγενόμην πτώματι ἐχθρῶν μου, καὶ εἶπεν ἡ καρδία μου, εὖγε.
And if too I was glad at the fall of mine enemies, And my heart said, Aha!
30
וְלֹא־נָתַתִּי לַחֲטֹא חִכִּי לִשְׁאֹל בְּאָלָה נַפְשׁוֹ
Yea, I suffered not my mouth to sin by asking his life with a curse.
Ἀκούσαι ἄρα τὸ οὖς μου τὴν κατάραν μου, θρυληθείην δὲ ἄρα ὑπὸ λαοῦ μου κακούμενος.
Let then mine ear hear my curse, And let me be a byword among my people in my affliction.
31
אִם־לֹא אָמְרוּ מְתֵי אָהֳלִי מִי־יִתֵּן מִבְּשָׂרוֹ לֹא נִשְׂבָּע
If the men of my tent said not: 'Who can find one that hath not been satisfied with his meat?'
Εἰ δὲ καὶ πολλάκις εἶπον αἱ θεράπαιναί μου, τίς ἄν δῴη ἡμῖν τῶν σαρκῶν αὐτοῦ πλησθῆναι; λίαν μου χρηστοῦ ὄντος·
And if too my handmaids have often said, Oh that we might be satisfied with his flesh (Whereas I was very kind:
32
בַּחוּץ לֹא־יָלִין גֵּר דְּלָתַי לָאֹרַח אֶפְתָּח
The stranger did not lodge in the street; my doors I opened to the roadside.
Ἔξω δὲ οὐκ ηὐλίζετο ξένος, ἡ δὲ θύρα μου παντὶ ἐλθόντι ἀνέῳκτο·
For the stranger did not lodge without, And my door was opened to everyone that came):
33
אִם־כִּסִּיתִי כְאָדָם פְּשָׁעָי לִטְמוֹן בְּחֻבִּי עֲוֺנִי
If after the manner of men I covered my transgressions, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom--
Εἰ δὲ καὶ ἁμαρτὼν ἀκουσίως ἔκρυψα τὴν ἁμαρτίαν μου·
Or if too having sinned unintentionally, I hid my sin
34
כִּי אֶעֱרוֹץ הָמוֹן רַבָּה וּבוּז־מִשְׁפָּחוֹת יְחִתֵּנִי וָאֶדֹּם לֹא־אֵצֵא פָתַח
Because I feared the great multitude, and the most contemptible among families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and went not out of the door.
Οὐ γὰρ διετράπην πολυοχλίαν πλήθους, τοῦ μὴ ἐξαγορεῦσαι ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν· εἰ δὲ καὶ εἴασα ἀδύνατον ἐξελθεῖν θύραν μου κόλπῳ κενῷ·
(For I did not stand in awe of a great multitude, so as not to declare boldly before them): And if too I permitted a poor man to go out of my door with an empty bosom
35
מִי יִתֶּן־לִי שֹׁמֵעַ לִי הֶן־תָּוִי שַׁדַּי יַעֲנֵנִי וְסֵפֶר כָּתַב אִישׁ רִיבִי
Oh that I had one to hear me! --Lo, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me--and that I had the indictment which mine adversary hath written!
Τίς δῴη ἀκούοντά μου; χεῖρα δὲ Κυρίου εἰ μὴ ἐδεδοίκειν· συγγραφὴν δὲ ἣν εἶχον κατά τινος,
(Oh that I had a hearer), And if I had not feared the hand of the Lord; And [as to] the written charge which I had against anyone,
36
אִם־לֹא עַל־שִׁכְמִי אֶשָּׂאֶנּוּ אֶעֶנְדֶנּוּ עֲטָרוֹת לִי
Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder; I would bind it unto me as a crown.
ἐπʼ ὤμοις ἂν περιθέμενος στέφανον ἀνεγίνωσκον,
I would place [it] as a chaplet on my shoulders, and read it.
37
מִסְפַּר צְעָדַי אַגִּידֶנּוּ כְּמוֹ־נָגִיד אֲקָרֲבֶנּוּ
I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.
καὶ εἰ μὴ ῥῆξας αὐτὴν ἀπέδωκα, οὐθὲν λαβὼν παρὰ χρεωφειλέτου·
And if not, tearing it up I would return it, Having taken nothing from the debtor.
38
אִם־עָלַי אַדְמָתִי תִזְעָק וְיַחַד תְּלָמֶיהָ יִבְכָּיוּן
If my land cry out against me, and the furrows thereof weep together;
Εἰ ἐπʼ ἐμοί ποτε ἡ γῆ ἐστέναξεν, εἰ δὲ καὶ οἱ αὔλακες αὐτῆς ἔκλαυσαν ὁμοθυμαδόν·
If at any time the land groaned against me, And if its furrows mourned together;
39
אִם־כֹּחָהּ אָכַלְתִּי בְלִי־כָסֶף וְנֶפֶשׁ בְּעָלֶיהָ הִפָּחְתִּי
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the tillers thereof to be disappointed--
Εἰ δὲ καὶ τὴν ἰσχὺν αὐτῆς ἔφαγον μόνος ἄνευ τιμῆς, εἰ δὲ καὶ ψυχὴν κυρίου τῆς γῆς ἐκλαβὼν ἐλύπησα·
And if I ate its strength alone without price, And if too I grieved the heart of the owner of the soil, by taking [aught] from [him]:
40
תַּחַת חִטָּה יֵצֵא חוֹחַ וְתַחַת־שְׂעֹרָה בָאְשָׁה תַּמּוּ דִּבְרֵי אִיּוֹב
Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and noisome weeds instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.
Ἀντὶ πυροῦ ἄρα ἐξέλθοι μοι κνίδη, ἀντὶ δὲ κριθῆς βάτος. Καὶ ἐπαύσατο Ἰὼβ ῥήμασιν.
Then let the nettle come up to me instead of wheat, And a bramble instead of barley. And Job ceased speaking.