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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 15

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Eliphaz the Temanite said in reply:

vai-YA-an e-li-FAZ ha-tay-MA-nee va-YO-mer

אוַ֭יַּעַן אֱלִיפַ֥ז הַֽתֵּימָנִ֗י וַיֹּאמַֽר׃

2Does a wise man answer with windy opinions, And fill his belly with the east wind?

he-KHA-kham ya-a-NEH da-at-ru-AKH v'-yi-ma-LEH ka-DIM bi-t'-NO

בהֶחָכָ֗ם יַעֲנֶ֥ה דַעַת־ר֑וּחַ וִימַלֵּ֖א קָדִ֣ים בִּטְנֽוֹ׃

3Should he argue with useless talk, With words that are of no worth?

ho-KHE-akh b'-da-VAR lo yis-KON u-mi-LIM lo-yo-IL bam

גהוֹכֵ֣חַ בְּ֭דָבָר לֹ֣א יִסְכּ֑וֹן וּ֝מִלִּ֗ים לֹא־יוֹעִ֥יל בָּֽם׃

4You subvert piety And restrain prayer to Hashem.

af a-TAH ta-FAYR yir-AH v'-tig-RA see-KHAH lif-nay AYL

דאַף־אַ֭תָּה תָּפֵ֣ר יִרְאָ֑ה וְתִגְרַ֥ע שִׂ֝יחָ֗ה לִפְנֵי־אֵֽל׃

 15:4   You subvert piety

Yirah (יראה), translated here as ‘piety,’ literally means ‘fear’ or ‘awe.’ Eliphaz tells Iyov that he has dispensed with fear of Hashem, and, in so doing, has also abandoned wisdom, as implied in verse 2. The link between these two concepts can be seen in Sefer Mishlei (1:7): “The fear of Hashem is the beginning of knowledge.” Without awe of God, knowledge is empty and can be twisted for any number of negative purposes. However, knowledge rooted in fear of Hashem leads to scrupulous attention to His word, for which one is rewarded in both this world and the world to come.

5Your sinfulness dictates your speech, So you choose crafty language.

ki y'-a-LEF a-VO-ne-KHA fi-KHA v'-ti-v'-KHAR l'-SHON a-ru-MEEM

הכִּ֤י יְאַלֵּ֣ף עֲוֺנְךָ֣ פִ֑יךָ וְ֝תִבְחַ֗ר לְשׁ֣וֹן עֲרוּמִֽים׃

6Your own mouth condemns you—not I; Your lips testify against you.

yar-shi-A-kha PEE-kha v'-lo-a-NEE u-s'-fa-TE-kha ya-a-NU-vakh

ויַרְשִׁיעֲךָ֣ פִ֣יךָ וְלֹא־אָ֑נִי וּ֝שְׂפָתֶ֗יךָ יַעֲנוּ־בָֽךְ׃

7Were you the first man born? Were you created before the hills?

ha-ri-SHON a-DAM ti-vah-LED, v'-lif-NEI g'-va-OT kho-la-L'-ta

זהֲרִאישׁ֣וֹן אָ֭דָם תִּוָּלֵ֑ד וְלִפְנֵ֖י גְבָע֣וֹת חוֹלָֽלְתָּ׃

8Have you listened in on the council of Hashem? Have you sole possession of wisdom?

ha-vo-SOD e-lo-AH tish-MA v'-tig-RA e-LE-kha khokh-MAH

חהַבְס֣וֹד אֱל֣וֹהַּ תִּשְׁמָ֑ע וְתִגְרַ֖ע אֵלֶ֣יךָ חׇכְמָֽה׃

9What do you know that we do not know, Or understand that we do not?

mah-ya-DA-ta v'-lo ne-DA ta-VIN v'-lo i-MA-nu HU

טמַה־יָּ֭דַעְתָּ וְלֹ֣א נֵדָ֑ע תָּ֝בִ֗ין וְֽלֹא־עִמָּ֥נוּ הֽוּא׃

10Among us are gray-haired old men, Older by far than your father.

gam-SAV gam-ya-SHEESH BA-nu ka-BEER me-a-VEE-kha ya-MEEM

יגַּם־שָׂ֣ב גַּם־יָשִׁ֣ישׁ בָּ֑נוּ כַּבִּ֖יר מֵאָבִ֣יךָ יָמִֽים׃

11Are Hashem's consolations not enough for you, And His gentle words to you?

ha-m'-AT mi-m'-KA tan-KHU-mot EL v'-da-VAR la-AT i-M'-KHE

יאהַמְעַ֣ט מִ֭מְּךָ תַּנְחוּמ֣וֹת אֵ֑ל וְ֝דָבָ֗ר לָאַ֥ט עִמָּֽךְ׃

12How your heart has carried you away, How your eyes have failed you,

mah yi-ka-cha-KHA li-BE-kha u-mah yi-r'-Z'-mun e-NE-kha

יבמַה־יִּקָּחֲךָ֥ לִבֶּ֑ךָ וּֽמַה־יִּרְזְמ֥וּן עֵינֶֽיךָ׃

13That you could vent your anger on Hashem, And let such words out of your mouth!

ki-ta-SHEEV el-EL ru-KHE-kha v'-ho-TSE-ta mi-PI-kha mi-LEEN

יגכִּֽי־תָשִׁ֣יב אֶל־אֵ֣ל רוּחֶ֑ךָ וְהֹצֵ֖אתָ מִפִּ֣יךָ מִלִּֽין׃

14What is man that he can be cleared of guilt, One born of woman, that he be in the right?

mah-e-NOSh kee-yiz-KEH v'-kee-yitz-DAK ye-LUD i-SHAH

ידמָה־אֱנ֥וֹשׁ כִּֽי־יִזְכֶּ֑ה וְכִי־יִ֝צְדַּ֗ק יְל֣וּד אִשָּֽׁה׃

15He puts no trust in His holy ones; The heavens are not guiltless in His sight;

HEN bi-K'-do-SHA-v lo ya-a-MEEN, v'-sha-MA-yim lo za-KU b'-ay-NA-yav

טוהֵ֣ן בִּ֭קְדֹשָׁו לֹ֣א יַאֲמִ֑ין וְ֝שָׁמַ֗יִם לֹא־זַכּ֥וּ בְעֵינָֽיו׃

16What then of one loathsome and foul, Man, who drinks wrongdoing like water!

af ki-nit-aV v'-ne-e-laCH ish-SHO-teh ka-ma-YIM a-va-LAH

טזאַ֭ף כִּי־נִתְעָ֥ב וְֽנֶאֱלָ֑ח אִישׁ־שֹׁתֶ֖ה כַמַּ֣יִם עַוְלָֽה׃

17I will hold forth; listen to me; What I have seen, I will declare—

a-kha-V'kha sh'-MA-lee, v'-zeh-kha-ZEE-tee va-a-sa-pe-RAH

יזאֲחַוְךָ֥ שְֽׁמַֽע־לִ֑י וְזֶֽה־חָ֝זִ֗יתִי וַאֲסַפֵּֽרָה׃

18That which wise men have transmitted from their fathers, And have not withheld,

a-SHER-cha-KHA-meem ya-GI-du, v'-LO khi-cha-DO me-a-vo-TAM

יחאֲשֶׁר־חֲכָמִ֥ים יַגִּ֑ידוּ וְלֹ֥א כִ֝חֲד֗וּ מֵאֲבוֹתָֽם׃

19To whom alone the land was given, No stranger passing among them:

la-HEM l'-va-DAM ni-t'-NAH ha-A-retz v'-lo-a-VAR zar b'-to-KHAM

יטלָהֶ֣ם לְ֭בַדָּם נִתְּנָ֣ה הָאָ֑רֶץ וְלֹא־עָ֖בַר זָ֣ר בְּתוֹכָֽם׃

20The wicked man writhes in torment all his days; Few years are reserved for the ruthless.

KOL y'-MAY ra-SHA hu mit-cho-LEL u-mis-PA-r sha-NEEM nitz-PE-nu le-a-RITZ

ככׇּל־יְמֵ֣י רָ֭שָׁע ה֣וּא מִתְחוֹלֵ֑ל וּמִסְפַּ֥ר שָׁ֝נִ֗ים נִצְפְּנ֥וּ לֶעָרִֽיץ׃

21Frightening sounds fill his ears; When he is at ease a robber falls upon him.

KOL-p'-KHA-deem b'-o-ZNAV ba-SHA-lom sho-DAYD ye-vo-E-nu

כאקוֹל־פְּחָדִ֥ים בְּאׇזְנָ֑יו בַּ֝שָּׁל֗וֹם שׁוֹדֵ֥ד יְבוֹאֶֽנּוּ׃

22He is never sure he will come back from the dark; A sword stares him in the face.

lo ya-a-MEEN shuv mi-ni-KHO-shekh (v'-tza-FOO) [v'-tza-FOO-ee] hoo e-lei-KHA-rev

כבלֹא־יַאֲמִ֣ין שׁ֭וּב מִנִּי־חֹ֑שֶׁךְ (וצפו) [וְצָפ֖וּי] ה֣וּא אֱלֵי־חָֽרֶב׃

23He wanders about for bread—where is it? He knows that the day of darkness has been readied for him.

no-DED HU la-LE-khem a-YEH ya-DA khee-na-KHON b'-ya-DO yom-KHO-shekh

כגנֹ֘דֵ֤ד ה֣וּא לַלֶּ֣חֶם אַיֵּ֑ה יָדַ֓ע ׀ כִּי־נָכ֖וֹן בְּיָד֣וֹ יֽוֹם־חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃

24Troubles terrify him, anxiety overpowers him, Like a king expecting a siege.

y'-va-a-tu-HU tzar u-m'-tzu-KAH, tit-k'-FEH-HU k'-ME-lekh a-TID la-ki-DOR

כדיְֽ֭בַעֲתֻהוּ צַ֣ר וּמְצוּקָ֑ה תִּ֝תְקְפֵ֗הוּ כְּמֶ֤לֶךְ ׀ עָתִ֬יד לַכִּידֽוֹר׃

25For he has raised his arm against Hashem And played the hero against the Almighty.

ki-NA-ta eL a-EL ya-DO v'-eL sha-DAI yit-ga-BAR

כהכִּֽי־נָטָ֣ה אֶל־אֵ֣ל יָד֑וֹ וְאֶל־שַׁ֝דַּ֗י יִתְגַּבָּֽר׃

26He runs at Him defiantly With his thickly bossed shield.

ya-RUTZ e-LA-yu b'-tza-VA-ar ba-a-VEE ga-BAY ma-gi-NA-yu

כויָר֣וּץ אֵלָ֣יו בְּצַוָּ֑אר בַּ֝עֲבִ֗י גַּבֵּ֥י מָגִנָּֽיו׃

27His face is covered with fat And his loins with blubber.

ki-KI-sa PA-naiv b'-khel-VO va-YA-as pi-MAH a-lei-KHA-sel

כזכִּֽי־כִסָּ֣ה פָנָ֣יו בְּחֶלְבּ֑וֹ וַיַּ֖עַשׂ פִּימָ֣ה עֲלֵי־כָֽסֶל׃

28He dwells in cities doomed to ruin, In houses that shall not be lived in, That are destined to become heaps of rubble.

vai-yish-KON a-REEM nikh-KHA-dot ba-TEEM lo yesh-VU la-MO, a-SHER hit-a-t'-DU l'-ga-LEEM

כחוַיִּשְׁכּ֤וֹן ׀ עָ֘רִ֤ים נִכְחָד֗וֹת בָּ֭תִּים לֹא־יֵ֣שְׁבוּ לָ֑מוֹ אֲשֶׁ֖ר הִתְעַתְּד֣וּ לְגַלִּֽים׃

29He will not be rich; His wealth will not endure; His produce shall not bend to the earth.

lo-YE-shar v'-lo-ya-KUM khe-LO v'-lo-yi-TEH la-A-retz min-LAM

כטלֹֽא־יֶ֭עְשַׁר וְלֹא־יָק֣וּם חֵיל֑וֹ וְלֹא־יִטֶּ֖ה לָאָ֣רֶץ מִנְלָֽם׃

30He will never get away from the darkness; Flames will sear his shoots; He will pass away by the breath of His mouth.

lo-ya-SUR mi-ni-KHO-shekh yo-NAK-to t'-ya-BESH shal-ha-VET v'-ya-SUR b'-RU-akh pi-YO

ללֹֽא־יָס֨וּר ׀ מִנִּי־חֹ֗שֶׁךְ יֹ֭נַקְתּוֹ תְּיַבֵּ֣שׁ שַׁלְהָ֑בֶת וְ֝יָס֗וּר בְּר֣וּחַ פִּֽיו׃

31He will not be trusted; He will be misled by falsehood, And falsehood will be his recompense.

al-ya-a-MEN ba-SHAV ni-t'-AH, ki-SHAV tih-YEH t'-mu-RA-to

לאאַל־יַאֲמֵ֣ן בַּשָּׁ֣ו נִתְעָ֑ה כִּי־שָׁ֝֗וְא תִּהְיֶ֥ה תְמוּרָתֽוֹ׃

32He will wither before his time, His boughs never having flourished.

b'-LO yo-MO ti-MA-le v'-ki-PA-to lo ra-a-NA-na

לבבְּֽלֹא־י֭וֹמוֹ תִּמָּלֵ֑א וְ֝כִפָּת֗וֹ לֹ֣א רַעֲנָֽנָה׃

33He will drop his unripe grapes like a vine; He will shed his blossoms like an olive tree.

yakh-MOS ka-GE-fen bi-SRO, v'-yash-LEKH ka-ZAY-it ni-TZA-to

לגיַחְמֹ֣ס כַּגֶּ֣פֶן בִּסְר֑וֹ וְיַשְׁלֵ֥ךְ כַּ֝זַּ֗יִת נִצָּתֽוֹ׃

34For the company of the impious is desolate; Fire consumes the tents of the briber;

ki-a-DAT cha-NEF gal-MUD, v'-AYSH o-kh'-LAH o-ho-LEI sho-KHAD

לדכִּֽי־עֲדַ֣ת חָנֵ֣ף גַּלְמ֑וּד וְ֝אֵ֗שׁ אָכְלָ֥ה אׇהֳלֵי־שֹֽׁחַד׃

35For they have conceived mischief, given birth to evil, And their womb has produced deceit.

ha-RO a-MAL v'-ya-LOD a-VON u-vit-NAM ta-KHIN mir-MAH.

לההָרֹ֣ה עָ֭מָל וְיָ֣לֹֽד אָ֑וֶן וּ֝בִטְנָ֗ם תָּכִ֥ין מִרְמָֽה׃