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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 21

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Iyov said in reply:

vai-YA-an i-YOV va-YO-mer

אוַיַּ֥עַן אִיּ֗וֹב וַיֹּאמַֽר׃

2Listen well to what I say, And let that be your consolation.

SHI-m'u SHA-mo-a mi-LA-tee u-t'-HI-zot tan-khu-MO-tei-KHEM

בשִׁמְע֣וּ שָׁ֭מוֹעַ מִלָּתִ֑י וּתְהִי־זֹ֝֗את תַּנְח֥וּמֹֽתֵיכֶֽם׃

3Bear with me while I speak, And after I have spoken, you may mock.

SA-u-NEE v'-a-NO-khi a-da-BAYR v'-a-KHAR da-B'-REE tal-EEG

גשָׂ֭אוּנִי וְאָנֹכִ֣י אֲדַבֵּ֑ר וְאַחַ֖ר דַּבְּרִ֣י תַלְעִֽיג׃

4Is my complaint directed toward a man? Why should I not lose my patience?

he-a-NO-khi l'-a-DAM see-KHEE, v'-im ma-DU-a lo-tik-TZAR ru-KHEE

דהֶ֭אָנֹכִי לְאָדָ֣ם שִׂיחִ֑י וְאִם־מַ֝דּ֗וּעַ לֹֽא־תִקְצַ֥ר רוּחִֽי׃

5Look at me and be appalled, And clap your hand to your mouth.

PE-nu e-LAI v'-ha-SHA-mu, v'-SEE-mu YAD al-PEH

הפְּנוּ־אֵלַ֥י וְהָשַׁ֑מּוּ וְשִׂ֖ימוּ יָ֣ד עַל־פֶּֽה׃

6When I think of it I am terrified; My body is seized with shuddering.

v'-im za-KHAR-tee v'-niv-ha-L'-tee v'-a-KHAZ b'-sa-REE pa-LA-tzut

ווְאִם־זָכַ֥רְתִּי וְנִבְהָ֑לְתִּי וְאָחַ֥ז בְּ֝שָׂרִ֗י פַּלָּצֽוּת׃

7Why do the wicked live on, Prosper and grow wealthy?

ma-DU-a r'-sha-EEM yikh-YU a-t'-KU gam ga-v'-RU KHA-yil

זמַ֭דּוּעַ רְשָׁעִ֣ים יִֽחְי֑וּ עָ֝תְק֗וּ גַּם־גָּ֥בְרוּ חָֽיִל׃

21:7   Why do the wicked live on

This question that Iyov asks is the crux of the entire book: Why do the righteous suffer while the wicked go unpunished? Though Iyov is troubled by this because of his personal experiences, he does not abandon his faith in God. If he did, the question would lose its meaning, for the seeming randomness of good and bad fortunes presents a difficulty only if one supposes that the world is ruled by a benevolent God. Iyov teaches that while it is acceptable to ask the questions, they must come from a place of faith in Hashem and His integrity, rather than denial and doubt.

8Their children are with them always, And they see their children's children.

zar-AM na-KHON lif-NE-hem i-MAM v'-tze-a-tza-E-hem l'-ei-NE-hem

חזַרְעָ֤ם נָכ֣וֹן לִפְנֵיהֶ֣ם עִמָּ֑ם וְ֝צֶאֱצָאֵיהֶ֗ם לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃

9Their homes are secure, without fear; They do not feel the rod of Hashem.

ba-TE-hem sha-LOM mi-pa-KHAD v'-LO she-VET e-lo-AH a-lei-HEM

טבָּתֵּיהֶ֣ם שָׁל֣וֹם מִפָּ֑חַד וְלֹ֤א שֵׁ֖בֶט אֱל֣וֹהַּ עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃

10Their bull breeds and does not fail; Their cow calves and never miscarries;

SHO-ro i-VAR v'-lo yag-IL, t'-fa-LET pa-RA-to v'-lo t'-sha-KEL.

ישׁוֹר֣וֹ עִ֭בַּר וְלֹ֣א יַגְעִ֑ל תְּפַלֵּ֥ט פָּ֝רָת֗וֹ וְלֹ֣א תְשַׁכֵּֽל׃

11They let their infants run loose like sheep, And their children skip about.

y'-sha-l'-KHU kha-TZON a-vee-LE-hem v'-yal-DAY-hem y'-ra-KE-dun

יאיְשַׁלְּח֣וּ כַ֭צֹּאן עֲוִילֵיהֶ֑ם וְ֝יַלְדֵיהֶ֗ם יְרַקֵּדֽוּן׃

12They sing to the music of timbrel and lute, And revel to the tune of the pipe;

YIS-u ke-TOF v'-ki-NOR v'-yis-M'-khu l'-KOL u-GAV

יביִ֭שְׂאוּ כְּתֹ֣ף וְכִנּ֑וֹר וְ֝יִשְׂמְח֗וּ לְק֣וֹל עוּגָֽב׃

13They spend their days in happiness, And go down to Sheol in peace.

(ya-VAY-lo) [y'-kha-LU] va-TOV ye-MAY-hem u-ve-RE-ga SHE-ol ye-KHA-tu

יג(יבלו) [יְכַלּ֣וּ] בַטּ֣וֹב יְמֵיהֶ֑ם וּ֝בְרֶ֗גַע שְׁא֣וֹל יֵחָֽתּוּ׃

14They say to Hashem, “Leave us alone, We do not want to learn Your ways;

vai-YO-meru la-EL SUUR mi-ME-nu, v'-da-AT d'-ra-KHE-kha lo kha-FA-tz'-NU

ידוַיֹּאמְר֣וּ לָ֭אֵל ס֣וּר מִמֶּ֑נּוּ וְדַ֥עַת דְּ֝רָכֶ֗יךָ לֹ֣א חָפָֽצְנוּ׃

15What is Shaddai that we should serve Him? What will we gain by praying to Him?”

mah-SHA-dai ki-na-a-v'-DE-nu u-mah-no-EE-il ki-nif-GA b'-O

טומַה־שַּׁדַּ֥י כִּֽי־נַעַבְדֶ֑נּוּ וּמַה־נּ֝וֹעִ֗יל כִּ֣י נִפְגַּע־בּֽוֹ׃

16Their happiness is not their own doing. (The thoughts of the wicked are beyond me!)

HEN lo b'-ya-DAM tu-VAM a-TZAT r'-sha-EEM ra-cha-KAH me-NI

טזהֵ֤ן לֹ֣א בְיָדָ֣ם טוּבָ֑ם עֲצַ֥ת רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים רָ֣חֲקָה מֶֽנִּי׃

17How seldom does the lamp of the wicked fail, Does the calamity they deserve befall them, Does He apportion [their] lot in anger!

ka-MAH ner-r'-sha-EEM yid-AKH v'-ya-VO a-LEI-mo e-DAM, kha-va-LEEM y'-kha-LEK b'-a-PO

יזכַּמָּ֤ה ׀ נֵר־רְשָׁ֘עִ֤ים יִדְעָ֗ךְ וְיָבֹ֣א עָלֵ֣ימוֹ אֵידָ֑ם חֲ֝בָלִ֗ים יְחַלֵּ֥ק בְּאַפּֽוֹ׃

18Let them become like straw in the wind, Like chaff carried off by a storm.

y'-HI-yu k'-te-VEN lif-NEI ru-AKH u-k'-MOT ge-NA-va-TU su-FAH

יחיִֽהְי֗וּ כְּתֶ֥בֶן לִפְנֵי־ר֑וּחַ וּ֝כְמֹ֗ץ גְּנָבַ֥תּוּ סוּפָֽה׃

19[You say,] “Hashem is reserving his punishment for his sons”; Let it be paid back to him that he may feel it,

E-lo-HA yitz-PON l'-va-NAV o-NO y'-sha-LEM e-LA-yav v'-ye-DA

יטאֱל֗וֹהַּ יִצְפֹּן־לְבָנָ֥יו אוֹנ֑וֹ יְשַׁלֵּ֖ם אֵלָ֣יו וְיֵדָֽע׃

20Let his eyes see his ruin, And let him drink the wrath of Shaddai!

yir-U ei-NAV ki-DO u-m'-cha-MAT sha-DAI yish-TEH

כיִרְא֣וּ עֵינָ֣ו כִּיד֑וֹ וּמֵחֲמַ֖ת שַׁדַּ֣י יִשְׁתֶּֽה׃

21For what does he care about the fate of his family, When his number of months runs out?

ki mah-khef-TZO b'-vei-TO a-cha-RAV, u-mis-PAKH kho-da-SHAV khu-tza-TZU

כאכִּ֤י מַה־חֶפְצ֣וֹ בְּבֵית֣וֹ אַחֲרָ֑יו וּמִסְפַּ֖ר חֳדָשָׁ֣יו חֻצָּֽצוּ׃

22Can Hashem be instructed in knowledge, He who judges from such heights?

ha-LEL y'-la-MED da-AT, v'-HU ra-MEEM yish-POt

כבהַלְאֵ֥ל יְלַמֶּד־דָּ֑עַת וְ֝ה֗וּא רָמִ֥ים יִשְׁפּֽוֹט׃

23One man dies in robust health, All tranquil and untroubled;

ZEH ya-MUT b'-ET-zem tu-MO, KU-lo shal-a-NAN v'-sha-LE-yo.

כגזֶ֗ה יָ֭מוּת בְּעֶ֣צֶם תֻּמּ֑וֹ כֻּ֝לּ֗וֹ שַׁלְאֲנַ֥ן וְשָׁלֵֽיו׃

24His pails are full of milk; The marrow of his bones is juicy.

a-TI-na-YAV mal-U kha-LAV u-MO-akh atz-mo-TAV ye-SHU-keh

כדעֲ֭טִינָיו מָלְא֣וּ חָלָ֑ב וּמֹ֖חַ עַצְמוֹתָ֣יו יְשֻׁקֶּֽה׃

25Another dies embittered, Never having tasted happiness.

v'-ZEH ya-MUT b'-NE-fesh ma-RAH v'-lo-a-KHAL ba-TO-va

כהוְזֶ֗ה יָ֭מוּת בְּנֶ֣פֶשׁ מָרָ֑ה וְלֹֽא־אָ֝כַ֗ל בַּטּוֹבָֽה׃

26They both lie in the dust And are covered with worms.

YA-khad al-a-FAr yish-KA-vu v'-ri-MAH t'-ka-SEH a-LE-hem

כויַ֭חַד עַל־עָפָ֣ר יִשְׁכָּ֑בוּ וְ֝רִמָּ֗ה תְּכַסֶּ֥ה עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃

27Oh, I know your thoughts, And the tactics you will devise against me.

HEIN ya-DA-ti makh-sh'-vo-TEY-khem u-m'-zi-MOT a-LAI takh-MO-su

כזהֵ֣ן יָ֭דַעְתִּי מַחְשְׁבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם וּ֝מְזִמּ֗וֹת עָלַ֥י תַּחְמֹֽסוּ׃

28You will say, “Where is the house of the great man— And where the tent in which the wicked dwelled?”

ki to-M'-RU a-YEH vayt-na-DEEV v'-a-YEH o-HEL mish-k'-NOT r'-sha-EEM

כחכִּ֤י תֹאמְר֗וּ אַיֵּ֥ה בֵית־נָדִ֑יב וְ֝אַיֵּ֗ה אֹ֤הֶל ׀ מִשְׁכְּנ֬וֹת רְשָׁעִֽים׃

29You must have consulted the wayfarers; You cannot deny their evidence.

ha-LO she-EL-TEM o-v'-REI da-REKH v'-o-TO-tam lo te-na-KE-ru

כטהֲלֹ֣א שְׁ֭אֶלְתֶּם ע֣וֹבְרֵי דָ֑רֶךְ וְ֝אֹתֹתָ֗ם לֹ֣א תְנַכֵּֽרוּ׃

30For the evil man is spared on the day of calamity, On the day when wrath is led forth.

ki l'-YOM AYD ye-KHA-sekh RA l'-YOM a-va-ROT yu-va-LU

לכִּ֤י לְי֣וֹם אֵ֭יד יֵחָ֣שֶׂךְ רָ֑ע לְי֖וֹם עֲבָר֣וֹת יוּבָֽלוּ׃

31Who will upbraid him to his face? Who will requite him for what he has done?

mi-yag-GID al-pa-NAV dar-KO, v'-hu-o-SA, mi-y'-sha-LEM-lo.

לאמִֽי־יַגִּ֣יד עַל־פָּנָ֣יו דַּרְכּ֑וֹ וְהוּא־עָ֝שָׂ֗ה מִ֣י יְשַׁלֶּם־לֽוֹ׃

32He is brought to the grave, While a watch is kept at his tomb.

v'-HU lik-va-ROT yu-BAL v'-al ga-DISH yish-KOD

לבוְ֭הוּא לִקְבָר֣וֹת יוּבָ֑ל וְֽעַל־גָּדִ֥ישׁ יִשְׁקֽוֹד׃

33The clods of the wadi are sweet to him, Everyone follows behind him, Innumerable are those who precede him.

ma-t'-KU-lo rig-vei-NA-khal v'-a-kha-RAV kol a-DAM yim-SHOCH u-l'-fa-NAV EIN mis-PAHR

לגמָֽתְקוּ־ל֗וֹ רִגְבֵ֫י־נָ֥חַל וְ֭אַחֲרָיו כׇּל־אָדָ֣ם יִמְשׁ֑וֹךְ וּ֝לְפָנָ֗יו אֵ֣ין מִסְפָּֽר׃

34Why then do you offer me empty consolation? Of your replies only the perfidy remains.

v'-AYKH t'-na-kha-KHA-mu-NEE ha-VEL u-t'-shu-vo-TAY-khem nish-AR ma-AL

לדוְ֭אֵיךְ תְּנַחֲמ֣וּנִי הָ֑בֶל וּ֝תְשׁ֥וּבֹתֵיכֶ֗ם נִשְׁאַר־מָֽעַל׃