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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 22

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 הַֽתֵּמָנִ֗י וַיֹּאמַֽר׃

2Can a man be of use to Hashem, A wise man benefit Him?

ha-LEL yis-KON ga-VER, KI-yis-KON a-LEI-MO mas-KIL.

בהַלְאֵ֥ל יִסְכׇּן־גָּ֑בֶר כִּֽי־יִסְכֹּ֖ן עָלֵ֣ימוֹ מַשְׂכִּֽיל׃

3Does Shaddai gain if you are righteous? Does He profit if your conduct is blameless?

ha-KHAY-fetz l'-sha-DAI KEE titz-DAK v'-im BE-tza kee ta-TAYM d'-ra-KHE-kha

גהַחֵ֣פֶץ לְ֭שַׁדַּי כִּ֣י תִצְדָּ֑ק וְאִם־בֶּ֝֗צַע כִּֽי־תַתֵּ֥ם דְּרָכֶֽיךָ׃

22:3   Does Shaddai gain if you are righteous?

Eliphaz states that Hashem does not desire piety, but rather good deeds. This is reminiscent of the first chapter of Sefer Yeshayahu. In Sefer Yeshayahu, God is angry at the inhabitants of Yerushalayim because they are engaged in unacceptable behavior towards their fellow men, such as murder, even as they continue to worship Hashem through prayer and sacrifice (Isaiah 1:11,15). Yeshayahu declares: “Alas, she has become a harlot, the faithful city that was filled with justice, where righteousness dwelt. But now [it is filled with] murderers” (1:21). While a righteous person might believe that his observance of the formal commandments is what brings Hashem close to him, what Hashem desires most is kindness to other human beings. The chapter in Yeshayahu continues: “I will restore your magistrates as of old, and your counselors as of yore… Tzion shall be saved in the judgment; Her repentant ones, in the retribution.” (1:26-27). It is through kindness, righteousness and justice towards others that the redemption of Tzion will come.

4Is it because of your piety that He arraigns you, And enters into judgment with you?

ha-mi-yir-a-te-KHA yo-KHE-kha, ya-VO im-KHA ba-mish-PAT

דהֲֽ֭מִיִּרְאָ֣תְךָ יֹכִיחֶ֑ךָ יָב֥וֹא עִ֝מְּךָ֗ בַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃

5You know that your wickedness is great, And that your iniquities have no limit.

ha-LO ra-a-TE-kha ra-BAH v'-AYN k'-TZ la-a-vo-NOT-y'-KHA

ההֲלֹ֣א רָעָֽתְךָ֣ רַבָּ֑ה וְאֵֽין־קֵ֝֗ץ לַעֲוֺנֹתֶֽיךָ׃

6You exact pledges from your fellows without reason, And leave them naked, stripped of their clothes;

ki-takh-BOL a-KHE-kha khin-NAM u-vi-g'-DEI a-ru-MEEM taf-SHEET

וכִּֽי־תַחְבֹּ֣ל אַחֶ֣יךָ חִנָּ֑ם וּבִגְדֵ֖י עֲרוּמִּ֣ים תַּפְשִֽׁיט׃

7You do not give the thirsty water to drink; You deny bread to the hungry.

lo-MA-yim a-YEF tash-KEH, u-me-ra-EV tim-NA la-KHEM

זלֹא־מַ֭יִם עָיֵ֣ף תַּשְׁקֶ֑ה וּ֝מֵרָעֵ֗ב תִּֽמְנַֽע־לָֽחֶם׃

8The land belongs to the strong; The privileged occupy it.

v'-ish z'-RO-a LO ha-A-retz u-ne-SU fa-NIM YAY-shev BAH

חוְאִ֣ישׁ זְ֭רוֹעַ ל֣וֹ הָאָ֑רֶץ וּנְשׂ֥וּא פָ֝נִ֗ים יֵ֣שֶׁב בָּֽהּ׃

9You have sent away widows empty-handed; The strength of the fatherless is broken.

al-ma-NOT shi-LAKH-ta rei-KAM u-ze-RO-ot ye-TO-mim ye-du-KA

טאַ֭לְמָנוֹת שִׁלַּ֣חְתָּ רֵיקָ֑ם וּזְרֹע֖וֹת יְתֹמִ֣ים יְדֻכָּֽא׃

10Therefore snares are all around you, And sudden terrors frighten you,

al-KEN se-vi-VO-te-KHA fa-KHEEM vi-va-he-LE-kha pa-KHAD pit-OM

יעַל־כֵּ֭ן סְבִיבוֹתֶ֣יךָ פַחִ֑ים וִ֝יבַהֶלְךָ֗ פַּ֣חַד פִּתְאֹֽם׃

11Or darkness, so you cannot see; A flood of waters covers you.

o-KHO-shekh lo-tir-EH, v'-shi-FAT-ma-YIM te-KHA-se-KHA

יאאוֹ־חֹ֥שֶׁךְ לֹֽא־תִרְאֶ֑ה וְֽשִׁפְעַת־מַ֥יִם תְּכַסֶּֽךָּ׃

12Hashem is in the heavenly heights; See the highest stars, how lofty!

ha-LO e-LO-ha go-BAH sha-MA-yim u-re-EH ro-ASH ko-KHA-veem KI-ra-MU

יבהֲֽלֹא־אֱ֭לוֹהַּ גֹּ֣בַהּ שָׁמָ֑יִם וּרְאֵ֤ה רֹ֖אשׁ כּוֹכָבִ֣ים כִּי־רָֽמּוּ׃

13You say, “What can Hashem know? Can He govern through the dense cloud?

v'-a-MAR-ta mah-ya-DA ayl ha-va-AD a-ra-FEL yish-POT

יגוְֽ֭אָמַרְתָּ מַה־יָּ֣דַֽע אֵ֑ל הַבְעַ֖ד עֲרָפֶ֣ל יִשְׁפּֽוֹט׃

14The clouds screen Him so He cannot see As He moves about the circuit of heaven.”

a-VIM se-TER-lo ve-lo yir-EH, ve-KHUG sha-MA-yim yit-ha-LAKH

ידעָבִ֣ים סֵֽתֶר־ל֭וֹ וְלֹ֣א יִרְאֶ֑ה וְח֥וּג שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם יִתְהַלָּֽךְ׃

15Have you observed the immemorial path That evil men have trodden;

ha-o-RACH o-LAM tish-MOR a-SHER dor-KHU me-TEI a-VEN

טוהַאֹ֣רַח עוֹלָ֣ם תִּשְׁמ֑וֹר אֲשֶׁ֖ר דָּרְכ֣וּ מְתֵי־אָֽוֶן׃

16How they were shriveled up before their time And their foundation poured out like a river?

a-SHER ku-m'-TU v'-lo-AYT, na-HAR yu-TZAK ye-SO-dam

טזאֲשֶֽׁר־קֻמְּט֥וּ וְלֹא־עֵ֑ת נָ֝הָ֗ר יוּצַ֥ק יְסוֹדָֽם׃

17They said to Hashem, “Leave us alone; What can Shaddai do about it?”

ha-o-m'-REEM la-EL suR mi-ME-nu u-ma-yi-f'-AL sha-DAI la-MO

יזהָאֹמְרִ֣ים לָ֭אֵל ס֣וּר מִמֶּ֑נּוּ וּמַה־יִּפְעַ֖ל שַׁדַּ֣י לָֽמוֹ׃

18But it was He who filled their houses with good things. (The thoughts of the wicked are beyond me!)

v'-HU mi-LE b'-ta-YE-hem TOV va-a-TZAT r'-sha-EEM ra-cha-KAH ME-ni

יחוְה֤וּא מִלֵּ֣א בָתֵּיהֶ֣ם ט֑וֹב וַעֲצַ֥ת רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים רָ֣חֲקָה מֶֽנִּי׃

19The righteous, seeing it, rejoiced; The innocent laughed with scorn.

yir-U tzad-DEE-keem v'-yis-MA-khu, v'-na-KEE yil-AKH la-MO

יטיִרְא֣וּ צַדִּיקִ֣ים וְיִשְׂמָ֑חוּ וְ֝נָקִ֗י יִלְעַג־לָֽמוֹ׃

20Surely their substance was destroyed, And their remnant consumed by fire.

im-lo nikh-KHAD ki-MA-nu v'-yi-traM o-KHE-la esh

כאִם־לֹ֣א נִכְחַ֣ד קִימָ֑נוּ וְ֝יִתְרָ֗ם אָ֣כְלָה אֵֽשׁ׃

21Be close to Him and wholehearted; Good things will come to you thereby.

ha-SKEN-NA im-O u-she-LAM ba-HEM t'-vo-a-T'-KHA to-VAH

כאהַסְכֶּן־נָ֣א עִמּ֣וֹ וּשְׁלָ֑ם בָּ֝הֶ֗ם תְּֽבוֹאַתְךָ֥ טוֹבָֽה׃

22Accept instruction from His mouth; Lay up His words in your heart.

kakh-NA mi-PIV to-RAH v'-SIM a-ma-RAV bil-va-VE-kha

כבקַח־נָ֣א מִפִּ֣יו תּוֹרָ֑ה וְשִׂ֥ים אֲ֝מָרָ֗יו בִּלְבָבֶֽךָ׃

23If you return to Shaddai you will be restored, If you banish iniquity from your tent;

im-TA-shuv ad-SHA-dai ti-BA-ne, tar-KHIK a-ve-LAH me-o-he-LE-kha

כגאִם־תָּשׁ֣וּב עַד־שַׁ֭דַּי תִּבָּנֶ֑ה תַּרְחִ֥יק עַ֝וְלָ֗ה מֵאׇהֳלֶֽךָ׃

24If you regard treasure as dirt, Ophir-gold as stones of the wadi,

v'-SHIT-al-a-far ba-TZER u-k'-Tzur n'-kha-LEEM o-FEER

כדוְשִׁית־עַל־עָפָ֥ר בָּ֑צֶר וּכְצ֖וּר נְחָלִ֣ים אוֹפִֽיר׃

25And Shaddai be your treasure And precious silver for you,

v'-ha-YA sha-DAI b'-tza-RE-kha v'-KE-sef to-a-FOT LAKH

כהוְהָיָ֣ה שַׁדַּ֣י בְּצָרֶ֑יךָ וְכֶ֖סֶף תּוֹעָפ֣וֹת לָֽךְ׃

26When you seek the favor of Shaddai, And lift up your face to Hashem,

ki-AZ al-sha-DAI tit-a-NAG v'-ti-SA el e-lo-HA pa-NE-kha

כוכִּי־אָ֭ז עַל־שַׁדַּ֣י תִּתְעַנָּ֑ג וְתִשָּׂ֖א אֶל־אֱל֣וֹהַּ פָּנֶֽיךָ׃

27You will pray to Him, and He will listen to you, And you will pay your vows.

ta-TIYR e-LA-yav v'-yish-MA-e-KHA u-ne-da-RE-kha t'-sha-LEM

כזתַּעְתִּ֣יר אֵ֭לָיו וְיִשְׁמָעֶ֑ךָּ וּנְדָרֶ֥יךָ תְשַׁלֵּֽם׃

28You will decree and it will be fulfilled, And light will shine upon your affairs.

v'-tig-ZAR-o-MER v'-ya-KOM LAKH v'-al d'-ra-KHE-kha NA-gah OR

כחוְֽתִגְזַר־אֹ֭מֶר וְיָ֣קׇם לָ֑ךְ וְעַל־דְּ֝רָכֶ֗יךָ נָ֣גַהּ אֽוֹר׃

29When others sink low, you will say it is pride; For He saves the humble.

ki-hi-sh'PI-lu va-TO-mer ge-VAH v'-SHAKH ay-NA-yim yo-SHI-a

כטכִּֽי־הִ֭שְׁפִּילוּ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר גֵּוָ֑ה וְשַׁ֖ח עֵינַ֣יִם יוֹשִֽׁעַ׃

30He will deliver the guilty; He will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.

y'-ma-LET ee-NA-KEE v'-nim-LAT b'-vor ka-PE-kha

ליְמַלֵּ֥ט אִֽי־נָקִ֑י וְ֝נִמְלַ֗ט בְּבֹ֣ר כַּפֶּֽיךָ׃