TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
Chapter 23
Translation and Transliteration of
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1Iyov said in reply:
vai-YA-an i-YOV va-YO-mer
אוַיַּ֥עַן אִיּ֗וֹב וַיֹּאמַֽר׃
2Today again my complaint is bitter; My strength is spent on account of my groaning.
gam-ha-YOM me-REE si-KHEE, ya-DEE ka-VE-da al-an-kha-TEE
בגַּם־הַ֭יּוֹם מְרִ֣י שִׂחִ֑י יָ֝דִ֗י כָּבְדָ֥ה עַל־אַנְחָתִֽי׃
3Would that I knew how to reach Him, How to get to His dwelling-place.
mi-yi-TEYN ya-DA-tee v'-em-tza-E-hu a-VO od-t'-khu-NA-to
גמִֽי־יִתֵּ֣ן יָ֭דַעְתִּי וְאֶמְצָאֵ֑הוּ אָ֝ב֗וֹא עַד־תְּכוּנָתֽוֹ׃
4I would set out my case before Him And fill my mouth with arguments.
e-er-KHA l'-fa-NAV mish-PAHT, u-fi a-ma-LAY to-KHA-khot
דאֶעֶרְכָ֣ה לְפָנָ֣יו מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּ֝פִ֗י אֲמַלֵּ֥א תוֹכָחֽוֹת׃
5I would learn what answers He had for me And know how He would reply to me.
e-d'-AH mi-LIM ya-a-NE-ni v'-a-vee-NAH mah yo-MAR li
האֵ֭דְעָה מִלִּ֣ים יַעֲנֵ֑נִי וְ֝אָבִ֗ינָה מַה־יֹּ֥אמַר לִֽי׃
6Would He contend with me overbearingly? Surely He would not accuse me!
ha-b'-ROV-KO-akh ya-REEV i-ma-DEE, lo akh-hu ya-SIM BEE
והַבְּרׇב־כֹּ֭חַ יָרִ֣יב עִמָּדִ֑י לֹ֥א אַךְ־ה֝֗וּא יָשִׂ֥ם בִּֽי׃
7There the upright would be cleared by Him, And I would escape forever from my judge.
SHAM ya-SHAR no-KHAKH i-MO va-a-fal-TAH la-NE-tsakh mi-sho-F'-ti
זשָׁ֗ם יָ֭שָׁר נוֹכָ֣ח עִמּ֑וֹ וַאֲפַלְּטָ֥ה לָ֝נֶ֗צַח מִשֹּׁפְטִֽי׃
8But if I go East—He is not there; West—I still do not perceive Him;
HAYN KE-dem e-he-LOKH v'-ay-NE-nu v'-a-KHOR v'-LO a-VEEN LO
חהֵ֤ן קֶ֣דֶם אֶהֱלֹ֣ךְ וְאֵינֶ֑נּוּ וְ֝אָח֗וֹר וְֽלֹא־אָבִ֥ין לֽוֹ׃
23:8 But if I go East—He is not there
Throughout the book, Iyov’s bitterness at God’s apparent abandonment of him has been very noticeable. Until now it seemed that Iyov was upset because he knew that he did not deserve the punishment he received. Now, however, he expresses concern over his distance from Hashem. For a God-fearing person, distance from Hashem is unbearable. Similarly, when Yeshayahu proclaims to the inhabitants of Yerushalayim: “Though you pray at length, I will not listen.” (1:15), this was meant to motivate them towards repentance. As a truly righteous man, Iyov could bear a test from the Almighty, but he cannot bear the lack of response to his prayers.
9North—since He is concealed, I do not behold Him; South—He is hidden, and I cannot see Him.
s'-MO-ol ba-a-SO-to v'-lo a-KHAZ ya-a-TOF ya-MEEN v'-lo er-EH
טשְׂמֹ֣אול בַּעֲשֹׂת֣וֹ וְלֹא־אָ֑חַז יַעְטֹ֥ף יָ֝מִ֗ין וְלֹ֣א אֶרְאֶֽה׃
10But He knows the way I take; Would He assay me, I should emerge pure as gold.
ki-ya-DA d'-REKH i-MA-dee b'-kha-NA-nee ka-za-HAV e-TZE
יכִּֽי־יָ֭דַע דֶּ֣רֶךְ עִמָּדִ֑י בְּ֝חָנַ֗נִי כַּזָּהָ֥ב אֵצֵֽא׃
11I have followed in His tracks, Kept His way without swerving,
ba-a-shu-RO a-kha-ZAH rag-LEE, dar-KO sha-MA-RTI ve-lo-a-T
יאבַּ֭אֲשֻׁרוֹ אָחֲזָ֣ה רַגְלִ֑י דַּרְכּ֖וֹ שָׁמַ֣רְתִּי וְלֹא־אָֽט׃
12I have not deviated from what His lips commanded; I have treasured His words more than my daily bread.
mitz-VAT s'-fa-TAV v'-lo a-MEESH me-KHU-KEE tza-FAN-tee im-ray-fi-V
יבמִצְוַ֣ת שְׂ֭פָתָיו וְלֹ֣א אָמִ֑ישׁ מֵ֝חֻקִּ֗י צָפַ֥נְתִּי אִמְרֵי־פִֽיו׃
13He is one; who can dissuade Him? Whatever He desires, He does.
v'-HU b'-e-KHAD u-mi y'-shi-VE-nu, v'-NAF-sho i-v'-TAH va-YA-as
יגוְה֣וּא בְ֭אֶחָד וּמִ֣י יְשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ וְנַפְשׁ֖וֹ אִוְּתָ֣ה וַיָּֽעַשׂ׃
14For He will bring my term to an end, But He has many more such at His disposal.
ki yash-LIM khuk-KI v'-ka-HE-nah ra-VOT i-MO
ידכִּ֭י יַשְׁלִ֣ים חֻקִּ֑י וְכָהֵ֖נָּה רַבּ֣וֹת עִמּֽוֹ׃
15Therefore I am terrified at His presence; When I consider, I dread Him.
al-KEN mi-PA-na-YAV e-BA-HEL et-bo-NEN v'-ef-KHAD mi-ME-nu
טועַל־כֵּ֭ן מִפָּנָ֣יו אֶבָּהֵ֑ל אֶ֝תְבּוֹנֵ֗ן וְאֶפְחַ֥ד מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃
16Hashem has made me fainthearted; Shaddai has terrified me.
v'-EL he-RAKH li-BEE v'-sha-DAI hiv-hi-LA-ni
טזוְ֭אֵל הֵרַ֣ךְ לִבִּ֑י וְ֝שַׁדַּ֗י הִבְהִילָֽנִי׃
17Yet I am not cut off by the darkness; He has concealed the thick gloom from me.
ki-lo nitz-ma-TEE mi-pe-NEI-kho-SHEKH u-mi-PA-nai ki-SA-o-FEL
יזכִּֽי־לֹ֣א נִ֭צְמַתִּי מִפְּנֵי־חֹ֑שֶׁךְ וּ֝מִפָּנַ֗י כִּסָּה־אֹֽפֶל׃
