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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 26

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Then Iyov said in reply:

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

אוַיַּ֥עַן אִיּ֗וֹב וַיֹּאמַֽר׃

2You would help without having the strength; You would deliver with arms that have no power.

meh a-ZAR-ta l'-lo KHO-akh ho-SHA-ta z'-RO-a lo OZ

במֶה־עָזַ֥רְתָּ לְלֹא־כֹ֑חַ ה֝וֹשַׁ֗עְתָּ זְר֣וֹעַ לֹא־עֹֽז׃

 26:2   You would deliver with arms that have no power

Iyov acknowledges that while Bildad’s intentions are good, in reality his words are of no assistance, since they do not provide any comfort. Though Bildad and Iyov’s other friends are trying to help, Iyov finds their statements very hurtful. It is often difficult to find the right words to comfort a grieving friend. In Jewish practice, a traditional formula is said when trying to comfort a mourner: “May the Omnipresent comfort you among the mourners of Tzion and Yerushalayim.” Since Hashem is the only One who can truly understand the suffering of the individual, and the only One who can really bring comfort, we call upon Him to comfort the mourner. The Hebrew word for ‘Omnipresent’ is hamakom (המקום), which literally means ‘the place.’ We pray that Hashem comforts the mourner, and that the mourner recognize God’s presence even in the difficult place in which he currently finds himself.

3Without having the wisdom, you offer advice And freely give your counsel.

mah-ya-ATZ-ta l'-LO khokh-MAH v'-tu-shi-YAH la-ROV ho-da-ATa

גמַה־יָּ֭עַצְתָּ לְלֹ֣א חׇכְמָ֑ה וְ֝תֻשִׁיָּ֗ה לָרֹ֥ב הוֹדָֽעְתָּ׃

4To whom have you addressed words? Whose breath issued from you?

et-MI hi-GAD-ta mi-LIN ve-nish-MAT-MI ya-tze-AH mi-ME-kha

דאֶת־מִ֭י הִגַּ֣דְתָּ מִלִּ֑ין וְנִשְׁמַת־מִ֝֗י יָצְאָ֥ה מִמֶּֽךָּ׃

5The shades tremble Beneath the waters and their denizens.

ha-RE-fa-EEM ye-KHO-la-LU mi-TA-khat ma-YIM v'-sho-KH'-nei-HEM

ההָרְפָאִ֥ים יְחוֹלָ֑לוּ מִתַּ֥חַת מַ֝֗יִם וְשֹׁכְנֵיהֶֽם׃

6Sheol is naked before Him; Abaddon has no cover.

a-ROM she-OL neg-DO v'-AYN ke-SUT la-a-va-DON

ועָר֣וֹם שְׁא֣וֹל נֶגְדּ֑וֹ וְאֵ֥ין כְּ֝ס֗וּת לָאֲבַדּֽוֹן׃

7He it is who stretched out Zaphon over chaos, Who suspended earth over emptiness.

no-TEH tza-FON al-TO-hu, TO-leh E-retz al b'-LI-ma

זנֹטֶ֣ה צָפ֣וֹן עַל־תֹּ֑הוּ תֹּ֥לֶה אֶ֝֗רֶץ עַל־בְּלִי־מָֽה׃

8He wrapped up the waters in His clouds; Yet no cloud burst under their weight.

tzo-RAYR ma-YIM b'-a-VA-yav v'-lo-niv-KA a-NAHN ta-KH-tam

חצֹרֵֽר־מַ֥יִם בְּעָבָ֑יו וְלֹֽא־נִבְקַ֖ע עָנָ֣ן תַּחְתָּֽם׃

9He shuts off the view of His throne, Spreading His cloud over it.

m'-a-KHEZ p'-NEI-ki-SEH par-SHEZ a-LA-yu a-NA-no

טמְאַחֵ֥ז פְּנֵֽי־כִסֵּ֑ה פַּרְשֵׁ֖ז עָלָ֣יו עֲנָנֽוֹ׃

10He drew a boundary on the surface of the waters, At the extreme where light and darkness meet.

khok-khag al-pe-NEE-ma-YIM ad-takh-LEET or im-kho-SHEKH

יחֹֽק־חָ֭ג עַל־פְּנֵי־מָ֑יִם עַד־תַּכְלִ֖ית א֣וֹר עִם־חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃

11The pillars of heaven tremble, Astounded at His blast.

a-MU-dei sha-MA-yim ye-ro-FA-fu, v'-yit-m'-HU mi-ga-a-RA-to

יאעַמּוּדֵ֣י שָׁמַ֣יִם יְרוֹפָ֑פוּ וְ֝יִתְמְה֗וּ מִגַּעֲרָתֽוֹ׃

12By His power He stilled the sea; By His skill He struck down Rahab.

b'-kho-KHO ra-GA ha-YAM (u-vi-tu-va-NAt-O) [u-vit-bu-NA-to] ma-KHATZ ra-HAV

יבבְּ֭כֹחוֹ רָגַ֣ע הַיָּ֑ם (ובתובנתו) [וּ֝בִתְבוּנָת֗וֹ] מָ֣חַץ רָֽהַב׃

13By His wind the heavens were calmed; His hand pierced the Elusive Serpent.

b'-ru-KHO sha-MA-yim shif-RAH, khol-LA ya-DO na-KHASH ba-RI-akh.

יגבְּ֭רוּחוֹ שָׁמַ֣יִם שִׁפְרָ֑ה חֹלְלָ֥ה יָ֝ד֗וֹ נָחָ֥שׁ בָּרִֽחַ׃

14These are but glimpses of His rule, The mere whisper that we perceive of Him; Who can absorb the thunder of His mighty deeds?

hen-e-LEH k'-TZOHT d'-ra-KHAV u-mah-SHEM-ts da-VAR nish-MA-bO v'-ra-AM g'-vu-RO-tav mee yit-bo-NAN

ידהֶן־אֵ֤לֶּה ׀ קְצ֬וֹת דְּרָכָ֗ו וּמַה־שֵּׁ֣מֶץ דָּ֭בָר נִשְׁמַע־בּ֑וֹ וְרַ֥עַם גְּ֝בוּרֹתָ֗ו מִ֣י יִתְבּוֹנָֽן׃