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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 31

Translation and Transliteration of 

1I have covenanted with my eyes Not to gaze on a maiden.

b'-REET ka-RA-tee l'-ay-NAI, u-MA et-bo-NAYN al b'-tu-LAH

אבְּ֭רִית כָּרַ֣תִּי לְעֵינָ֑י וּמָ֥ה אֶ֝תְבּוֹנֵ֗ן עַל־בְּתוּלָֽה׃

2What fate is decreed by Hashem above? What lot, by Shaddai in the heights?

u-MEH khe-LEK e-LO-a mi-ma-AL v'-na-kha-LAT sha-DAI mi-m'-ro-MEEM

בוּמֶ֤ה ׀ חֵ֣לֶק אֱל֣וֹהַּ מִמָּ֑עַל וְֽנַחֲלַ֥ת שַׁ֝דַּ֗י מִמְּרֹמִֽים׃

3Calamity is surely for the iniquitous; Misfortune, for the worker of mischief.

ha-LO eed l'-a-VAL v'-NE-kher l'-po-a-LEI a-VON

גהֲלֹא־אֵ֥יד לְעַוָּ֑ל וְ֝נֵ֗כֶר לְפֹ֣עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃

4Surely He observes my ways, Takes account of my every step.

ha-LO hu yir-EH d'-ra-KHAI v'-KOL t'-sa-DAI yis-POHR

דהֲלֹא־ה֭וּא יִרְאֶ֣ה דְרָכָ֑י וְֽכׇל־צְעָדַ֥י יִסְפּֽוֹר׃

5Have I walked with worthless men, Or my feet hurried to deceit?

im-ha-la-kh'-TEE im-SHA-v' va-ta-KHASH al-mir-MAH rag-LEE

האִם־הָלַ֥כְתִּי עִם־שָׁ֑וְא וַתַּ֖חַשׁ עַל־מִרְמָ֣ה רַגְלִֽי׃

6Let Him weigh me on the scale of righteousness; Let Hashem ascertain my integrity.

YISH-k'-LE-ni b'-moz-NEI tze-DEK, v'-ye-DA e-lo-AH tu-MA-ti.

ויִשְׁקְלֵ֥נִי בְמֹֽאזְנֵי־צֶ֑דֶק וְיֵדַ֥ע אֱ֝ל֗וֹהַּ תֻּמָּתִֽי׃

7If my feet have strayed from their course, My heart followed after my eyes, And a stain sullied my hands,

im ti-TEH a-SHU-ri mi-NI ha-DA-rekh v'-a-KHAR e-NAI ha-LAKH li-BI u-v'-ka-PAI da-VAK ma-UM

זאִ֥ם תִּטֶּ֣ה אַשֻּׁרִי֮ מִנִּ֢י הַ֫דָּ֥רֶךְ וְאַחַ֣ר עֵ֭ינַי הָלַ֣ךְ לִבִּ֑י וּ֝בְכַפַּ֗י דָּ֣בַק מֽאוּם׃

8May I sow, but another reap, May the growth of my field be uprooted!

e-Z'-ra-a v'-a-KHER yo-KHEL v'-tze-e-tza-AI y'-sho-RA-shu

חאֶ֭זְרְעָה וְאַחֵ֣ר יֹאכֵ֑ל וְֽצֶאֱצָאַ֥י יְשֹׁרָֽשׁוּ׃

9If my heart was ravished by the wife of my neighbor, And I lay in wait at his door,

im-nif-TAH li-BEE al-i-SHA, v'-al-PE-takh re-EE a-ra-VE-tee

טאִם־נִפְתָּ֣ה לִ֭בִּי עַל־אִשָּׁ֑ה וְעַל־פֶּ֖תַח רֵעִ֣י אָרָֽבְתִּי׃

10May my wife grind for another, May others kneel over her!

ti-t'-KHAN l'-a-KHER ish-TEE v'-a-LE-ha yikh-r'-UN a-khe-REEM

יתִּטְחַ֣ן לְאַחֵ֣ר אִשְׁתִּ֑י וְ֝עָלֶ֗יהָ יִכְרְע֥וּן אֲחֵרִֽין׃

11For that would have been debauchery, A criminal offense,

ki-HEE (hu) zi-MAH (v'-HEE) (v'-hu) a-VON p'-lee-LEEM

יאכִּי־[הִ֥יא] (הוא) זִמָּ֑ה (והיא) [וְ֝ה֗וּא] עָוֺ֥ן פְּלִילִֽים׃

12A fire burning down to Abaddon, Consuming the roots of all my increase.

ki ESH HI ad-a-va-DON to-KHEL u-ve-KHOL t'-vu-A-ti te-SHA-resh

יבכִּ֤י אֵ֣שׁ הִ֭יא עַד־אֲבַדּ֣וֹן תֹּאכֵ֑ל וּֽבְכׇל־תְּב֖וּאָתִ֣י תְשָׁרֵֽשׁ׃

13Did I ever brush aside the case of my servants, man or maid, When they made a complaint against me?

im-em-AS mish-PAT av-DEE va-a-MA-tee b'-ri-BAM i-MAD-ee

יגאִם־אֶמְאַ֗ס מִשְׁפַּ֣ט עַ֭בְדִּי וַאֲמָתִ֑י בְּ֝רִבָ֗ם עִמָּדִֽי׃

14What then should I do when Hashem arises; When He calls me to account, what should I answer Him?

u-MA e-SEH ki-YA-kum EL, v'-ki-YIF-kod MA a-shi-VE-nu

ידוּמָ֣ה אֶ֭עֱשֶׂה כִּֽי־יָק֣וּם אֵ֑ל וְכִי־יִ֝פְקֹ֗ד מָ֣ה אֲשִׁיבֶֽנּוּ׃

15Did not He who made me in my mother's belly make him? Did not One form us both in the womb?

ha-LO va-BE-ten o-SE-ni a-sa-HU va-y'-khu-NE-nu ba-RE-khem e-KHAD

טוהֲֽלֹא־בַ֭בֶּטֶן עֹשֵׂ֣נִי עָשָׂ֑הוּ וַ֝יְכֻנֶ֗נּוּ בָּרֶ֥חֶם אֶחָֽד׃

16Did I deny the poor their needs, Or let a widow pine away,

im-em-NA me-KHEF-et da-LIM v'-ei-NEI al-ma-NAH a-KHA-leh

טזאִם־אֶ֭מְנַע מֵחֵ֣פֶץ דַּלִּ֑ים וְעֵינֵ֖י אַלְמָנָ֣ה אֲכַלֶּֽה׃

17By eating my food alone, The fatherless not eating of it also?

v'-o-KHAL pi-TEE l'-va-DEE, v'-lo a-KHAL ya-TOM mi-m'-NEH

יזוְאֹכַ֣ל פִּתִּ֣י לְבַדִּ֑י וְלֹֽא־אָכַ֖ל יָת֣וֹם מִמֶּֽנָּה׃

18Why, from my youth he grew up with me as though I were his father; Since I left my mother's womb I was her guide.

ki mi-n'-u-RAI g'-de-LA-ni k'-AV u-mi-BE-ten i-MI an-khe-NAH

יחכִּ֣י מִ֭נְּעוּרַי גְּדֵלַ֣נִי כְאָ֑ב וּמִבֶּ֖טֶן אִמִּ֣י אַנְחֶֽנָּה׃

19I never saw an unclad wretch, A needy man without clothing,

im-e-reh o-ved mi-be-lee le-vush ve-ein ke-soot la-ev-yon

יטאִם־אֶרְאֶ֣ה א֭וֹבֵד מִבְּלִ֣י לְב֑וּשׁ וְאֵ֥ין כְּ֝ס֗וּת לָאֶבְיֽוֹן׃

20Whose loins did not bless me As he warmed himself with the shearings of my sheep.

im-lo ve-re-KHU-nee kha-la-TZA-vu u-mi-GEZ ke-va-SAI yit-kha-MAM

כאִם־לֹ֣א בֵרְכ֣וּנִי חֲלָצָ֑ו וּמִגֵּ֥ז כְּ֝בָשַׂ֗י יִתְחַמָּֽם׃

21If I raised my hand against the fatherless, Looking to my supporters in the gate,

im-ha-nee-fo-TEE al ya-TOM ya-DEE, kee-er-EH va-sha-AR ez-ra-TEE

כאאִם־הֲנִיפ֣וֹתִי עַל־יָת֣וֹם יָדִ֑י כִּֽי־אֶרְאֶ֥ה בַ֝שַּׁ֗עַר עֶזְרָתִֽי׃

22May my arm drop off my shoulder; My forearm break off at the elbow.

k'-te-fi mi-shi-KMAH ti-POL v'-ez-RO-i mi-ka-NAH ti-sha-VER

כבכְּ֭תֵפִי מִשִּׁכְמָ֣הֿ תִפּ֑וֹל וְ֝אֶזְרֹעִ֗י מִקָּנָ֥הֿ תִשָּׁבֵֽר׃

23For I am in dread of Hashem-sent calamity; I cannot bear His threat.

ki fa-KHAD e-LAI AYD e-L, u-mi-s'-E-to lo u-KHAL

כגכִּ֤י פַ֣חַד אֵ֭לַי אֵ֣יד אֵ֑ל וּ֝מִשְּׂאֵת֗וֹ לֹ֣א אוּכָֽל׃

24Did I put my reliance on gold, Or regard fine gold as my bulwark?

im-SAM-ti za-HAV kis-LI, v'-la-KE-tem a-mar-TI miv-ta-KHI

כדאִם־שַׂ֣מְתִּי זָהָ֣ב כִּסְלִ֑י וְ֝לַכֶּ֗תֶם אָמַ֥רְתִּי מִבְטַחִֽי׃

25Did I rejoice in my great wealth, In having attained plenty?

im-e-SMAKH ki-RAV khe-LEE, v'-ki-ka-BEER matz-AH ya-DEE.

כהאִם־אֶ֭שְׂמַח כִּֽי־רַ֣ב חֵילִ֑י וְכִֽי־כַ֝בִּ֗יר מָצְאָ֥ה יָדִֽי׃

26If ever I saw the light shining, The moon on its course in full glory,

כואִם־אֶרְאֶ֣ה א֭וֹר כִּ֣י יָהֵ֑ל וְ֝יָרֵ֗חַ יָקָ֥ר הֹלֵֽךְ׃

27And I secretly succumbed, And my hand touched my mouth in a kiss,

vai-YIF-teh ba-SE-ter li-BEE, va-TI-shak ya-DEE l'-FI

כזוַיִּ֣פְתְּ בַּסֵּ֣תֶר לִבִּ֑י וַתִּשַּׁ֖ק יָדִ֣י לְפִֽי׃

28That, too, would have been a criminal offense, For I would have denied Hashem above.

gam-HU a-VON p'-li-LEE, kee-khi-KHA-shee la-EL mi-ma-AL

כחגַּם־ה֭וּא עָוֺ֣ן פְּלִילִ֑י כִּֽי־כִחַ֖שְׁתִּי לָאֵ֣ל מִמָּֽעַל׃

29Did I rejoice over my enemy's misfortune? Did I thrill because evil befell him?

im-es-MAKH b'-FID m'-sa-NI v'-hi-t'-o-RAR-tee ki m'-tza-O ra

כטאִם־אֶ֭שְׂמַח בְּפִ֣יד מְשַׂנְאִ֑י וְ֝הִתְעֹרַ֗רְתִּי כִּֽי־מְצָ֥אוֹ רָֽע׃

30I never let my mouth sin By wishing his death in a curse.

v'-LO na-TA-tee la-cha-TO khee lish-OL b'-a-LAH naf-SHO

לוְלֹא־נָתַ֣תִּי לַחֲטֹ֣א חִכִּ֑י לִשְׁאֹ֖ל בְּאָלָ֣ה נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃

31(Indeed, the men of my clan said, “We would consume his flesh insatiably!”)

im-lo a-M'-RU m'-TAY o-h'-LI, mee-yi-TAYN mi-b'-SA-ro lo nish-BA

לאאִם־לֹ֣א אָ֭מְרוּ מְתֵ֣י אׇהֳלִ֑י מִי־יִתֵּ֥ן מִ֝בְּשָׂר֗וֹ לֹ֣א נִשְׂבָּֽע׃

32No sojourner spent the night in the open; I opened my doors to the road.

ba-KHUtz lo-ya-LEEN GER, d'-la-TAI la-o-RACH ef-TACH.

לבבַּ֭חוּץ לֹא־יָלִ֣ין גֵּ֑ר דְּ֝לָתַ֗י לָאֹ֥רַח אֶפְתָּֽח׃

33Did I hide my transgressions like Adam, Bury my wrongdoing in my bosom,

im-ki-SI-ti k'-a-DAM p'-sha-AI lit-MON b'-chu-BI a-VO-ni

לגאִם־כִּסִּ֣יתִי כְאָדָ֣ם פְּשָׁעָ֑י לִטְמ֖וֹן בְּחֻבִּ֣י עֲוֺנִֽי׃

34That I should [now] fear the great multitude, And am shattered by the contempt of families, So that I keep silent and do not step outdoors?

ki e-e-ROTZ ha-MON ra-BAH u-BUZ mish-PA-khot ye-khi-TE-ni va-a-DOM lo-e-TSE fa-TAKH

לדכִּ֤י אֶעֱר֨וֹץ ׀ הָ֘מ֤וֹן רַבָּ֗ה וּבוּז־מִשְׁפָּח֥וֹת יְחִתֵּ֑נִי וָ֝אֶדֹּ֗ם לֹא־אֵ֥צֵא פָֽתַח׃

35O that I had someone to give me a hearing; O that Shaddai would reply to my writ, Or my accuser draw up a true bill!

mi yi-TEN-li sho-ME-a li, HEN-ta-VI sha-DAI ya-a-NE-ni, v'-SE-fer ka-TAV ish ri-VI

להמִ֤י יִתֶּן־לִ֨י ׀ שֹׁ֘מֵ֤עַֽ לִ֗י הֶן־תָּ֭וִי שַׁדַּ֣י יַעֲנֵ֑נִי וְסֵ֥פֶר כָּ֝תַ֗ב אִ֣ישׁ רִיבִֽי׃

36I would carry it on my shoulder; Tie it around me for a wreath.

im-lo al-shikh-MI e-sa-E-nu e-en-DE-nu a-ta-ROT li

לואִם־לֹ֣א עַל־שִׁ֭כְמִי אֶשָּׂאֶ֑נּוּ אֶעֶנְדֶ֖נּוּ עֲטָר֣וֹת לִֽי׃

37I would give him an account of my steps, Offer it as to a commander.

mis-PAHR t'-za-a-DAI a-gi-DE-nu, k'-MO na-GID a-ka-r'-VE-nu

לזמִסְפַּ֣ר צְ֭עָדַי אַגִּידֶ֑נּוּ כְּמוֹ־נָ֝גִ֗יד אֲקָֽרְבֶֽנּוּ׃

38If my land cries out against me, Its furrows weep together;

im-a-LAI ad-ma-TI tiz-AK v'-ya-KHAD te-la-ME-ha yiv-ka-YUN

לחאִם־עָ֭לַי אַדְמָתִ֣י תִזְעָ֑ק וְ֝יַ֗חַד תְּלָמֶ֥יהָ יִבְכָּיֽוּן׃

39If I have eaten its produce without payment, And made its [rightful] owners despair,

im-KO-kha a-KHAL-tee b'-lee-ka-SEF v'-NE-fesh b'-a-LE-ha hi-pa-KH'-tee

לטאִם־כֹּ֭חָהּ אָכַ֣לְתִּי בְלִי־כָ֑סֶף וְנֶ֖פֶשׁ בְּעָלֶ֣יהָ הִפָּֽחְתִּי׃

40May nettles grow there instead of wheat; Instead of barley, stinkweed! The words of Iyov are at an end.

TA-khat khi-TAH yay-TZAY KHO-akh v'-TA-khat s'-o-RAH vo-SHAH TA-mu div-RAY i-YOV

מתַּ֤חַת חִטָּ֨ה ׀ יֵ֥צֵא ח֗וֹחַ וְתַֽחַת־שְׂעֹרָ֥ה בׇאְשָׁ֑ה תַּ֝֗מּוּ דִּבְרֵ֥י אִיּֽוֹב׃

 31:40   The words of Iyov are at an end

These words depict Iyov’s exhaustion. After his long peroration lamenting his many misfortunes and speculating as to their possible causes, Iyov suddenly gives up. He no longer has the strength to fight or the energy to protest. Iyov spends a lot of time and emotional energy trying to make sense of his suffering. Due to his intense suffering, it was difficult for Iyov to recognize, as King Shlomo did, the truth that “For whom Hashem loves, He rebukes” (Proverbs 3:12). Often, suffering is brought upon a person as a mark of God’s love, while He abandons those for whom He has no regard to the whims of chance. King David also realizes that sometimes suffering is really a gift, when he says “Happy is the man whom You discipline, Hashem,” (Psalms 94:12). This idea is reflected in a well-known statement by Rabbi Simeon Bar Yochai (Berachot 5a): “Three gifts were given by God through suffering; Torah, the Land of Israel, and the world to come.” The righteous are able to perceive that suffering paves the way to bearing the greatest gifts of God to His people.