TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 35

Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:

1Elihu said in reply:

אוַיַּעַן אֱלִיהוּ וַיֹּאמַר׃

2Do you think it just To say, “I am right against Hashem”?

בהֲזֹאת חָשַׁבְתָּ לְמִשְׁפָּט אָמַרְתָּ צִדְקִי מֵאֵל׃

3If you ask how it benefits you, “What have I gained from not sinning?”

גכִּי־תֹאמַר מַה־יִּסְכָּן־לָךְ מָה־אֹעִיל מֵחַטָּאתִי׃

4I shall give you a reply, You, along with your friends.

דאֲנִי אֲשִׁיבְךָ מִלִּין וְאֶת־רֵעֶיךָ עִמָּךְ׃

5Behold the heavens and see; Look at the skies high above you.

ההַבֵּט שָׁמַיִם וּרְאֵה וְשׁוּר שְׁחָקִים גָּבְהוּ מִמֶּךָּ׃

6If you sin, what do you do to Him? If your transgressions are many, How do you affect Him?

ואִם־חָטָאתָ מַה־תִּפְעָל־בּוֹ וְרַבּוּ פְשָׁעֶיךָ מַה־תַּעֲשֶׂה־לּוֹ׃

7If you are righteous, What do you give Him; What does He receive from your hand?

זאִם־צָדַקְתָּ מַה־תִּתֶּן־לוֹ אוֹ מַה־מִיָּדְךָ יִקָּח׃

8Your wickedness affects men like yourself; Your righteousness, mortals.

חלְאִישׁ־כָּמוֹךָ רִשְׁעֶךָ וּלְבֶן־אָדָם צִדְקָתֶךָ׃

9Because of contention the oppressed cry out; They shout because of the power of the great.

טמֵרֹב עֲשׁוּקִים יַזְעִיקוּ יְשַׁוְּעוּ מִזְּרוֹעַ רַבִּים׃

10But none says, “Where is my God, my Maker, Who gives strength in the night;

v'-LO a-MAR a-YAY e-LO-ah o-SAI no-TAYN z'-mee-ROT ba-LAI-lah

יוְלֹא־אָמַר אַיֵּה אֱלוֹהַּ עֹשָׂי נֹתֵן זְמִרוֹת בַּלָּיְלָה׃

 35:10   Who gives strength in the night

The Hebrew word for ‘strength’ in this verse is zemirot (זמירות). This word generally means ‘songs’, but its root (ז-מ-ר) also has another meaning: To prune a tree and remove its extraneous branches. The connection between these words is not initially obvious, but as the “mother of all languages,” Hebrew words often get to the very essence of the object they are describing. A tree thrives when its heavy branches and extraneous foliage are clipped, so that it can most effectively apply its nutritional resources. Though it may seem that cutting a tree weakens it, this process actually strengthens it. Similarly, music is not merely a collection of randomly collected notes. To be left with a beautiful song, one must “prune” extraneous sounds. This same principle can be applied to our lives; in order to properly strengthen ourselves and transform our entire existence into holy song, we must remove the burdensome elements of our character.

11Who gives us more knowledge than the beasts of the earth, Makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?”

יאמַלְּפֵנוּ מִבַּהֲמוֹת אָרֶץ וּמֵעוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם יְחַכְּמֵנוּ׃

12Then they cry out, but He does not respond Because of the arrogance of evil men.

יבשָׁם יִצְעֲקוּ וְלֹא יַעֲנֶה מִפְּנֵי גְּאוֹן רָעִים׃

13Surely it is false that Hashem does not listen, That Shaddai does not take note of it.

יגאַךְ־שָׁוְא לֹא־יִשְׁמַע אֵל וְשַׁדַּי לֹא יְשׁוּרֶנָּה׃

14Though you say, “You do not take note of it,” The case is before Him; So wait for Him.

ידאַף כִּי־תֹאמַר לֹא תְשׁוּרֶנּוּ דִּין לְפָנָיו וּתְחוֹלֵל לוֹ׃

15But since now it does not seem so, He vents his anger; He does not realize that it may be long drawn out.

טווְעַתָּה כִּי־אַיִן פָּקַד אַפּוֹ וְלֹא־יָדַע בַּפַּשׁ מְאֹד׃

16Hence Iyov mouths empty words, And piles up words without knowledge.

טזוְאִיּוֹב הֶבֶל יִפְצֶה־פִּיהוּ בִּבְלִי־דַעַת מִלִּין יַכְבִּר׃