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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 35

Translation and Transliteration of 

Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:

1Elihu said in reply:

vai-YA-an e-li-HU va-YO-mer

אוַיַּ֥עַן אֱלִיה֗וּ וַיֹּאמַֽר׃

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

ha-ZOT kha-SHAV-ta l'-mish-PAT a-MAR-ta tzi-D'-KI me-EL

בהֲ֭זֹאת חָשַׁ֣בְתָּ לְמִשְׁפָּ֑ט אָ֝מַ֗רְתָּ צִדְקִ֥י מֵאֵֽל׃

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

ki-to-MAR mah-yis-KAN-lakh, mah-o-IL me-kha-ta-TEE

גכִּֽי־תֹ֭אמַר מַה־יִּסְכׇּן־לָ֑ךְ מָה־אֹ֝עִ֗יל מֵחַטָּאתִֽי׃

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

a-NI a-shi-V'-KHA mi-LEEN v'-ET re-E-kha i-MACH

דאֲ֭נִי אֲשִֽׁיבְךָ֣ מִלִּ֑ין וְֽאֶת־רֵעֶ֥יךָ עִמָּֽךְ׃

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

ha-BET sha-MA-yim u-re-EH, v'-SHUR she-KHA-KEEM ga-VE-hu mi-ME-kha

ההַבֵּ֣ט שָׁמַ֣יִם וּרְאֵ֑ה וְשׁ֥וּר שְׁ֝חָקִ֗ים גָּבְה֥וּ מִמֶּֽךָּ׃

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

im-cha-TA-ta mah-tif-A-al-bo, ve-RA-vu f'-sha-EI-cha mah-ta-a-SEH-lo.

ואִם־חָ֭טָאתָ מַה־תִּפְעׇל־בּ֑וֹ וְרַבּ֥וּ פְ֝שָׁעֶ֗יךָ מַה־תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־לּֽוֹ׃

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

im-tza-DAK-ta mah-ti-TEN-lo o mah-mi-YAD-kha yi-KAKH

זאִם־צָ֭דַקְתָּ מַה־תִּתֶּן־ל֑וֹ א֥וֹ מַה־מִּיָּדְךָ֥ יִקָּֽח׃

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

l'-ish-KA-mo-KHA rish-E-kha u-l'-ven a-DAM tzid-ka-TE-kha

חלְאִישׁ־כָּמ֥וֹךָ רִשְׁעֶ֑ךָ וּלְבֶן־אָ֝דָ֗ם צִדְקָתֶֽךָ׃

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

me-ROV a-shu-KEEM yaz-ee-KU, ye-shav-VU mi-z'-RO-a ra-BEEM

טמֵ֭רֹב עֲשׁוּקִ֣ים יַזְעִ֑יקוּ יְשַׁוְּע֖וּ מִזְּר֣וֹעַ רַבִּֽים׃

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

יוְֽלֹא־אָמַ֗ר אַ֭יֵּה אֱל֣וֹהַּ עֹשָׂ֑י נֹתֵ֖ן זְמִר֣וֹת בַּלָּֽיְלָה׃

 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?”

mal-LE-f'-NU mi-ba-ha-MOT a-RETZ u-m'-OF ha-sha-MA-yim y'-kha-k'-ME-nu

יאמַ֭לְּפֵנוּ מִבַּהֲמ֣וֹת אָ֑רֶץ וּמֵע֖וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם יְחַכְּמֵֽנוּ׃

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

sham yit'-sa-a-KU v'-lo ya-a-NEH mi-p'-NEI g'-ON ra-EEM

יבשָׁ֣ם יִ֭צְעֲקוּ וְלֹ֣א יַעֲנֶ֑ה מִ֝פְּנֵ֗י גְּא֣וֹן רָעִֽים׃

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

akh-SHAV lo yish-MA el v'-sha-DAI lo y'-shu-re-Na

יגאַךְ־שָׁ֭וְא לֹא־יִשְׁמַ֥ע ׀ אֵ֑ל וְ֝שַׁדַּ֗י לֹ֣א יְשׁוּרֶֽנָּה׃

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

af KI-to-MAR lo te-shu-RE-nu, DEEN l'-fa-NAV u-te-KHO-lel LO

ידאַ֣ף כִּֽי־תֹ֭אמַר לֹ֣א תְשׁוּרֶ֑נּוּ דִּ֥ין לְ֝פָנָ֗יו וּתְח֥וֹלֵֽל לֽוֹ׃

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

v'-a-TAH kee-AYN pa-KAD a-PO v'-lo-ya-DA ba-FASH m'-OD

טווְעַתָּ֗ה כִּי־אַ֭יִן פָּקַ֣ד אַפּ֑וֹ וְלֹֽא־יָדַ֖ע בַּפַּ֣שׁ מְאֹֽד׃

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

v'-i-YOV he-VEL yif-TZEH-PI-hu bi-v'-li-da-AT mi-LIN yakh-BIR.

טזוְ֭אִיּוֹב הֶ֣בֶל יִפְצֶה־פִּ֑יהוּ בִּבְלִי־דַ֝֗עַת מִלִּ֥ין יַכְבִּֽר׃