TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
Chapter 9
Translation and Transliteration of
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1Iyov said in reply:
vai-YA-an i-YOV va-YO-mer
אוַיַּ֥עַן אִיּ֗וֹב וַיֹּאמַֽר׃
2Indeed I know that it is so: Man cannot win a suit against Hashem.
a-m'-NAM ya-DA-ti KHEEN u-MAH yitz-DAK e-NOSh im-AYL
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3If he insisted on a trial with Him, He would not answer one charge in a thousand.
im-yakh-POTZ la-REEV i-MO, lo ya-a-NE-nu a-KHAT mi-NEE-a-LEF
גאִם־יַ֭חְפֹּץ לָרִ֣יב עִמּ֑וֹ לֹֽא־יַ֝עֲנֶ֗נּוּ אַחַ֥ת מִנִּי־אָֽלֶף׃
4Wise of heart and mighty in power— Who ever challenged Him and came out whole?—
kha-KHAM lay-VAV v'-a-MEETZ KO-akh mee hik-SHAH ay-LAV va-yish-LAM
דחֲכַ֣ם לֵ֭בָב וְאַמִּ֣יץ כֹּ֑חַ מִֽי־הִקְשָׁ֥ה אֵ֝לָ֗יו וַיִּשְׁלָֽם׃
9:4 Wise of heart and mighty in power
The words in this verse, translated as “wise of heart,” are understood by the Sages to mean “wise about hearts,” or “wise about innermost thoughts.” This means that Hashem knows what is in people’s hearts, and judges them accordingly. While man has the capacity to judge his fellow only by what is obvious to the human eye, Hashem knows what is really in a person’s heart. Iyov’s friends understand this in a negative sense; while Iyov seems righteous externally, he must have committed sins in secret. However, the opposite is also true. Someone might seem evil on the outside, but might have good intentions in his heart. It is man’s challenge to behave as God does, and instead of making assumptions solely on the basis of external appearances, to understand that there is more in a person’s heart that might not be apparent from the outside. We are therefore called upon to judge others favorably by always giving them the benefit of the doubt.
5Him who moves mountains without their knowing it, Who overturns them in His anger;
ha-ma-TIK ha-REEM v'-lo ya-DA-u a-SHER ha-FA-kham b'-a-PO
ההַמַּעְתִּ֣יק הָ֭רִים וְלֹ֣א יָדָ֑עוּ אֲשֶׁ֖ר הֲפָכָ֣ם בְּאַפּֽוֹ׃
6Who shakes the earth from its place, Till its pillars quake;
ha-mar-GEEZ e-RETZ mi-m'-ko-MAH v'-a-mu-de-HA yit-pa-LA-tzuN
והַמַּרְגִּ֣יז אֶ֭רֶץ מִמְּקוֹמָ֑הּ וְ֝עַמּוּדֶ֗יהָ יִתְפַּלָּצֽוּן׃
7Who commands the sun not to shine; Who seals up the stars;
ha-o-MER la-KHE-res v'-lo yiz-RAKH u-ve-AD ko-KHA-VEEM yakh-TOM
זהָאֹמֵ֣ר לַ֭חֶרֶס וְלֹ֣א יִזְרָ֑ח וּבְעַ֖ד כּוֹכָבִ֣ים יַחְתֹּֽם׃
8Who by Himself spread out the heavens, And trod on the back of the sea;
NO-teh sha-MA-yim l'-va-DO, v'-do-REKH al ba-mo-TEI yam
חנֹטֶ֣ה שָׁמַ֣יִם לְבַדּ֑וֹ וְ֝דוֹרֵ֗ךְ עַל־בָּ֥מֳתֵי יָֽם׃
9Who made the Bear and Orion, Pleiades, and the chambers of the south wind;
o-SEH-aSH K'-SEEL v'-ki-MAH v'-khad-RAY tay-MAN
טעֹֽשֶׂה־עָ֭שׁ כְּסִ֥יל וְכִימָ֗ה וְחַדְרֵ֥י תֵמָֽן׃
10Who performs great deeds which cannot be fathomed, And wondrous things without number.
O-seh g'-do-LOT ad-EIN k'-KER, v'-nif-LA-ot ad-EIN mis-PAHR.
יעֹשֶׂ֣ה גְ֭דֹלוֹת עַד־אֵ֣ין חֵ֑קֶר וְנִפְלָא֗וֹת עַד־אֵ֥ין מִסְפָּֽר׃
11He passes me by—I do not see Him; He goes by me, but I do not perceive Him.
HEN ya-a-VOR a-LAI v'-LO er-EH v'-ya-cha-LOF v'-LO a-VEEN LO
יאהֵ֤ן יַעֲבֹ֣ר עָ֭לַי וְלֹ֣א אֶרְאֶ֑ה וְ֝יַחֲלֹ֗ף וְֽלֹא־אָבִ֥ין לֽוֹ׃
12He snatches away—who can stop Him? Who can say to Him, “What are You doing?”
HEIN yakh-TOF, mi y'-shi-VE-nu? mi yo-MAR, ay-LA-yav, mah-ta-a-SEH?
יבהֵ֣ן יַ֭חְתֹּף מִ֣י יְשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ מִי־יֹאמַ֥ר אֵ֝לָ֗יו מַֽה־תַּעֲשֶֽׂה׃
13Hashem does not restrain His anger; Under Him Rahab's helpers sink down.
E-lo-AH lo ya-SHEEV a-PO, tach-TAV sha-cha-KHU o-Z'-RAY ra-HAV.
יגאֱ֭לוֹהַּ לֹא־יָשִׁ֣יב אַפּ֑וֹ תַּחְתָּ֥ו שָׁ֝חֲח֗וּ עֹ֣זְרֵי רָֽהַב׃
14How then can I answer Him, Or choose my arguments against Him?
af ki-a-NO-khi e-e-NE-nu ev-kha-RA d'-va-RAI i-MO
ידאַ֭ף כִּֽי־אָנֹכִ֣י אֶעֱנֶ֑נּוּ אֶבְחֲרָ֖ה דְבָרַ֣י עִמּֽוֹ׃
15Though I were in the right, I could not speak out, But I would plead for mercy with my judge.
a-SHER im-tza-DAK-tee lo e-e-NEH, lim-sho-f'-TEE et-cha-NAN
טואֲשֶׁ֣ר אִם־צָ֭דַקְתִּי לֹ֣א אֶעֱנֶ֑ה לִ֝מְשֹׁפְטִ֗י אֶתְחַנָּֽן׃
16If I summoned Him and He responded, I do not believe He would lend me His ear.
im-ka-RA-tee va-ya-a-NE-ni lo-a-a-MEEN ki-ya-a-ZEEN ko-LEE
טזאִם־קָרָ֥אתִי וַֽיַּעֲנֵ֑נִי לֹֽא־אַ֝אֲמִ֗ין כִּֽי־יַאֲזִ֥ין קוֹלִֽי׃
17For He crushes me for a hair; He wounds me much for no cause.
a-SHER b'-si-a-RA y'-shu-FAY-nee v'-hir-BA f'-tza-AI khin-NAM
יזאֲשֶׁר־בִּשְׂעָרָ֥ה יְשׁוּפֵ֑נִי וְהִרְבָּ֖ה פְצָעַ֣י חִנָּֽם׃
18He does not let me catch my breath, But sates me with bitterness.
lo-yi-t'-NEE ha-SHEV ru-KHEE, KEE yas-bi-A-NEE ma-m'-ro-REEM
יחלֹֽא־יִ֭תְּנֵנִי הָשֵׁ֣ב רוּחִ֑י כִּ֥י יַ֝שְׂבִּעַ֗נִי מַמְּרֹרִֽים׃
19If a trial of strength—He is the strong one; If a trial in court—who will summon Him for me?
im-le-KHO-akh a-MITS hi-NEH, v'-im-le-mish-PAT mee yo-ee-DE-ni
יטאִם־לְכֹ֣חַ אַמִּ֣יץ הִנֵּ֑ה וְאִם־לְ֝מִשְׁפָּ֗ט מִ֣י יוֹעִידֵֽנִי׃
20Though I were innocent, My mouth would condemn me; Though I were blameless, He would prove me crooked.
im-etz-DAK pi yar-shi-E-ni, TOM-a-ni va-ya-a-K'-she-ni
כאִם־אֶ֭צְדָּק פִּ֣י יַרְשִׁיעֵ֑נִי תׇּֽם־אָ֝֗נִי וַֽיַּעְקְשֵֽׁנִי׃
21I am blameless—I am distraught; I am sick of life.
TOM-a-NEE lo a-DA naf-SHEE em-AS cha-YAI
כאתׇּֽם־אָ֭נִי לֹֽא־אֵדַ֥ע נַפְשִׁ֗י אֶמְאַ֥ס חַיָּֽי׃
22It is all one; therefore I say, “He destroys the blameless and the guilty.”
a-KHAT hi al-KEN a-mar-TEE TAM v'-ra-SHA hu m'-kha-LEH
כבאַחַ֗ת הִ֥֫יא עַל־כֵּ֥ן אָמַ֑רְתִּי תָּ֥ם וְ֝רָשָׁ֗ע ה֣וּא מְכַלֶּֽה׃
23When suddenly a scourge brings death, He mocks as the innocent fail.
im-SHOT ya-MIT pit-OM le-ma-SAT ne-ki-YIM yil-AK
כגאִם־שׁ֭וֹט יָמִ֣ית פִּתְאֹ֑ם לְמַסַּ֖ת נְקִיִּ֣ם יִלְעָֽג׃
24The earth is handed over to the wicked one; He covers the eyes of its judges. If it is not He, then who?
E-retz ni-t'-NAH b'-yad ra-SHA p'-NEI sho-f'-TE-ha y'-ka-SEH im lo e-FO o mi-HU
כדאֶ֤רֶץ ׀ נִתְּנָ֬ה בְֽיַד־רָשָׁ֗ע פְּנֵֽי־שֹׁפְטֶ֥יהָ יְכַסֶּ֑ה אִם־לֹ֖א אֵפ֣וֹא מִי־הֽוּא׃
25My days fly swifter than a runner; They flee without seeing happiness;
v'-ya-MAI ka-LU mi-NEE-ratz ba-RO-khu lo-RA-u to-VAH
כהוְיָמַ֣י קַ֭לּוּ מִנִּי־רָ֑ץ בָּ֝רְח֗וּ לֹא־רָא֥וּ טוֹבָֽה׃
26They pass like reed-boats, Like an eagle swooping onto its prey.
kha-L'-fu im o-ni-YOT e-VEH, k'-NE-sher ya-TUSH a-lei-o-KHEL
כוחָ֭לְפוּ עִם־אֳנִיּ֣וֹת אֵבֶ֑ה כְּ֝נֶ֗שֶׁר יָט֥וּשׂ עֲלֵי־אֹֽכֶל׃
27If I say, “I will forget my complaint; Abandon my sorrow and be diverted,”
im-a-m'-REE esh-ke-KHA see-KHEE e-ez-VA fa-NAI v'-av-li-GA
כזאִם־אׇ֭מְרִי אֶשְׁכְּחָ֣ה שִׂיחִ֑י אֶעֶזְבָ֖ה פָנַ֣י וְאַבְלִֽיגָה׃
28I remain in dread of all my suffering; I know that You will not acquit me.
ya-go-RE-tee kol-a-tz'-vo-TAI, ya-DA-tee kee lo te-na-KE-nee
כחיָגֹ֥רְתִּי כׇל־עַצְּבֹתָ֑י יָ֝דַ֗עְתִּי כִּי־לֹ֥א תְנַקֵּֽנִי׃
29It will be I who am in the wrong; Why then should I waste effort?
a-NO-khi er-SHA la-MAH-ZEH he-VEL i-GA
כטאָנֹכִ֥י אֶרְשָׁ֑ע לָמָּה־זֶּ֝֗ה הֶ֣בֶל אִיגָֽע׃
30If I washed with soap, Cleansed my hands with lye,
im-hi-t'ra-KHA-ti (b'-MEI) [b'-MEI-]sha-LEG va-ha-zi-KO-ti b'-vor ka-PAI
לאִם־הִתְרָחַ֥צְתִּי (במו) [בְמֵי־]שָׁ֑לֶג וַ֝הֲזִכּ֗וֹתִי בְּבֹ֣ר כַּפָּֽי׃
31You would dip me in muck Till my clothes would abhor me.
az ba-SHA-khat tit-be-LE-ni v'-ti-a-VU-ni sal-mo-TAI
לאאָ֭ז בַּשַּׁ֣חַת תִּטְבְּלֵ֑נִי וְ֝תִעֲב֗וּנִי שַׂלְמוֹתָֽי׃
32He is not a man, like me, that I can answer Him, That we can go to law together.
ki-lo-a-ISH ka-MO-nee e-e-NE-nu, na-VO ya-KHA-dav ba-mish-PAT
לבכִּֽי־לֹא־אִ֣ישׁ כָּמ֣וֹנִי אֶעֱנֶ֑נּוּ נָב֥וֹא יַ֝חְדָּ֗ו בַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃
33No arbiter is between us To lay his hand on us both.
lo YAYSH-bei-NEE-nu mo-KHEE-akh ya-SHAYT ya-DO al sh'-NEE-nu
לגלֹ֣א יֵשׁ־בֵּינֵ֣ינוּ מוֹכִ֑יחַ יָשֵׁ֖ת יָד֣וֹ עַל־שְׁנֵֽינוּ׃
34If He would only take His rod away from me And not let His terror frighten me,
ya-SER me-a-LAI shiv-TO v'-e-MA-to al-te-va-a-TA-ni
לדיָסֵ֣ר מֵעָלַ֣י שִׁבְט֑וֹ וְ֝אֵמָת֗וֹ אַֽל־תְּבַעֲתַֽנִּי׃
35Then I would speak out without fear of Him; For I know myself not to be so.
a-dab-RAH v'-lo i-ra-E-nu, ki lo-KHEN a-NO-khi i-ma-DEE
להאֲֽ֭דַבְּרָה וְלֹ֣א אִירָאֶ֑נּוּ כִּ֥י לֹא־כֵ֥ן אָ֝נֹכִ֗י עִמָּדִֽי׃
