1 And Job answered and said,

1 וַיַּ֥עַן אִיֹּ֗וב וַיֹּאמַֽר׃

2 Even to-day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

2 גַּם־הַ֭יֹּום מְרִ֣י שִׂחִ֑י יָ֝דִ֗י כָּבְדָ֥ה עַל־אַנְחָתִֽי׃

3 Oh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come to his seat!

3 מִֽי־יִתֵּ֣ן יָ֭דַעְתִּי וְאֶמְצָאֵ֑הוּ אָ֝בֹ֗וא עַד־תְּכוּנָתֹֽו׃

4 I would order the cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments;

4 אֶעֶרְכָ֣ה לְפָנָ֣יו מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּ֝פִ֗י אֲמַלֵּ֥א תֹוכָחֹֽות׃

5 I would know the words he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

5 אֵ֭דְעָה מִלִּ֣ים יַעֲנֵ֑נִי וְ֝אָבִ֗ינָה מַה־יֹּ֥אמַר לִֽי׃

6 Would he plead against me with [his] great power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me.

6 הַבְּרָב־כֹּ֖חַ יָרִ֣יב עִמָּדִ֑י לֹ֥א אַךְ־ה֝֗וּא יָשִׂ֥ם בִּֽי׃

7 There would an upright man reason with him; and I should be delivered for ever from my judge.

7 שָׁ֗ם יָ֭שָׁר נֹוכָ֣ח עִמֹּ֑ו וַאֲפַלְּטָ֥ה לָ֝נֶ֗צַח מִשֹּׁפְטִֽי׃

8 Lo, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I do not perceive him;

8 הֵ֤ן קֶ֣דֶם אֶהֱלֹ֣ךְ וְאֵינֶ֑נּוּ וְ֝אָחֹ֗ור וְֽלֹא־אָבִ֥ין לֹֽו׃

9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I behold [him] not; he hideth himself on the right hand, and I see [him] not.

9 שְׂמֹ֣אול בַּעֲשֹׂתֹ֣ו וְלֹא־אָ֑חַז יַעְטֹ֥ף יָ֝מִ֗ין וְלֹ֣א אֶרְאֶֽה׃

10 But he knoweth the way that I take; he trieth me, I shall come forth as gold.

10 כִּֽי־יָ֭דַע דֶּ֣רֶךְ עִמָּדִ֑י בְּ֝חָנַ֗נִי כַּזָּהָ֥ב אֵצֵֽא׃

11 My foot hath held to his steps; his way have I kept, and not turned aside.

11 בַּ֭אֲשֻׁרֹו אָחֲזָ֣ה רַגְלִ֑י דַּרְכֹּ֖ו שָׁמַ֣רְתִּי וְלֹא־אָֽט׃

12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have laid up the words of his mouth more than the purpose of my own heart.

12 מִצְוַ֣ת פָתָיו וְלֹ֣א אָמִ֑ישׁ מֵ֝חֻקִּ֗י צָפַ֥נְתִּי אִמְרֵי־פִֽיו׃

13 But he is in one [mind], and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, that will he do.

13 וְה֣וּא בְ֭אֶחָד וּמִ֣י יְשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ וְנַפְשֹׁ֖ו אִוְּתָ֣ה וַיָּֽעַשׂ׃

14 For he will perform [what] is appointed for me; and many such things are with him.

14 כִּ֭י יַשְׁלִ֣ים חֻקִּ֑י וְכָהֵ֖נָּה רַבֹּ֣ות עִמֹּֽו׃

15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence; I consider, and I am afraid of him.

15 עַל־כֵּ֭ן מִפָּנָ֣יו אֶבָּהֵ֑ל אֶ֝תְבֹּונֵ֗ן וְאֶפְחַ֥ד מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃

16 For ùGod hath made my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me;

16 וְ֭אֵל הֵרַ֣ךְ לִבִּ֑י וְ֝שַׁדַּ֗י הִבְהִילָֽנִי׃

17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he hidden the gloom from me.

17 כִּֽי־לֹ֣א נִ֭צְמַתִּי מִפְּנֵי־חֹ֑שֶׁךְ וּ֝מִפָּנַ֗י כִּסָּה־אֹֽפֶל׃