1

Introduction
 2

Introduction
The main problem posed by the biblical book of Job is not its difficult language; as a technical
problem this is of secondary character. The central problem is that of a biblical book penned by a non-
Israelite author about non-Israelite problems discussed by non-Israelite persons in a clearly biblical setting.
The author presents himself as non-Israelite by describing the angels as “God’s sons” (1:6). As
pointed out by the Jerusalem Talmud1, this is characteristic of pagan authors; the consensus of rabbinic
authors is that the interpretation of “sons of elohim” in Gen. 6:2 is “the sons of the men in power.”2 The
actors in the text are described as Abrahamide, parts of the tribes descended from Esaw, Qeturah, and Hagar,
but definitely not from Jacob. Their discussions about behavior demanded from man by God is most
appropriate to “Sons of Noah”, i.e., non-Jews, and in consequence exclude all commandments of the Torah
imposed on Israelites only. One has to conclude that Job is the biblical book written for Sons of Noah.
We do not know who wrote the book of Job, nor where and when, and from which language it was
translated into Hebrew. There are no indications that Edomite was anything but a Canaanite (Hebrew)
dialect, and the main part of the book is poetry where expressions of cognate languages can be used freely;
it is well possible that the book was more or less written in the form it is today. Since the personalities
mentioned in the text are described as living on the fringes of Arabia, it is natural to seek explanations for
difficult expressions in the Arabic.
It is questionable how the book can be used as basis of a specifically Jewish theology, rather than
an ideology of the fear of God applicable to all of mankind. However, the language of the poetic part of
the book was an inspiration for much of the medieval poetry composed for Yom Kippur service which is
characterized by absence of reference to specifically Jewish commandments (except for a single reference
to dietary laws in the Askkenazic form of the penitentiary litany ‫)אל חטא‬.

1
Shabbat, end of Chapter 6. In my edition (De Gruyter 2o12), p.228, Notes 254,255.
2
This dates the Henoch literature, including Asael and Shemchasai, to the period of Gnosticism, influencing both
Christian and Jewish circles, but not really belonging to either one.
 2

Chapter One. ‫פרק א‬

1A man by the name of Job was living in the ‫א ִ֛איׁש הָ יָ ָ֥ה בְ ֶ ֶֽא ֶרץ־ע֖ ּוץ איּ֣ ֹוב ְׁש ֑מֹו וְ הָ יָ ּ֣ה ׀ הָ ּ֣איׁש ַה ֗הּוא ָ ָּ֧תם‬
land of Oz. This man was honest, straight, God- ‫ ב וַיּוָ ָ֥לְ דּו לִ֛ ֹו ׁשבְ עָ ָ֥ה בָ נ֖ים‬:‫ֹלהים וְ ָסָ֥ר מ ָ ֶֽרע‬ ֖ ‫ירא ֱא‬ ָ֥ ‫ָׁשר ו‬ ִ֛ ָ ‫וְ י‬
fearing and avoiding sin. 2To him were born
‫ּוׁשלָּ֧ ׁשֶ ת אַ לְ פּ֣י‬
ְ ‫י־צאן‬ ֹ֝ ‫ ג ַו ְי ּ֣הי ִ֠מקְ נהּו ׁשבְ ַַ֨עת אַ לְ פ‬:‫וְ ׁשָ לָ֥ ֹוׁש בָ נֶֽ ֹות‬
seven sons and three daughters. 3His flock
‫גְ מַ ֗לים ַ ֶֽוח ֲַ֨מׁש מ ֤אֹות ֶ ֶֽצמֶ ד־בָ קָ ר ַ ֶֽוח ֲּ֣מׁש מ ּ֣אֹות אֲתֹונ֔ ֹות ַ ֶֽו ֲעב ָ ֻ֖דה‬
amounted to 7’000 horned cattle, 3’000 camels,
500 teams of oxen, 500 she-donkeys, and very ‫ ד וְ ָ ֶֽהלְ כ֤ ּו‬:‫י־קדֶ ם‬
ֶֽ ֶ ‫ַר ָבּ֣ה ְמ ֑אד ַו ְיהי הָ ּ֣איׁש הַ ֔הּוא ג ָ֖דֹול מכָל־בְ נ‬
many servants. This man was the most ‫יֹומֹו וְ ָ ֶֽׁשלְ ח֗ ּו וְ ָ ֶֽק ְראּו ל ְׁשלּ֣ ׁשֶ ת‬
֑ ‫בָ נָיו וְ ָע ּ֣שּו מ ְׁש ֔ ֶתה ב֖ית ּ֣איׁש‬
important of all Easterners. 4His sons went and ‫ ה ַו ְי ִ֡הי ּ֣כי הקיפּו י ְַ֨מי‬:‫אַ חְ ֶֽיתיהֶ֔ ם ֶל ֱא ָ֥כל וְ ל ְׁש ֖תֹות עמָ ֶ ֶֽהם‬
made festivities, each one in his house at a fixed ‫הַ מ ְׁשתֶֹ֝ ה וַי ְׁשלַ ָּ֧ח איּ֣ ֹוב ַוֶַֽֽ ְיקַ דְ ׁ֗שם וְ ה ְׁש ּ֣כים בַ בקֶ ר וְ הֶ עֱלָ ּ֣ה עלֹות‬
date; they sent and invited their three sisters to ‫ֹלהים‬ ֖ ‫מסְ פַ ּ֣ר ֻכלָם ִּ֚כי אָ ַמּ֣ר אי֔ ֹוב אּולַי חָ טְ ּ֣אּו בָ ֔ ַני ּוב ְרכָ֥ ּו ֱא‬
eat and drink with them. 5And when they had :‫ֲשה אי֖ ֹוב ָכל־הַ י ֶָֽמים‬ָ֥ ֶ ‫בלְ בָ ָב֑ם כָ ִ֛כָה ַ ֶֽיע‬
finished their circle of festivities then Job sent
and sanctified them, viz., he rose early in the
morning and offered elevation sacrifices in their
total number, for Job said, maybe my children
sinned by blaspheming in their minds. This Job
did all the time.

6It happened that the sons of God came to

appear before the Eternal; Satan also came with
them. 7The Eternal ask Satan, from where are
you coming? Satan answered the Eternal, from
floating over the earth and promenading on it.
8Then the Eternal asked Satan, did you notice
my servant Job; there is nobody like him on
earth: a man honest, straight, God- fearing and
avoiding sin. 9Satan answered the Eternal and
said, does Job fear God for nothing? 10Did you
not shield him, and his house, and all what is his
all around? You blessed his handiwork, and his
cattle spread out in the land. 11However, use
Your hand and touch any of his, would he not
curse You in Your face? 12Then the Eternal
said to the Satan, all that is his I am giving into
your hand but do not touch himself. Then the
Satan left the Eternal’s presence.
‫ֹלהים לְ ה ְתי ַ֖צב ַעל־ ְיהוָ ֑ה ַוי ָָ֥בֹוא גַם־‬ ֔ ‫ו וַיְ ּ֣הי הַ י֔ ֹום ַוי ַָ֨באּו בְ נּ֣י ָ ֶֽה ֱא‬
‫ ז ו ַָּ֧יאמֶ ר ְיהוָ ִ֛ה אֶ ל־ ַהשָ ָ ֖טן מ ַ ּ֣אין תָ ֑בא ַו ַַ֨י ַען‬:‫תֹוכם‬ ֶֽ ָ ְ‫הַ שָ ָ ֖טן ב‬
‫ ח ו ַ֤יאמֶ ר‬:‫ּומה ְתהַ לְ֖ך ָ ֶֽבּה‬ ֶֽ ‫אמר מ ּ֣שּוט בָ ֔ ָא ֶרץ‬ ַ ֔ ‫הַ שָ ָ ֤טן אֶ ת־יְהוָה וַי‬
‫ֲש ְמתָ לבְ ך֖ ַעל־ ַעבְ ּ֣די אי֑ ֹוב ּ֣כי ֤אין כ ַָ֨מהּו‬ ָ֥ ַ ‫יְ הוָה אֶ ל־הַ שָ ֔ ָטן ה‬
‫ טוַיַ ָּ֧ ַען ַהשָ ָטִ֛ן‬:‫ֹלהים וְ ָסָ֥ר מ ָ ֶֽרע‬ ֖ ‫ָׁשר י ְָ֥רא ֱא‬ ִ֛ ָ ‫בָ ֔ ָא ֶרץ ּ֣איׁש ָ ָּ֧תם וְ י‬
]‫ י ה ֲֶֽלא ִ֠אַ תָ [ ִ֠אַ תָ ה‬:‫ֹלהים‬ ֶֽ ‫אמ֑ר ַהּ֣ח ֔ ָנם י ָָ֥רא אי֖ ֹוב ֱא‬ ַ ‫אֶ ת־יְ הוָ ֖ה וַי‬
‫יתֹו ּובְ עַ ָ֥ד כָל־ ֲאׁשֶ ר־ל֖ ֹו מסָ ֑ביב ַ ֶֽמע ֲ֤שה‬ ִ֛ ‫ַ ּ֣שכְ תָ ַ ֶֽבעֲ ָּ֧דֹו ּובְ עַד־ב‬
‫ יאוְ אּולָם ְ ֶֽׁש ַ ֶֽלח־נָ ּ֣א ָ ֶֽיַֽדְ ֔ך וְ גַ ֖ע‬:‫יָדָ יו ב ַ ֔רכְ תָ ּומקְ נ֖הּו פ ַ ָָ֥רץ בָ ָ ֶֽא ֶרץ‬
‫ יב ו ַַ֨יאמֶ ר ְיה ֹ֝ ָוה אֶ ל־‬:‫ם־לא ַעל־פָנֶ ֖יך ְי ָ ֶֽב ְר ֶ ֶֽכ ָך‬ ָ֥ ‫בְ כָל־אֲׁשֶ ר־ל֑ ֹו א‬
‫הַ שָ ֗ ָטן הנ֤ה כָל־אֲׁשֶ ר־לֹו בְ י ֔ ֶָדך ַ ּ֣רק א ָ֔ליו אַ ל־ת ְׁשלַ ֖ח י ֶ ָ֑דך וַיצא‬
:‫הַ שָ ֔ ָטן מ ֖עם פְ נָ֥י ְיה ָ ֶֽוה‬
 2

13Then it happened that his sons and daughters ‫יהָ֥ם‬ֶ ‫יג וַיְ ֖הי הַ י֑ ֹום ּובָ ַ֨ ָניו ּובְ נ ָ ֤תיו ֶֽאכְ לים וְ ׁש ּ֣תים ַ֔יין בְ ב֖ית ֲאח‬
were eating and drinking wine in the house of ‫אמ֑ר הַ בָ קָ ר הָ יּ֣ ּו ֶֽח ְר ׁ֔שֹות‬ ַ ‫ יד ּומַ לְ ָ ִ֛אְך ָבָ֥א אֶ ל־אי֖ ֹוב וַי‬:‫הַ בְ כֶֽ ֹור‬
their firstborn brother. 14A messenger came to
‫ טו וַת ֤פל ְׁשבָ א וַתקָ ֔חם וְ אֶ ת־‬:‫יהם‬ ֶֽ ֶ ‫וְ ָ ֶֽהאֲתנ֖ ֹות רעָ֥ ֹות ַעל־יְד‬
Job and said, the cattle were ploughing and the
female donkeys grazing nearby. 15Saba
:‫י־ח ֶ֑רב ָ ֶֽוא ָ ֶֽמ ְל ָ ָּ֧טה ַרק־אֲנִ֛י ְלבַ ֖די לְ ַהגָ֥יד ָ ֶֽלְך‬ָ ‫עָרים הכּ֣ ּו לְ פ‬ ֖ ְ‫הַ נ‬
attacked and took them, and they killed the ‫ֱֹלהים ָנֶֽפְ לָה מן־‬ ֗ ‫טז עּ֣ ֹוד ׀ זֶ ּ֣ה ְמדַ ֗בר וְ זֶה ָבּ֣א וַיאמַ ר ּ֣אׁש א‬
attendants by the sword; only I escaped to tell ‫הַ שָ מַ֔ ים וַתבְ עַ ָ֥ר בַ ִ֛צאן ּובַ ְנע ָ֖רים ו ֶַֽתאכְ ל֑ם ָוֶֽא ַָ֨ ֶֽמלְ ָטָּ֧ה ַרק־אֲנִ֛י‬
you. 16He was still reporting when another one ‫ יז עּ֣ ֹוד ׀ זֶ ּ֣ה ְמדַ ֗בר וְ זֶה ָבּ֣א וַיאמַ ר כ ְַש ִּ֞דים‬:‫לְ בַ ֖די לְ הַ גָ֥יד ָ ֶֽלְך‬
came and said, a fire of great power fell from ‫אׁשים וַיפְ ְׁש ֤טּו עַל־הַ גְ מַ לים וַיקָ ֔חּום וְ אֶ ת־‬ ֗ ‫לׁשה ָר‬ ּ֣ ָ ‫ָ ּ֣שמּו ׀ ְׁש‬
the sky, burned the cattle and the attendants and :‫י־ח ֶ֑רב ָוֶֽא ַָ֨ ֶֽמ ְל ָ ָּ֧טה ַרק־אֲנִ֛י ְלבַ ֖די לְ ַהגָ֥יד ָ ֶֽלְך‬ָ ‫עָרים הכּ֣ ּו לְ פ‬ ֖ ְ‫הַ נ‬
finished them; only I escaped to tell you. 17He ‫נֹותיך ֶֽאכְ לים וְ ׁש ּ֣תים‬ ֤ ֶ ְ‫אמר בָ ַ֨ ֶניך ּוב‬
֑ ַ ‫יח עִַּ֚ ד זֶ ּ֣ה ְמדַ ֔בר וְ זֶ ֖ה ָבּ֣א וַי‬
was still reporting when another one came and ‫ יט וְ הנה ַ֨רּוחַ גְ דֹו ֹ֝ ָלה ָבּ֣אָ ה ׀ מעּ֣בֶ ר‬:‫יהָ֥ם הַ בְ כֶֽ ֹור‬ ֶ ‫ַ֔יין בְ ב֖ית ֲאח‬
said, the Chaldeans formed three columns, they ‫הַ מדְ ֗ ָבר וַיגַע בְ אַ ְרבַ ע פנּ֣ ֹות הַ ֔ ַבית וַי ָ֥פל עַל־הַ ְנע ָ֖רים ַוי ָ֑מּותּו‬
attacked the camels and took them and the
attendants they killed by the sword; only I ‫ כ וַיָ ַֽ֤קָ ם איֹוב וַיקְ ַ ּ֣רע ֶ ֶֽאת־‬:‫ָוֶֽא ַָ֨ ֶֽמלְ ָ ָּ֧טה ַרק־אֲנִ֛י לְ בַ ֖די לְ הַ גָ֥יד ָ ֶֽלְך‬
escaped to tell you. 18He was still reporting ‫ כא וַיאמֶ ר ָע ַ֨רם‬:‫אׁשֹו וַי ָ֥פל ַ ֖א ְרצָ ה וַי ְׁש ָ ֶֽתחּו‬ ֑ ‫ְמע ֔לֹו וַיָ ַֽ֖גָז אֶ ת־ר‬
when another one came and said, your sons and ‫יָצַָ֨ תי [י ַ֨ ָָצאתי] מ ֶבּ֣טֶ ן א ֗מי וְ עָרם אָ ּׁ֣שּוב ׁשָ֔ מָ ה יְהוָ ּ֣ ה נ ֔ ַָתן ַוֶֽיהוָ ֖ה‬
daughters were eating and drinking wine in the ‫ָל־זאת ֶֽלא־חָ ָטּ֣א אי֑ ֹוב וְ ֶֽלא־‬ ֖ ‫ כב בְ כ‬:‫ל ָ ָ֑קח יְ ִ֛הי ָׁ֥שם ְיהוָ ֖ה ְמב ָ ֶֽרְך‬
house of their firstborn brother, 19when a :‫אֹלהים‬ ֶֽ ‫נ ַ ָָ֥תן תפְ לָ ֖ה ֶֽל‬
hurricane came from the prairie, it touched the
four corners of the house which fell on the
youths and they died; only I escaped to tell you.
20Then Job rose, tore his kaftan, shore his head,
fell down on the ground and prostrated himself.
21He said: “naked I came from my mother’s
womb, and naked I shall return there; the
Eternal gave, the Eternal took, may the
Eternal’s Name be blessed.” 22In all of this Job
did not sin, nor did he attribute anything
tasteless to God.

1 The “Land of Oz” may denote either part of the domain of Edom, not Israelite but Abrahamide, in the
mountains East of the gulf of Aqaba, facing the Arabian desert, or the Aramaic Hauran, South of Syria,
facing the same desert and biblically characterized as domain of the family of Abraham’s brother Naḥor
(Gen. 22:21). It is to be assumed that Job as “Easterner” spoke an Aramaic/Arabic West Semitic language;
words not immediately understandable have to be sought primarily in the Arabic dictionary.
Both lands of Oz are arid, eminently adapted to raising small cattle, sheep and goats, with too little greenery
to raise bovines for milk and meat. Job’s bovines are only used for agriculture in the Western parts; his
holding of 500 yokes of cattle implies enormous real estate holdings of agricultural land or a business in
renting out ploughs with the cattle. His large holdings of female donkeys imply that he was in the transport
business; female donkeys are used to carry humans, male donkeys are more for transporting merchandise
which can withstand rough handling.
4 A further indication that Job is not presented as a Jewish person is given in the astonishing information
that he raised his children as rich do-nothings (and did not marry off his daughters,) not like David who
used his many children from his many wives and concubines to work as officials of his administration.
 3

5 A purification sacrifice (‫ )חטאת‬is legitimate only if the Jewish sinner committed an inadvertent sin (both
the fact of the sin and the absence of sinful intent asserted as certain.) If the fact of the sin is not established
as certain, the required sacrifice is a reparation sacrifice (‫)אשם‬. However, if the sin is not established or in
any case if the sinner is a Gentile, he has no obligation to bring a sacrifice and his voluntary sacrifice is an
elevation sacrifice )‫(עולה‬.
In any case, a Jew may bring a sacrifice only at a central altar in the Land sanctified by divine (prophetic)
decree, whereas a believing Gentile is free to sacrifice when, how, and where he desires. The sacrifices
outside the Land therefore define Job as a believing Gentile.
6 That the Satan came with the Bene Elohim might indicate that he was not one of them but a (not quite)
independent power, not God created: a Zoroastrian notion. In modern terms this seems to be Manichean,
but also seems to be a Christian or Alawite opinion.
13 In the society depicted in the book, nobody would drink water not diluted with some alcohol as anti-
bacterial if he could help it, since this would be too dangerous. The author seems to emphasize that in a
country not conducive to the growing of vineyards, the children were rich enough to drink wine (diluted
with water) instead of local liquor.
15 The lands of Oz are bordering on the Arabian desert, a vast domain inhabited by nomadic tribes, not
organized in larger entities. In other biblical books Saba seems to mean Yemen, the source of spices. Here
it means an anonymous tribe, appearing from the desert and disappearing in it.
17 The Kasdim (Chaldeans) were settled in North-East Iraq; since they attacked from three sides, this must
have been an organized warlike attack, probably to secure the trading road from Babylon to Egypt through
the desert town of Dumah, avoiding passing through Syria, tightly settled with a large number of toll
barriers.

20 Tearing one’s garments and shaving are general rites of mourning, in this case for his dead children.
(In rabbinic Judaism, shaving is forbidden to the mourner because it is a common Gentile rite.) It is
emphasized that Job did not rebel against God even in thought. While the author is careful to preserve
Job’s life (otherwise he would have no book), he is happy to have children and slaves killed; another sign
of a non-Jewish origin.
 4

‫פרק ב‬
‫ֹלהים לְ ה ְתי ַ֖צב עַל־ ְיהוָ ֑ה ַוי ָ֤בֹוא‬ ֔ ‫א וַיְ ּ֣הי הַ י֔ ֹום ַוי ַָ֨באּו בְ נּ֣י ָ ֶֽה ֱא‬
‫ ב ו ַ֤יאמֶ ר ְיהוָה אֶ ל־‬:‫גַם־הַ שָ טָ ן בְ ת ָ֔כם לְ ה ְתי ַ֖צב ַעל־ ְיה ָוֶֽה‬
Chapter Two. ‫אמר משֻ ּ֣ט‬ ַ ֔ ‫הַ שָ ֔ ָטן ָ֥אי מזֶ ֖ה תָ ֑בא ַו ַַ֨י ַען הַ שָ ָט֤ן אֶ ת־ ְיהוָה וַי‬
1It happened that the heavenly beings came to
ָ‫ֲש ְמת‬ ּ֣ ַ ‫ ג ו ַַ֨יאמֶ ר ְיה ֹ֝ ָוה אֶ ל־ ַהשָ ֗ ָטן ה‬:‫ּומה ְתהַ לְ֖ך ָ ֶֽבּה‬ ֶֽ ‫בָ ֔ ָא ֶרץ‬
appear before the Eternal; the Satan came
‫ָׁשר‬ ִ֛ ָ ‫לבְ ך אֶ ל־ ַעבְ ּ֣די איֹוב כי ַ֨אין כ ָֹ֝מהּו בָ ֗ ָא ֶרץ ּ֣איׁש ָ ָּ֧תם וְ י‬
with them to appear before the Eternal. 2The
‫יתני ֖בֹו‬ ָ֥ ‫ֹלהים וְ ָסּ֣ר מ ָ ֑רע וְ ע ַ֨ ֶדנּו ַ ֶֽמחֲזּ֣יק בְ תֻמָ ֔תֹו ו ְַתס‬ ֖ ֱ‫יְרא א‬ ָ֥
Eternal said to the Satan, from where are you
coming? The Satan answered the Eternal and ‫ַד־עֹור‬ ֗ ‫אמ֑ר עּ֣ ֹור בְ ע‬ ַ ‫ ד וַיַ ָּ֧ ַען הַ שָ ָ ִ֛טן אֶ ת־ ְיהוָ ֖ה וַי‬:‫לְ בַ לְ עָ֥ ֹו ח ָנֶֽם‬
said, from floating over the earth and ‫ ה אּולָם ְ ֶֽׁש ַ ֶֽלח־נָ ּ֣א ָ ֶֽיַֽדְ ֔ך‬:‫וְ כל אֲ ֶ ּׁ֣שר ל ָ֔איׁש י ֖תן בְ עַ ָ֥ד נַפְ ֶֽׁשֹו‬
promenading on it. 3The Eternal said to the :‫ם־לא אֶ ל־ ָפנֶ ֖יך ְי ָ ֶֽב ְר ֶ ֶֽכ ָך‬ ָ֥ ‫וְ גַ ָ֥ע אֶ ל־עַצְ ֖מֹו וְ אֶ ל־בְ שָ ֑רֹו א‬
Satan, did you observe My servant Job; there :‫ו ו ַָּ֧יאמֶ ר ְיהוָ ִ֛ה אֶ ל־הַ שָ ָ ֖טן הנּ֣ ֹו בְ י ֶ ָ֑דך ַ ֖אְך אֶ ת־נַפְ ָׁ֥שֹו ְׁש ֶֽמר‬
is no one like him on the earth: simple, ‫ז וַיצא הַ שָ ֔ ָטן מ ֖את פְ נּ֣י ְיהוָ ֑ה וַיַ ְַֽ֤ך אֶ ת־איֹוב ב ְׁש ּ֣חין ָ ֔רע מכַ ָ֥ף‬
straight forward, God fearing and avoiding ‫ ח ו ֶַֽי ַ ֶֽקח־לּ֣ ֹו ֔ ֶח ֶרש ְלה ְתג ָ֖רד ֑בֹו‬:‫ַרגְ ל֖ ֹו עְ ְַַָ֥֥ד [וְ עַ ָ֥ד] קָדְ קֳ ֶֽדֹו‬
evil; he still clings to his simple ways,
although you goaded me to swallow him. ‫ ט ו ַ֤תאמֶ ר לֹו א ְׁש ֔תֹו ֶֽעדְ ך֖ ַ ֶֽמחֲזּ֣יק‬:‫יׁשב בְ ֶֽתֹוְך־הָ ֶֽאפֶר‬ ָ֥ ‫וְ ֖הּוא‬
4The Satan answered the Eternal and said, ‫ י ו ַּ֣יאמֶ ר א ֶ֗ליהָ כְ דַ ִּ֞בר אַ ַח֤ת‬:‫ֹלהים ו ֻ ֶָֽמת‬ ֖ ‫בְ תֻמָ ֶ ֑תך בָ ָ֥רְך ֱא‬
skin for skin; all that a man has he will give ‫ֹלהים וְ אֶ ת־‬ ֔ ‫הַ נְ בָ לֹות ְתדַ ֔ברי גַ ּ֣ם אֶ ת־הַ ֗טֹוב ְנ ַקבל מ ּ֣את ָ ֶֽה ֱא‬
for his person. 5But reach out and touch his :‫ָל־זאת לא־חָ ָטָ֥א אי֖ ֹוב ב ְשפ ָ ֶָֽתיו‬ ִ֛ ‫הָ ָ ֖רע ּ֣לא ְנקַ ֑בל בְ כ‬
person, will he not curse you in your face?
6The Eternal said to the Satan, he is in your
hand but you have to preserve his life. 7The
Satan left from before the Eternal and smote
Job with bad scabies, from his foot sole to the
top of his head. 8He took a potsherd to
scratch with while sitting in ashes. 9Then his
wife said to him, are you still clinging to your
simple ways? Blaspheme and die. 10He
answered her, you are speaking like one of
the immoral ones; do we want to accept the
good from God but the bad we are unwilling
to accept? In all this Job did not sin with his
lips.

11Then Job’s three friends heard of all these
mishaps which happened to him and they came,
everyone from his place, Eliphaz from Teman,
Bildad from Shuaḥ, and Sofar from Naamah,
and they counselled together, to come, to
comfort and to console him. 12They looked from
afar and did not recognize him, so they started
crying, and each of them tore his mantle, and
strewed dust from above on their heads. 13They
sat with him on the ground for seven days and
seven nights while nobody said to him anything
for they saw that he was in extreme pain.
ָ‫ָל־ה ָרעָ ּ֣ה הַ זאת הַ ָבּ֣א‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫יא וַי ְׁש ְמ ִּ֞עּו ְׁשלּ֣ ׁשֶ ת ׀ רעּ֣י אי֗ ֹוב ּ֣את כ‬
‫שּוחי וְ צֹופַ ֖ר‬
֔ ַ‫עָ לָיו ַוי ַָ֨באּו ּ֣איׁש מ ְמק ֔מֹו ֱאליפַ ֤ז הַ ֶֽתימָ ני ּובלְ ַדּ֣ד ה‬
‫ יב וַי ְש ַ֨אּו אֶ ת־‬:‫הַ ַ ֶֽנעֲמָ ֑תי וַי ָ ֶּֽו ֲע ּ֣דּו יַחְ ֔ ָדו ל ָָ֥בֹוא לָנֶֽ ּוד־ל֖ ֹו ּולְ ַ ֶֽנח ֲֶֽמֹו‬
‫ירהּו וַי ְש ָ֥אּו קֹולָ ֖ם וַיבְ כ֑ ּו וַיקְ ְרעּו ּ֣איׁש‬ ֻ ֔ ‫יה֤ם ֶֽמ ָרחֹוק וְ ּ֣לא הכ‬ ֶ ‫עינ‬
‫ יג וַי ְֶֽׁש ֤בּו אתֹו‬:‫יה֖ם הַ שָ ָ ֶֽמיְמָ ה‬ ֶ ‫ל־ראׁש‬ ֶֽ ָ ‫ְמע ֔לֹו וַיז ְְר ָ֥קּו עָפָ ִ֛ר ַע‬
‫ל ֔ ָָא ֶרץ ׁשבְ עַ ָ֥ת י ָ֖מים וְ ׁשבְ עַ ּ֣ת ליל֑ ֹות וְ ֶֽאין־דב֤ר אלָיו דָ ֔ ָבר ּ֣כי‬
:‫ָר ֔אּו ֶֽכי־ג ַ ָָ֥דל הַ כְ ֖אב ְמ ֶֽאד‬
 5

1 Since the Satan came with the intent to have an argument with the Eternal, it seems that he would not otherwise
have needed to appear.
10 Job did not sin with his lips; nothing is said about his thoughts.
11 Teman is not Yemen but the Southernmost part of the Land of Seir, just North of Madyan, on the Western shore
of the Arabian peninsula. Shuaḥ was a son of Abraham by Qeturah (Gen. 25:2) settled on the Euphrates (Gen.
25:6). It is not clear whether Naamah here is a tribal attribute or a geographic one; the name is found in Ammon and
Yehudah, but possibly in all Abrahamide societies and places.
 ‫‪2‬‬
‫מ ֶב֖טֶ ן י ָָצּ֣אתי וְ אֶ גְ ָ ֶֽוע‪:‬‬ ‫פרק ג‬
‫ת־יֹומֹו‪:‬‬
‫ֶֽ‬ ‫ת־פיהּו ַו ְיקַ ל֖ל אֶ‬
‫י־כן פ ַ ָ֤תח איֹוב אֶ ֔‬
‫א ַ ֶֽאחֲר ֗‬
‫יב מְַ֭ דּו ַע‬ ‫ב וַיַ ָ֥עַ ן אי֗ ֹוב ַוֶֽיאמַ ר‪:‬‬
‫קדְ ּ֣מּוני ב ְרכָ ֑ים‬
‫ה־שָ ֗ ַדים‬‫ּומַ ֹ֝‬ ‫ג ּ֣יאבַ ד י֖ ֹום‬
‫ּ֣כי א ָינֶֽק‪:‬‬ ‫אּוָ ּ֣לֶד ֑בֹו‬
‫וְ הַ לַ ָ֥יְ לָה אָֹ֝ ֗ ַמר‬
‫ּ֣ה ָרה ָ ֶֽגבֶ ר‪:‬‬

‫ד הַ יָ֥ ֹום הַ ֗הּוא ְ ֶֽי ִ֫הי ָ֥חׁשֶ ְך‬

‫ַ ֶֽאל־ידְ ְר ּׁ֣שהּו ֱאלּ֣ ֹוּהַ מ ָ ֑מעַל‬
‫וְ ַ ֶֽאל־תֹופַ ֖ע עָלָ ּ֣יו ְנהָ ָ ֶֽרה‪:‬‬

‫ה יגְ אָ ִ֡ ֻלהּו‬
‫ּ֣חׁשֶ ְך ְ֭ ְוצַ לְ מָ וֶת‬
‫ֶֽת ְׁשכָן־ ָעלָ ּ֣יו ֲענָנָ ֑ה‬
‫ֹ֝ ְי ַ ֶֽבעֲתֻ֗ הּו‬
‫כ ְמ ָ֥רירי יֶֽ ֹום‪:‬‬

‫ו הַ לַ ָ֥יְ לָה ַההּוא‬

‫יקָ ֵ֢ח ִ֫הּו ָ֥א ֶפל‬
‫ל־יחַ דְ‬
‫אַ ְ֭‬
‫ימי ׁשָ נָ ֑ה‬ ‫ב ּ֣‬
‫בְ מסְ פַ ָ֥ר ֹ֝ ְי ָר ֗חים‬
‫אַ ל־י ֶָֽבא‪:‬‬

‫ז הנ֤ה הַ לַ ּ֣ ְילָה ְַ֭ההּוא‬

‫יְ ּ֣הי גַלְ ֑מּוד‬
‫אַ ל־תָ ֖בא ְרנָנָ ּ֣ה ֶֽבֹו‪:‬‬

‫ח יקְ בֻ ָ֥הּו ֶֽא ְררי־י֑ ֹום‬

‫ֶֹֽ֝ ָהעֲת ֗ידים‬
‫ע ָ֥רר לוְ י ָ ֶָֽתן‪:‬‬

‫ט יֶחְ ְׁשכּו‬
‫כֶֽ ֹוכְ בֵ֢י ִ֫נ ְׁשפָ֥ ֹו‬
‫יְ קַ ו־לְ ָ֥אֹור ו ַ ָ֑אין‬
‫ל־י ְר ֗ ֶאה‬
‫וְ אַ ֹ֝‬
‫י־ׁשחַ ר‪:‬‬
‫בְ עַפְ עַפ ָ ֶֽ‬

‫י ֤כי ּ֣לא סְָ֭ גַר‬

‫דַ לְ ּ֣תי בטְ נ֑י‬
‫ַויַסְ ָ֥תר ֹ֝ ָע ֗ ָמל‬
‫מע ָינֶֽי‪:‬‬

‫יא לָ ֤מָ ה ּ֣לא מ ֶ ּ֣רחֶ ם אָ ֑מּות‬

 3
‫יג ֶֽכי־ ְַ֭עתָ ה‬ Chapter 3
‫ׁשָ כַ ּ֣בְ תי וְ אֶ ְׁש ֑קֹוט‬ 1 Afterwards Job opened his mouth and
‫ָֹ֝יׁשַ֗ נְתי‬ cursed his day. 2 Job declaimed and said:
‫ָ ֤אז ׀‬
May the day be lost
:‫ּוח ֶֽלי‬ֶֽ ַ ֬‫יָנ‬ On which I was born;
And the night which said
‫ם־מלָכים‬ ְ ְ֭ ‫יד ע‬ A man was conceived.
‫וְ ּ֣ ֶֽיעֲצי ָ ֑א ֶרץ‬
:‫הַ בנ֖ים ח ֳָר ּ֣בֹות ָ ֶֽלמֹו‬ 4 Thatday shall be darkness;
May God not seek it from Above
Nor appear illumination upon it.
‫ם־שָ רים‬
ְ֭ ‫טו ּ֣אֹו ע‬
‫ז ָָהּ֣ב ל ֶָה֑ם‬ 5 May it be stained
:‫יהּ֣ם ָ ֶֽכסֶ ף‬
ֶ ‫ַ ֶֽה ְממַ לְ ֖אים בָ ת‬ By darkness and deep shadow,
May a cloud dwell on it,
‫טז ִּ֚אֹו כְ ּ֣נ ֶפל ְ֭טָ מּון‬ May it be suddenly in fear
‫ּ֣לא ֶ ֶֽא ְהיֶ ֑ה‬ By the midday heat.
‫ֹ֝ ְכ ֶֽע ְל ֗לים‬ 6 That night
:‫א־ראּו ֶֽאֹור‬ ָ֥ ָ ‫ל‬ Be taken over by gloom,
It should not be a unit
‫יז ָ ּׁ֣שם ְ֭ ְרׁשָ עים‬ In the days of the year;
‫ָחּ֣דְ לּו ֑רגֶז‬ In the count of months
‫וְ ָ ָׁ֥שם ָֹ֝ינ֗ ּוחּו‬ It should not appear.
: ַ‫ְיגּ֣יעי ֶֽכח‬
7 Onthe contrary, that night
Be solitary.
‫יח ְַ֭יחַ ד‬
No joy may come to it.
‫ֲאס ּ֣ירים ַ ֶֽׁש ֲאנָנ֑ ּו‬
‫ָ֥לא ֹ֝ ָ ֶֽׁש ְמ ֗עּו‬ 8 Theday-cursers may imprecate it;
:‫ּ֣קֹול נ ֶֽגש‬ Those prepared
To awake their pain.
‫יט קָ ּ֣טן ְ֭ ְוגָדֹול‬ 9May the stars of that night
‫ָ ּׁ֣שם ֑הּוא‬ Be darkened,
‫ְֹ֝ו ֶ֗עבֶד‬ May it hope for light but have none,
.‫חפשי מאדנ֭יו‬
֥ May it not see
‫כ לָ ֤מָ ה י ּ֣תן לְ ע ָּ֣מל ֑אֹור‬ The eyelids of morning.
‫ְֹ֝וחַ ֗יים‬ 10 For
it did not close
:‫לְ ָמּ֣רי ָ ֶֽנ ֶפׁש‬ My belly’s doors
Which would have hidden toil
‫כא ַ ֶֽה ְמחַ ּ֣כים ל ָ ַּ֣מוֶת וְ אינֶ ֑נּו‬ From my eyes.
‫ֹ֝ ַויַחְ פְ ֗ ֻרהּו‬
‫מֹונים‬ ֶֽ ‫ממַ ְט‬ 11 Why would I not die from the womb?
I could have expired exiting the belly.
‫כב הַ ְשמ ָ֥חים ֱאלי־ג֑יל‬
12 Why
‫ָֹ֝י ֗שישּו‬
‫אּו־קבֶ ר‬
ֶֽ ָ ְ‫י י ְמצ‬ Did knees welcome me,
And why were there breasts
‫כג ְ֭ ְלגֶבֶ ר‬ That I could suckle?
‫ֲאׁשֶ ר־דַ ְר ּ֣כֹו נ ְס ָ ֑ת ָרה‬
 4
13 Because now :‫וַיָ ֖סֶ ְך אֱ לּ֣ ֹוּהַ ַ ֶֽבע ֲֶֽדֹו‬
I would be lain and be quiet,
I would sleep;
Then
I would be resting.
14 With
kings
And country councilors
Who build ruins for themselves,
15 Or
with rulers
Owning gold,
Who are filling their houses with silver.
16 Orlike a hidden miscarriage
Unable to live,
Like babies
Who did not see light.
17 Therethe evildoers
Stopped displeasure;
And there are resting
Those tired of force.
18 Together
Prisoners will be in peace,
They do not hear
An oppressor’s voice.
19 Little
and great
Are there,
And a slave
Is free of his master.
20 Why does He give light to the fatigued
And life
To those of bitter mind?
21 Waiting for death and it is not there;
They would dig for it
More than treasure-troves,
22 Who would happy as for the best of
things,
Would enjoy
If they could find a grave?
23 For
a man
Whose way is hidden
But God shields him.
 5

‫כד ֶֽכי־לפְ נּ֣י ְַ֭לחְ מי‬

24 For
preceding my bread ‫אַ נְ חָ ּ֣תי תָ ֑בא‬
Will come my groan, ‫וַי ְתכָ֥ ּו ַֹ֝כ ֗ ַמים‬
Will be poured out like water :‫ַ ֶֽׁשאֲג ָ ֶֽתי‬
My cry.
‫כה ֤כי פַ ּ֣חַ ד ְָ֭פחַ דְ תי‬
25 Truly the
fear which I feared ‫ַויֶאֱתָ י֑ני‬
Overtook me; ‫ַוֶֽאֲ ֶ ָׁ֥שר ָֹ֝י ֗ג ְרתי‬
What I was in terror of :‫יָ ּ֣בא ֶֽלי‬
Happened to me.
‫כו ֤לא ׁשָ ַַ֨לוְ תי ׀‬
26 I
found no peace, ‫וְ ֶֽלא־ׁשָ ַ ָ֥קטְ תי ְ ֶֽולא־ ֗ ָנחְ תי‬
I found no quiet and no rest;
:‫וַיָ ָ֥בא ֶֽרגֶז‬
But disquiet came.

8 This is an Arabized sentence; no connection with the mythical sea-monster Leviathan. ‫העתידים עורר לויתן‬. ‫”عتد‬to
be prepared”, ‫“ لوى‬pain, hardship”,
22 ‫ גיל‬is not Hebrew “joy” but Arabic ‫)גואלה( جوالة‬
֗֗ “the best of things”. Rabbenu Saadia Gaon translates the word as
‫“ טרב‬emotion” (of joy or sorrow).
The meaning of the poem seems to be an affirmation of Astrology, binding the happenings of a person’s
life time to the date of his birth or conception. Since this is a Gentile book about a Gentile, this is
acceptable as monotheistic (Shabbat 156a, R. Johanan).
 2

Chapter 4 ‫פרק‬
‫ד‬

‫יב ְ֭ ְואלַי‬ :‫אמר‬

ֶֽ ַ ‫א ְַ֭ויַעַ ן ֱאליפַ ָ֥ז הַ ֶֽתימָ ֗ני וַי‬
‫דָ ָבּ֣ר ְיגֻנָ ֑ב‬
‫וַת ַ ָ֥קח אָֹ֝ ז ְ֗ני‬ ‫ב הֲנ ֬ ָסה דָ ָבּ֣ר אלֶ ּ֣יך תלְ ֶ ֑אה‬
:‫ּׁ֣שמֶ ץ ֶ ֶֽמ ְנ ֶֽהּו‬ ‫וַעְ ָ֥צר בְֹ֝ מ ֗לין‬
:‫יּוכל‬ֶֽ ָ ‫ּ֣מי‬
‫יג ְ֭ב ְשעפים‬
‫ֶֽמחֶ זְיֹונּ֣ ֹות ָ ֑ל ְילָה‬ ‫ג ְ֭הנה י ַס ְּ֣רתָ ַר ֑בים‬
‫בנ ְָ֥פל תַֹ֝ ְרדמָ ה‬ :‫וְ י ַָד֖ים ָרפּ֣ ֹות ְתחַ זֶֽק‬
:‫על אנשים‬
1 Eliphaz from Teman countered: ‫ימּון מלֶ ֑יך‬ ּ֣ ‫ד כ֖ ֹוׁשל ְיק‬
:‫ּוב ְרכַ ֖ים ֶֽכ ְרעּ֣ ֹות ְתאַ ֶֽמץ‬
2 Mayone try? A word to you may weary;
Who is able ‫עַתה ׀‬ ָ ַ֨ ‫֤כי‬
To stop talk? ‫תָ ּ֣בֹוא אלֶ ּ֣יך ו ַ֑תלֶא‬
‫תגַ ָ֥ע ֹ֝עָ ֗ ֶדיך‬
3 Behold,you exhorted the many
:‫וַתבָ ֶֽהל‬
And strengthened weak hands;
4 Your speech lifted the stumbling ‫ו ה ֲּ֣לא ְ֭י ְר ָ ֶֽא ְתך‬
And encouraged tottering knees. ‫כסְ ל ֶ ָ֑תך‬
֗‫ֹ֝תקְ ָו ְֶֽתך‬
5 But now
When it comes over you, you are weak, :‫וְ ּ֣תם דְ ָר ֶ ֶֽכיך‬
If it touches you
You become frightened. ‫ז ְזכָר־ ָ֗נא‬
‫֤מי ּ֣הּוא נ ָּ֣קי אָ ָב֑ד‬
6 Shouldnot your piety ‫יפה‬ ֗ ‫ְֹ֝וא‬
Be your passivity, :‫יְ ׁשָ ָ֥רים נכְ ָ ֶֽחדּו‬
Your hope
And the integrity of your ways? ‫ח ַ ֶֽכאֲ ֶ ּׁ֣שר ְָ֭ראיתי‬
7 Remember,please, ‫ּ֣ח ְרׁשי ָ ֑אוֶן‬
Whoever perished innocently, :‫וְ ֶֽז ְרע֖י ע ָ ָּ֣מל יקְ צְ ֻ ֶֽרהּו‬
And where were the virtuous forgotten?
‫אבדּו‬
֑ ‫ט מנ ְׁש ַמּ֣ת ֱאלּ֣ ֹוּהַ י‬
8 AsI have seen,
The perpetrators of evil :‫ּומ ֖רּוחַ אַ פּ֣ ֹו יכְ לֶֽ ּו‬
And the sowers of trouble will reap it.
‫י ַ ֶֽׁשאֲ גַ ּ֣ת אְַ֭ ְריה‬
9 Theyperish by God’s breath, ‫וְ ּ֣קֹול ָ ׁ֑שחַל‬
And disappear from a blow of His anger. :‫וְ ׁשנ֖י כְ פ ּ֣ירים נ ָ ֶֽתעּו‬
10 Theroar of the lion
and the sound of leo, ‫יא ְַ֭ליׁש‬
But the teeth of young lions are biting. ‫י־ט ֶ֑רף‬
ָ ‫א ּ֣בד מבְ ל‬
‫ּובְ נָ֥י ֹ֝ ָל ֗ביא‬
11 Alion :‫פָרדּו‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫י ְת‬
Perishes without pray,
And the lion’s whelps
 ‫‪3‬‬

‫כא ה ֲֶֽלא־נ ַ ּ֣סע י ְת ָ ּ֣רם ָב֑ם‬ ‫‪Are dispersed.‬‬

‫ָֹ֝י ֗מּותּו‬
‫‪12 But‬‬
‫‪to me‬‬
‫וְ ּ֣לא בְ חָ כְ ָ ֶֽמה‪:‬‬ ‫‪A word was blown by the South wind,‬‬
‫‪My ear took‬‬
‫‪A hint from it.‬‬
‫‪13 When‬‬‫‪meditating‬‬
‫‪About nightly visions,‬‬
‫‪When sleep falls‬‬
‫‪On men,‬‬

‫יד פַ ּ֣חַ ד ְ֭ ְק ָראַ ני‬

‫ְרעָ ָ ֑דה‬
‫מֹותי הפְ ֶֽחיד‪:‬‬
‫וְ ֖רב עַצְ ַ ּ֣‬

‫טו ְ֭ ְורּוחַ‬
‫עַל־פָנַ ּ֣י ַ ֶֽיחֲֹל֑ ף‬
‫ְֹ֝תסַ ֗מר‬
‫ַ ֶֽשע ַ ֲָ֥רת בְ שָ ֶֽרי‪:‬‬
‫טז ַ ֶֽיע ֲ֤מד ׀‬
‫ְ ֶֽולא־אַ ֬כיר מַ ְר ֗אהּו‬
‫ְ֭ ְתמּונָה‬
‫לְ נֶ ַּֽ֣גֶד עינָ ֑י‬
‫דְ מָ ָ ֖מה ו ָּ֣קֹול אֶ ְׁש ָ ֶֽמע‪:‬‬

‫יז ְ֭ ַ ֶֽהאֱנֹוׁש‬
‫ֶֽמאֱ לּ֣ ֹוהַ יצְ ָ ֑דק‬
‫ָ֥אם ֶֹֽ֝מע ֗שהּו‬
‫ר־גֶֽבֶ ר‪:‬‬
‫יטְ הַ ָ‬

‫יח ּ֣הן ְ֭ ַ ֶֽבעֲבָ דָ יו‬

‫ּ֣לא ַ ֶֽיא ֲ֑מין‬
‫ּוֹ֝ בְ מַ לְ אָ ָ֗כיו‬
‫י ָָ֥שים ָ ֶֽתה ָ ֳֶֽלה‪:‬‬

‫יט ַ ֤אף ׀‬
‫י־חמֶ ר‬
‫ֶֽׁשכְ ֬ני ָ ֶֽבת ֗‬
‫סֹוד֑ם‬
‫ר־בעָפָ ָ֥ר ְי ָ‬
‫אֲ ׁשֶ ֶ ֶֽ‬
‫ֹ֝ ְידַ כְ ֗אּום‬
‫י־עׁש‪:‬‬ ‫לפְ נ ָ ֶֽ‬

‫כ מ ּ֣בקֶ ר לָעֶ ֶּ֣רב יֻכַ ֑תּו‬

‫מבְ לָ֥י ֹ֝מ ֗שים‬
‫אבדּו‪:‬‬ ‫לָנֶ ָ֥צַ ח י ֶֽ‬
 4

18 Behold,He does not trust,

In His servants 14 Fear
was gripping me
And He puts fear Trembling,
In His messengers. And most of my bone shuddered.
Also
19 15 A
spirit
The dwellers in clay houses Passed by me
Whose foundation is in dust Makes stand up
Does He not crush them The hair of my flesh.
More easily than a moth?
16 It
stands,
20 Frommorning to evening they are shattered, But I do not recognize its looks,
Without attaining A picture
They disappear for eternity. Is before my eyes,
A whisper and sound I am hearing.
21 Is
not their tent-rope removed from them
They will die 17 Coulda human
But not in wisdom. Be just more than God,
Or a man be pure
More than his Maker?
1.Teman is the Southern part of the Edomite territory in Transjordan.
6. Reading ‫ كسل כסל‬as Arabic “laziness”.
10Translating with Rabbenu Saadia ‫“ נתעו‬biting with canine teeth”. Note the different words for “lion”.
15. ‫ גנב‬Arabic “blown by the South wind” (R. Saadia).
18The hapax ‫ תהלה‬can be explained from Arabic ‫“ הלל‬to have fear”.
19.‫ עש‬is either a moth or a constellation. The verse may mean that the wicked are destroyed “before Ash”, as long
as the constellation Ash (Ayish) is still visible, i.e., before daybreak. (R. Saadia).
 2
Chapter 5

‫ְֹ֝ו ֶֽקדְ ֗רים‬ ‫א ְ ֶֽק ָרא־ ְָ֭נא‬

:‫שגבו ישע‬ ‫הֲיּׁ֣ש עֹונֶ ַֽ֑ ָך‬
:‫ל־מי מקְ ד ּׁ֣שים תפְ ֶנֶֽה‬ ֖ ֶ‫וְ א‬
‫ב ּ֣כי ְֶ֭לאֱ ויל‬
‫ַ ֶֽיה ֲָרג־כָ ֑עַש‬
‫ּוֹ֝ פ ֗ ֶתה‬
1 Why do you not call? :‫נְאה‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫תָ ָ֥מית ק‬
Is somebody answering you?
To whom of the holy ones will you apply? ‫י־ראיתי‬ ְָ֭ ‫ג אֲ נ‬
‫אֱ וּ֣יל מַ ְׁש ֑ריׁש‬
2 Forthe fool
:‫ָוֶֽאֶ ֖קֹוב נָוּ֣הּו פ ְת ֶֽאם‬
Is slain by anger,
And the gullible ‫ד י ְ ֶֽרח ֲּ֣קּו בָ נָ ּ֣יו מיֶ ׁ֑שַ ע‬
Jealousy will kill. ‫וְ ידַ כְ ָ֥אּו בַֹ֝ שַ֗ עַר‬
3Isaw :‫וְ ּ֣אין מַ ֶֽציל‬
The fool growing roots
But suddenly I cursed his abode. ‫ירֹו ׀‬
ַ֨ ‫ה אֲ ֶ ׁ֤שר קְ צ‬
‫אכל‬֗ ‫ָרע֤ב י‬
4 Mayhis children be far from help, ‫וְ אֶ ל־מצנָ֥ים יקָ ֑חהּו‬
And be crushed in the gate :‫ילם‬ֶֽ ָ ‫וְ ׁשָ ַ ֖אף צַ ּ֣מים ח‬
Without rescuer.
‫ו ֤כי ׀‬
5 When his harvest
‫לא־יצּ֣א ֶֽמעָפָ ּ֣ר ָ ֑אוֶן‬
He eats in famine,
‫ּוֹ֝ ֶֽמאֲ דָ מָ֗ ה‬
Out from thorns he will take it,
And thirst will remove their might. :‫עָמל‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫ֶֽלא־יצְ ַ ָ֥מח‬

6 Certainly ‫ז ֶֽכי־אְָ֭ דָ ם‬
From dust will not come evil ‫עָמל יּולָ ֑ד‬
ּ֣ ָ ְ‫ל‬
And from earth ‫י־רׁשֶ ף‬
֗ ֶ ֹ֝ ‫ּובְ נ‬
Will not sprout toil. :‫יַגְ ָ֥ביהּו עֶֽ ּוף‬
7 Truly,man ‫ח אּו ָ֗לם ְ֭אֲ ני‬
Is born for toil, ‫ל־אל‬
֑ ֶ‫אֶ דְ ּ֣רׁש א‬
And Reshef’s sons ‫ֹלהים‬ ֗ ֱ‫ל־א‬
ֹ֝ ֶ‫וְ א‬
Are flying high. :‫אָ ָ֥שים דבְ ָר ֶֽתי‬
8 However,I ‫ט ע ֶ ּ֣שה ְ֭ ְגדלֹות‬
Would seek God; ‫וְ ּ֣אין ֑חקֶ ר‬
To the Most Powerful ‫ֹ֝נפְ ל ָ֗אֹות‬
I would address my word.
:‫ד־אין מסְ ָ ֶֽפר‬ָ֥ ַ‫ע‬
9 Whodoes great deeds
That escape scrutiny ‫י הַ נ ּ֣תן מְָ֭ טָ ר‬
Wonders ‫י־א ֶרץ‬
֑ ָ ‫עַ ל־פְ נ‬
Without number. ‫וְ ָׁ֥ש ֶֽלחַ מַֹ֝ ים‬
:‫חּוצֹות‬
ֶֽ ‫עַ ל־פְ נָ֥י‬
10 Who gives rain
On the face of the earth, ‫יא ל ָּ֣שּום ְׁשפָ לּ֣ים לְ מָ ֑רֹום‬
 ‫‪3‬‬
‫‪11 To‬‬
‫‪elevate the downtrodden of-reach.‬‬ ‫‪And sends water‬‬
‫‪And melancholics‬‬ ‫‪On streets.‬‬
‫‪Overflow with deliverance.‬‬
‫אַ ל־ת ָ ֶֽירא‪:‬‬ ‫יב ְ֭מפר‬
‫ֲרּומים‬
‫מַ חְ ְׁש ּ֣בֹות ע ֑‬
‫יתך‬
‫כג ֤כי עם־אַ ְבנּ֣י הַ שָ ֶ ּ֣דה ְבר ֶ ֑‬ ‫יהם‬‫ֲשינָה ֹ֝ ְיד ֗ ֶ‬
‫א־תע ֶ ָ֥‬ ‫ל ַ ֶֽ‬
‫וְ חַ יַ ָ֥ת הַֹ֝ שָ ֗ ֶדה‬ ‫תֻ ׁש ָיֶֽה‬
‫ה־לְך‪:‬‬
‫הָ ְׁשלְ מָ ָ ֶֽ‬
‫יג ֹלכּ֣ד ֲחכ ָּ֣מים בְ ע ְָר ָמ֑ם‬
‫ַ ֶֽוע ֲַצ֖ת נפְ תָ לּ֣ים נ ְמ ָ ֶֽה ָרה‪:‬‬
‫ׁשּו־חׁשֶ ְך‬
‫֑‬ ‫יֹומָ֥ם ְי ַפגְ‬ ‫יד ָ‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ַכ ַ֗ליְ לָה‬
‫ְ ֶֽימַ ְׁש ָׁ֥שּו בַ ָ ֶֽצה ָ ֳֶֽרים‪:‬‬

‫טו וַיּ֣ ׁשַ ע ְ֭מחֶ ֶרב‬

‫יה֑ם‬
‫מפ ֶ‬
‫ּומיַ ֖ד חָ זָ ּ֣ק אֶ בְ יֶֽ ֹון‪:‬‬

‫טז ו ְַת ּ֣הי ל ַ ַּ֣דל תקְ וָ ֑ה‬

‫ְֹ֝וע ָ֗לתָ ה‬
‫ָ ּ֣קפְ צָ ה ֶֽפיהָ ‪:‬‬

‫יז הנ֤ה אַ ְׁש ּ֣רי ְ֭ ֱאנֹוׁש‬

‫יֶֽ ֹוכ ֶחּ֣נּו ֱאל֑ ֹוּהַ‬
‫ּומּוסָ֥ר ֹׁ֝שַ ֗ ַדי‬
‫ַ‬
‫אַ ל־ת ְמ ָ ֶֽאס‪:‬‬

‫יח ֤כי ּ֣הּוא יַכְ ּ֣איב וְ יֶחְ ָבׁ֑ש‬

‫ֹ֝י ְמחַ֗ ץ‬
‫וְ י ָ ָָ֥דו [וְ י ָָדָ֥יו] ת ְר ֶ ֶֽפינָה‪:‬‬

‫יט בְ ּׁ֣שׁש צְָ֭ רֹות‬

‫יַצילֶ ֑ ָך‬
‫ּובְ ׁשֶֶׁ֓ בַ ע ׀‬
‫ֶֽלא־יגַ ֖ע בְ ךּ֣ ָ ֶֽרע‪:‬‬

‫כ ְ֭ ְב ָרעָ ב‬
‫ָ ֶֽפדְ ךּ֣ מ ָ ֑מוֶת‬
‫ּוֹ֝ בְ מלְ חָ ֗ ָמה‬
‫ּ֣מידי ָ ֶֽח ֶרב‪:‬‬

‫כא בְ ּׁ֣שֹוט ְָ֭לׁשֹון‬

‫ֶֽתחָ ב֑א‬
‫ירא ֹ֝מ ֗שד‬ ‫וְ ֶֽלא־ת ָ ָ֥‬
‫ּ֣כי י ֶָֽבֹוא‪:‬‬
‫כב לְ ּׁ֣שד ּולְ כָפָ ּ֣ן ת ְש ָח֑ק‬
‫ּומחַ יַ ָ֥ת הָֹ֝ ֗ ָא ֶרץ‬
‫ֶֽ‬
 4
‫ּו ָפקַ דְ ָ ָ֥ת ָֹ֝נוְ ך‬ 12 Heannuls
:‫וְ ּ֣לא תֶ ח ָ ֱֶֽטא‬ The thoughts of the sly
So that their hands do not produce
ָ‫כה ְֶֽ֭ ְויָדַ עְ ת‬ Success.
‫י־רב ז ְַר ֶע֑ך‬
ּ֣ ַ ‫כ‬
‫ְֹ֝וצֶ אֱצָ ֗ ֶאיך‬ 13 Hetraps wise men in their tricks
:‫כְ עּ֣שֶ ב הָ ָ ֶֽא ֶרץ‬ And the crookeds’ counsel is over-hasty.
14 During daytime they encounter darkness
‫י־קבֶ ר‬
֑ ָ ‫כו תָ ּ֣בֹוא ְבכֶ ּ֣ לַח ֱאל‬ And like in the night
:‫ַ ֶֽכעֲל֖ ֹות ג ָּ֣דיׁש ְבע ֶֽתֹו‬ They are groping at noontime.

‫כז הנה־זְ֭את‬ 15 Hesaves from the sword,

‫ֶן־היא‬
֑ ‫חֲקַ ְרנָ֥ ּוהָ כ‬ From their mouths,
‫ֹ֝ ְׁשמָ ֶ֗ענָה‬ And the poor man from the strong one.
:‫ע־לְך‬
ֶֽ ָ ַ‫וְ אַ ָ ָ֥תה ד‬ 16 Then the penurious will have hope
And evil
Closes its mouth.
17 Behold,
lucky is the human
Whom God corrects;
The Almighty’s reprimand
You should not disdain.
18 Forhe will inflict pain and dresses,
He hits
But His hand [hands] do heal.
19 Fromsix troubles
He will save you,
And from seven
Nothing bad will touch you.
20 In
famine
He ransoms you from death
And in war
From the stroke of the sword.
21 Fromthe tongue’s whip
You will be hidden
And not fear devastation
When it might come.
22 You
will laugh at plunder and famine,
And will not fear
The beasts of the earth.
23 For
your covenant is with the field rocks
And the beasts of the field
Made peace with you.
‫כד ְ֭ ְו ָ ֶֽיַֽדַ עְ תָ כי־ׁשָ לּ֣ ֹום אָ הֳלֶ ֑ך‬
 5
26 You will in old age come to the grave, You will know that your tent is in peace,
24
As a stack stored in its time. You inspect your home
And will find no sin.
27 Behold,
this
We investigated, so it is, 25 Youwill know
We understood this That your seed will be many
And you should know. And your descendants
Like the land’s grass.

7 Reshef is a Canaanite god of fertility and fire and pestilence.

10 Saadia Gaon translates ‫ חוצות‬as “Sahara” (desert).

26 ‫ כלח‬as in Amharic is both “youthful strength” and “old age”. Both meanings may be inserted here.
 ‫‪6‬‬
‫‪Chapter 6‬‬
‫אמר‪:‬‬
‫א וַיַ ָ֥עַ ן אי֗ ֹוב וַי ַ ֶֽ‬
‫יא מַ ה־כ ָ֥חי כי ֲאי ַ֑חל‬
‫ה־ק ֗צי‬
‫ּומַ ֹ֝‬ ‫ב ֗לּו‬
‫י־אא ֲָ֥ריְך נַפְ ֶֽׁשי‪:‬‬
‫ֶֽכ ַ ֶֽ‬ ‫ׁשָ ּ֣קֹול ישָ ּ֣קל כַעְ ֑שי‬
‫ְֹ֝והַ י ָ֗תי [ ְֹ֝והַ ּו ָ֗תי]‬
‫אּו־יֶֽחַ ד‪:‬‬
‫ְ ֶֽבמאזְנַ ַָֽ֥ים י ְש ָ‬

‫י־עַתה‬
‫ג ֶֽכ ֗ ָ‬
‫מ ּ֣חֹול י ַּ֣מים יכְ ָב֑ד‬
‫ל־כן‬
‫עַ ֹ֝ ֗‬
‫דְ בָ ַ ָ֥רי ָ ֶֽלעּו‪:‬‬

‫ד ֤כי חצֵ֢י ׁשַ ִ֡ ַדי עמָ ֗די‬

‫אֲ ֶ ּׁ֣שר ְ֭ ֲחמָ תָ ם‬
‫רּוחי‬
‫ׁש ָ ּ֣תה ֑‬
‫עּותי ֱאלּ֣ ֹוּהַ ַ ֶֽיע ְַרכֶֽ ּוני‪:‬‬
‫ב ֖‬

‫י־דׁשֶ א‬
‫ה הֲינְ הַ ק־פֶ ֶָ֥רא עֲל ֶ ֑‬
‫ה־שֹור‬
‫ָ֥אם יגְ עֶ ֹ֝ ֗‬
‫ַעל־בְ לילֶֽ ֹו‪:‬‬

‫ו הֲיֶֽאָ כּ֣ל תְָ֭ פל‬

‫י־מלַח‬ ‫מבְ ל ֶ ֑‬
‫ֶׁש־טַ עַם‬
‫אם־י ֹ֝ ֗‬
‫בְ ּ֣ריר חַ ל ֶָֽמּות‪:‬‬

‫ז ֶֽמאֲנָ ּ֣ה ל ְנגּ֣ ֹו ַע נַפְ ׁ֑שי‬

‫ֹ֝ ֗המָ ה‬
‫כדְ וָ֥י לַחְ ֶֽמי‪:‬‬

‫י־יתן‬ ‫ח ֶֽמ ְ֭‬

‫תָ ּ֣בֹוא ֶ ֶֽׁש ֱאל ָ֑תי‬
‫ְֹ֝ותקְ ו ָ֗תי‬
‫י ָ֥תן אֱ לֶֽ ֹוּהַ ‪:‬‬

‫ט וְ י ּ֣אל ְ֭ ֱאלֹוּהַ‬
‫ֶֽוידַ כְ ֑אני י ַָ֥תר‬
‫ָֹ֝יד֗ ֹו‬
‫ֶֽויבַ צְ ֶֽעני‪:‬‬

‫י ּוֶֽ ְתהי ַ֨עֹוד ׀ ֶ ֶֽנ ָח֤מָ ֗תי‬

‫ַוֶֽאֲ סַ לְ ָ ּ֣דה ְ֭ ְבחילָה‬
‫ּ֣לא יַחְ ֑מֹול‬
‫י־לא ֹ֝כ ֗ ַחדְ תי‬
‫ֶֽכ ָ֥‬
‫א ְמ ָ֥רי קָ ֶֽדֹוׁש‪:‬‬
 7
1 Job answered and said:
7 Mysoul refuses to touch.
These are 2 If
only
The sickness of my flesh. My anger could be weighed,
And my suffering
8 If
only Be carried on scales,
My request would be fulfilled
And God grant 3 Thennow
My hope. They would be heavier than sea-sand.
Therefore
9 If
only God would agree
My words seem inappropriate.
And subdue me finally
His hand 4 For
the Almighty’s arrows are in me,
To break me. Whose heat
My spirit absorbs.
10 And this will be my consolation.
God’s terror is arranged against me.
I will praise in supplication,
I will not be moderate, 5 Would an onager bray on a meadow
For I did not conceal Or an ox moo
The Holy’s commands. On his mash?
11 What is my force that I may pray, 6 Would insipid food be eaten
What is my end Without salt?
That my soul should endure? Is there taste
In slimy egg yolk?
 ‫‪8‬‬

‫ַד־צ֑ר‬‫כג ּומַ לְ ָ֥טּוני מי ָ‬ ‫ם־כחַ ֲאבָ נּ֣ים כ ֑חי‬ ‫יב א ּ֣‬

‫יצים תפְ ֶֽדּוני‪:‬‬
‫ּומיַ ֖ד ָ ֶֽער ּ֣‬ ‫אם־בְ שָ ָ֥רי נ ֶָֽחּוׁש‪:‬‬

‫כד ְ֭הֹורּוני‬ ‫יג הַ ֬אם ּ֣אין ֶעז ְָר ּ֣תי ֑בי‬

‫ַ ֶֽואֲנּ֣י ַ ֶֽאח ֲ֑ריׁש‬ ‫ְֹ֝ו ֻ ֶֽתׁש ָ֗יה‬
‫ה־שָ ֗גיתי‬ ‫ּומַ ֹ֝‬ ‫נדְ ָחָ֥ה מ ֶ ֶֽמני‪:‬‬
‫הָ ָ֥בינּו ֶֽלי‪:‬‬
‫יד ל ָ ַּ֣מס ֶֽמרעּ֣הּו ָח֑סֶ ד‬
‫וְ י ְר ַ ֖את ׁשַ ַדּ֣י ַ ֶֽיעֲזֶֽ ֹוב‪:‬‬

‫טו אְַ֭ חַ י‬
‫ָ ֶֽבגְ ּ֣דּו כְ מֹו־נָ ֑ ַחל‬
‫אֲפיק ְנחָ לּ֣ים ַ ֶֽיע ֲֶֽברּו‪:‬‬ ‫ַ ֶֽכ ֖‬

‫י־ק ַרח‬
‫טז הַ ֶֽקדְ ָ֥רים מנ ָ ֑‬
‫ָָע ֗לימֹו‬
‫ֶם־ׁשלֶג‪:‬‬
‫י ְת ַעל ָ ֶֽ‬

‫יז ְ֭ ְבעת‬
‫ֶֽיְז ְר ּ֣בּו נצְ ָמ֑תּו‬
‫בְֹ֝ ח ֻ֗מֹו‬
‫קֹומם‪:‬‬
‫נ ְ ֶֽדעֲכָ֥ ּו מ ְמ ָ ֶֽ‬

‫יח ְ֭י ָ ֶֽלפְ תּו‬

‫אָ ְר ּ֣חֹות דַ ְרכָ ֑ם‬
‫אבדּו‪:‬‬‫ַ ֶֽיעֲל֖ ּו בַ ּ֣תהּו וְ י ֶֽ‬
‫יט ְ֭הביטּו‬
‫אָ ְר ּ֣חֹות ת ָמ֑א‬
‫יכת ֹ֝ ְׁש ֗ ָבא‬
‫הֲל ָ֥‬
‫ּוּו־למֹו‪:‬‬
‫ק ָ ֶֽ‬

‫כ ָ֥בׁשּו ֶֽכי־בָ ָ ֑טח‬

‫ָבָ֥אּו ֹ֝ ָע ֗ ֶדיהָ‬
‫ַויֶחְ ָ ֶֽפרּו‪:‬‬

‫כא ֶֽכי־עְַ֭ תָ ה‬
‫הֱיּ֣יתֶ ם ֑לא [ל֑ ֹו]‬
‫ֶֽת ְר ָ֥אּו ֹ֝ ֲח ֗ ַתת‬
‫וַת ָ ֶֽיראּו‪:‬‬

‫כב הֲכי־אְָ֭ מַ ְרתי‬

‫ָהּ֣בּו ל֑י‬
‫ּוֹ֝ מ ֶֽכ ֲח ֶ֗כם‬
‫ֶֽׁשח ֲָ֥דּו ַ ֶֽבע ֲֶֽדי‪:‬‬
 9
Disappear into nothing and get lost. 12 If
my force were that of stones,
If my flesh were bronze,
19 Thecaravans of Tema
Are on the lookout, 13 Is
it not that my help is not within me
The wanderers of Saba And success
Are hoping for it, Is denied me?
20 Theyare deceived while trusting, 14 Asking
support from his neighbor
They came there When he abandons the fear of the Almighty?
And were disabused.
15 My brothers
21 Certainly,
now Were unfaithful to me like a wadi,
So you were not [to him] Like a river bed of wadis they pass by.
You saw terror
And were afraid. 16 Which are shadowed by ice
On them
22 DidI ever say Show is hiding.
“Give to me”?
Or “from your property bribe for me”? 17 Inits time
It will flow, will be reduced,
23 “Let
me escape from the aggressor,
In the heat
Redeem me from tyrants”?
It will be extinguished from its place.
24 Teach me,
18 They will be turned
I shall be quiet,
And if I erred, Make me understand. On the paths of their way,

‫י־יׁשֶ ר‬
֑ ‫מַ ה־נ ְמ ְר ָ֥צּו א ְמר‬
25 How
powerful are straight words, :‫ה־יֹוכיחַ הֹוכּ֣חַ מ ֶ ֶֽכם‬
֖ ַ‫ּומ‬
But what proves your proofs?
‫כו ַ ֶֽהלְ הֹוכַ ּ֣ח מלּ֣ים תַ חְ ׁ֑שבּו‬
26 Are
you thinking to reprimand by words, ַ‫ּוֹ֝ לְ ֗רּוח‬
As wind :‫נֹואׁש‬ֶֽ ָ ‫א ְמ ָ֥רי‬
The words of the despairing?
‫כז אַ ף־עַ ל־י ָָ֥תֹום תַ ֑פילּו‬
27 Youwould cast lots for an orphan ‫ְֹ֝ותכְ ֗רּו‬
And dig down
:‫ל־ריֶֽ ע ֶ ֲֶֽכם‬
ֶֽ ַ‫ע‬
Against your friend.
‫כח ְ֭ ְועַתָ ה‬
28 But
now,
‫נּו־בי‬
֑ ְ‫הֹואילּו פ‬ ּ֣
Please turn to me,
‫וְ עַ ל־פְֹ֝ ני ֶ֗כם‬
Would I lie
:‫אם־אֲ כַזֶֽב‬
In your face?
‫כט ׁשֻ ּ֣בּו ְָ֭נא‬
29 Pleaseanswer,
‫ל־ת ּ֣הי עַוְ לָ ֑ה‬
ְ ַ‫א‬
So there should be no evil
Or return so I shall be justified. :‫י־בּה‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫וְ ׁשֻ ָ֥בי [וְ ָׁ֥שּובּו] ֹ֝עֹוד צדְ ק‬

30 Is
evil on my tongue? ‫ל הֲיֶֽׁש־בלְ ׁשֹונָ֥י עַ וְ לָ ֑ה‬
Or could my palate ‫ם־ח ֗כי‬
ֹ֝ ‫א‬
Not understand words . :‫ֶֽלא־י ָָ֥בין הַ ּוֶֽ ֹות‬
 10

3 ‫ לעו‬inappropriate” is Saadia Gaon’s translation.

7 ‫“ לחם‬meat” (Arabic) is Saadia Gaon’s translation.

9 ‫“ בצע‬to cut into pieces”.

10 Also this verse is translated following Saadia Gaon. ‫ סלד‬is “to praise”, ‫הלל‬, and ‫ חיל‬is the pentateuchal word for
“prayer”. (The traditional translation ‫“ סלד‬trembling” comes from a misunderstood passage in the Babylonian
Talmud, where it is ruled that on the Sabbath a vessel is considered cooking if ‫היד סולדת בו‬, “the hand is trembling
from it” because it is too hot to be touched with bare hands. This statement is a re-interpretation (because of the
difference between Palestinian and Babylonian phonetics) of a statement in the Jerusalem Talmud that a vessel is not
considered cooking as long as ‫“ היד שולטת בו‬the hand is ruling over it”. The difference is that in Galilee under the
influence of Greek there was no /sh/ sound, all ‫ ש‬simply was /s/ (as exemplified by the names in the Greek Bible
(Seth, Ismael, Simeon, Moyses, etc.) while the emphatic ‫ ט‬was pronounced like a Dutch /t/ which in Babylonian
sounded like a /d/.) Rabbenu Saadia Gaon’s understanding of the word is correctly used in the Pizmon ‫אנקת מסלדיך‬
recited in the Ashkenazic service of Neila on the Day of Atonement.

14 ‫ למס‬is explained as Arabic “demanding” (Saadia Gaon).

30 ‫ הות‬is Ugarit “words” (M. Pope).

‫‪11‬‬

‫‪Chapter 7‬‬
‫א ה ֲֶֽלא־צָ ָבּ֣א לֶאֱנּ֣ ֹוׁש ֶֽעֲל [ ֶֽעֲלי] ָ ֑‬
‫־א ֶרץ‬
‫ימי שָ ּ֣כיר י ָ ֶָֽמיו‪:‬‬
‫וְ כ ֖‬

‫ב כְ עֶ ָ֥בֶ ד י ְׁשאַ ף־צ֑ל‬

‫ּוֹ֝ כְ שָ ֗כיר‬
‫יְ קַ ּוֶ ָ֥ה פָ עֳלֶֽ ֹו‪:‬‬

‫ג כ֤ן הָ נְ ַחּ֣לְ תי ְ֭לי‬

‫י־ׁשוְ א‬
‫י ְַרח ָ ֑‬
‫וְ לילָ֥ ֹות ֹ֝עָ מָ֗ ל‬
‫נּו־לי‪:‬‬
‫מ ֶֽ‬

‫ד אם־ׁשָ ַ֗כבְ תי וְ אָ מַ֗ ְרתי‬

‫מָ ַ ּ֣תי אְָ֭ קּום‬
‫וּמדַ ד־עָ ֶ֑רב‬
‫י־נֶֽׁשֶ ף‪:‬‬
‫וְ שָ ַב֖עְ תי נְ ד ֻּ֣דים עֲד ָ‬

‫ה ָל ַבׁ֤ש בְ שָ ּ֣רי ְ֭רמָ ה‬

‫ְְוגּ֣ יׁש [וְ גּ֣ ּוׁש] עָפָ ֑ר‬
‫עֹורי ֹ֝ ָר ֗ ַגע‬
‫ָ֥‬
‫וַימָ אס‪:‬‬

‫ו י ַ ָּ֣מי קְַ֭ לּו‬

‫י־א ֶרג‬
‫מנ ָ ֑‬
‫ֹ֝ ַויכְ ֗לּו‬
‫בְ ֶ ּ֣אפֶ ס תקְ ָ ֶֽוה‪:‬‬

‫ז ְ֭ ְזכר‬
‫י־רּוחַ חַ יָ ֑י‬
‫כ ּ֣‬
‫לא־תָ ָׁ֥שּוב ֹ֝ע ֗יני‬
‫ל ְר ָ֥אֹות ֶֽטֹוב‪:‬‬
‫א־תׁשּורני‬ ‫ח ֶֽל ְ֭ ְ‬
‫עּ֣ין ֑ראי‬
‫עינֶ ֖יך ּ֣בי וְ א ֶינֶֽני‪:‬‬

‫ט כָלָ ּ֣ה עְָ֭ נָן‬

‫וַילַ ְ֑ך‬
‫יֹורד ֹ֝ ְׁש ֗אֹול‬‫כָ֥ן ָ֥‬
‫ּ֣לא ַ ֶֽיע ֶ ֲֶֽלה‪:‬‬

‫יתֹו‬‫י ֶֽלא־י ָּׁ֣שּוב עּ֣ ֹוד לְ ב ֑‬

‫קֹומֹו‪:‬‬
‫ירנּו עּ֣ ֹוד ְמ ֶֽ‬‫וְ ֶֽלא־יַכ ֶ ֖‬
 12
‫יא גַם־אֲני‬ 1 Is not service human on the earth
‫ְך־פי‬
ָ֥ ִָ֫‫֤לא אֶ חֱש‬ And his days like a hireling’s?
‫ְ֭אדַ בְ ָרה‬
2 Likea slave he seeks shadow
‫רּוחי‬
֑ ‫בְ ַצּ֣ר‬
‫אָֹ֝ ֗שיחָ ה‬ And like a hireling
He hopes for his wages.
:‫בְ ַמּ֣ר נַפְ ֶֽׁשי‬
3 SoI was to inherit
‫יב ֲהיָם־אְָ֭ ני‬ Months of falsehood,
‫אם־תַ נ֑ין‬ And nights of worry
:‫ֶֽכי־תָ ֖שים ָע ַלּ֣י מ ְׁש ָ ֶֽמר‬ They apportioned to me.
4 When I lay down and said,
‫יג ֶֽכי־אְָ֭ מַ ְרתי‬
‫ְת ַ ֶֽנח ֲּ֣מני ע ְַר ֑שי‬ When will I get up?
‫יחי‬
֗ ‫י ָ ָ֥שא ֹ֝ ְבש‬ Measuring the evening
I will be surfeited tossing until dawn.
:‫מ ְׁשכ ֶָֽבי‬
5 Myflesh was covered with worms
‫ֲֹלמֹות‬
֑ ‫יד וְ חתַ ַ ָ֥תני ַ ֶֽבח‬ And my body dust
:‫ּומחֶ זְינָ֥ ֹות ְת ַ ֶֽבע ַ ֲֶֽתני‬
ֶֽ My skin a catastrophe
Became abhorrent.
‫טו וַתבְ ַחּ֣ר ַ ֶֽמחֲנָ ּ֣ק נַפְ ׁ֑שי‬
6 Mydays were lighter
:‫מֹותי‬ ֶֽ ָ ְ‫ֹ֝ ֗מָ וֶת ֶֽמעַצ‬
That a weaver’s shuttle,
And will finish
‫טז מְָ֭ אַ סְ תי‬
Without hope.
‫ֶֽלא־ ְלע ָלּ֣ם ֶ ֶֽא ְחיֶ ֑ה‬
‫ח ַ ֲָ֥דל ֹ֝מ ֗ ֶמני‬ 7 Remember
:‫י־ה ֶבל י ָ ֶָֽמי‬
ָ֥ ֶ ‫ֶֽכ‬ That my life is wind;
My eye never again
‫יז ָ ֶֽמה־ ְ֭ ֱאנֹוׁש ּ֣כי ְתג ְַד ֶל֑נּו‬ Will see good.
:‫ְְו ֶֽכי־תָ ׁ֖שית א ָלּ֣יו ל ֶ ֶֽבך‬
8 Myown seeing eye
Will not look at me;
‫יח וַתפְ קְ ֶדָ֥נּו ל ְבקָ ֑רים‬
‫ֹ֝ל ְרג ָ֗עים‬ Your eye is on me but I am no more.
:‫תבְ חָ ֶנֶֽנּו‬ 9A cloud disappears,
Leaves,
‫יט ְַ֭כמָ ה‬ So one descends to the Pit
‫ֶֽלא־ת ְׁש ֶעּ֣ה מ ֶמ֑ני‬ But will not ascend.
‫ֶֽלא־תַֹ֝ ְר ֗פני‬
10 Henever will return to his house,
:‫עַד־ב ְל ָ֥עי רֻ ֶֽקי‬
And nobody will know his place.
‫כ חָ ִ֡ ָטאתי‬
‫ָ ֤מה אֶ פְ ַַ֨על ׀ לְָך‬
‫נצֵ֢ר ָ ֶֽה ִ֫ ָא ָדָ֥ם‬
‫לָ ֤מָ ה שַ ְמ ַ ּ֣תני לְ מפְ גָ ּ֣ע לָ ְ֑ך‬
:‫ו ֶ ֶָֽאהְ יֶ ֖ה ָע ַלּ֣י לְ מַ ָ ֶֽשא‬

‫ּומה ׀‬
֤ ֶ ‫כא‬
‫ֶֽלא־ת ָ ּ֣שא פ ְׁשעי‬
‫וְ ַ ֶֽתע ֲֵ֢ביר אֶ ת־ ֲעֹוִ֫נָ֥י‬
‫ֶֽכי־ ְַ֭עתָ ה‬
 13
11 Also I ‫ֶ ֶֽלעָפָ ּ֣ר אֶ ְׁשכָ ֑ב‬
Will not spare my mouth, :‫וְ ֶֽׁשח ְֲר ַ ּ֣תני וְ א ֶינֶֽני‬
I shall tell
In the anguish of my spirit
I shall speak
Of the bitterness of my spirit.
12 Am I a sea
Or a monster,
That you put me under guard?
13 If
I said,
My bed shall console me,
My couch
Shall lift my complaint,
14 Youwill make me fearful by dreams
And phobic with visions,
15 You should prefer this to choking me,
Death in my bones!
16 I
am detesting this,
I will not live eternally,
Cease from me,
For my days are vapor.
17 Whatis a human that You rear him,
That you are interested in him?
18 That
You notice him in mornings,
In moments
You examine him?
19 Why
Do You not turn away from me,
Do not let me lose
Until I swallow my spittle?
20 I
have sinned,
What did I do to You,
Guardian of men?
Why did You me set up as Your target,
That I would be a burden for myself?
21 Andwhy
Do You not forgive my sin,
Remove my transgression?
For now
I will lie down as dust.
When You would seek me, I would not be.
6 Since ‫ תקוה‬means both “hope” and “thread”, either word can be inserted as a translation.

Chapter 8
 ‫‪14‬‬
‫בְ ּ֣לא ב ָצ֑ה‬ ‫א ְַ֭ויַעַ ן‬
‫י־מים‪:‬‬
‫ֶה־אחּו בְ ל ָ ֶֽ‬
‫י ְשג ָ ָ֥‬ ‫אמר‪:‬‬
‫שּוחי וַי ַ ֶֽ‬
‫בלְ ַ ָ֥דד הַ ֗‬

‫ֶל־אלֶה‬
‫ד־אן ְתמַ ל ֑‬
‫ב עַ ָ ָ֥‬
‫וְ ָ֥רּוחַ ַֹ֝כביר‬
‫י־פיך‪:‬‬
‫א ְמר ֶֽ‬

‫ג הְַ֭ אל‬
‫יְ עַ ּוּ֣ת מ ְׁשפָ ֑ט‬
‫ם־ׁשַ ֗ ַדי‬
‫וְ א ֹ֝‬
‫ֶֽת־צדֶ ק‪:‬‬
‫יְ עַ ּו ֶ ֶֽ‬

‫ד אם־בָ נֶ ָ֥יך ָ ֶֽחטְ אּו־ל֑ ֹו‬

‫ֹ֝ ַויְ ׁשַ לְ ֗חם‬
‫בְ יַד־פ ְׁש ָ ֶֽעם‪:‬‬

‫ה אם־אְַ֭ תָ ה‬
‫ל־אל‬
‫ְתׁשַ חּ֣ר אֶ ֑‬
‫ל־ׁשַ ֗ ַדי‬
‫וְ אֶ ֹ֝‬
‫ת ְתחַ ָנֶַֽֽן‪:‬‬

‫ו אם־זַ ְַָֽ֥ך וְ יָׁשָ֗ ר‬

‫ָ ָ֥אתָ ה ֶֽכי־ ְַ֭עתָ ה‬
‫י ָּ֣עיר ָעלֶ ֑יך‬
‫ְֹ֝וׁש ַ֗לם‬
‫נְ וַ ּ֣ת צדְ ֶ ֶֽקך‪:‬‬

‫יתךּ֣ מצְ עָ ֑ר‬

‫אׁש ְ‬
‫ז וְ הָ יָ ּ֣ה ר ֶֽ‬
‫ית ֗ך‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ַ ֶֽאח ֲֶֽר ְ‬
‫י ְשגֶ ָ֥ה ְמ ֶֽאד‪:‬‬

‫י־ׁשאַ ל־ ְָ֭נא‬
‫ח ֶֽכ ְ‬
‫יׁשֹון‬‫לְ ּ֣דר ר ֑‬
‫כֹונן‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ֗‬
‫בֹותם‪:‬‬
‫לְ ּ֣חקֶ ר ֲא ָ ֶֽ‬

‫י־ת ּ֣מֹול ְ֭ ֲאנַחְ נּו‬

‫ט ֶֽכ ְ‬
‫וְ ּ֣לא נ ָ ֑דע‬
‫י־א ֶרץ‪:‬‬
‫֤כי ֖צל י ָּ֣מינּו עֲל ָ ֶֽ‬

‫י הֲלא־הּ֣ם יְ֭ ֹורּוך‬

‫אמרּו לָ ְ֑ך‬‫ּ֣י ְ‬
‫ּוֹ֝ מל ֗ ָבם‬
‫יֹוצאּו מ ֶֽלים‪:‬‬‫ָ֥‬

‫ה־גמֶ א‬
‫יא הֲיגְ אֶ ְ֭‬
 15
‫ֹ֣לא יִ ָָק ֵ֑טף‬ 1 Bildad from Shuah
:‫יבׁש‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫וְ לפְ נ֖י כָל־חָ ּ֣ציר י‬ Answered and said:
2 Untilwhen will you utter these?
‫יג ֗כן אְָ֭ ְרחֹות‬
‫ָל־ׁשכְ חי ֑אל‬
ּ֣ ‫כ‬ A strong wind
Are the sayings of your mouth.
:‫אבד‬
ֶֽ ‫וְ תקְ וַ ֖ת חָ ּ֣נַֽף ת‬
3 WouldGod
‫יד ֲאׁשֶ ר־י ָָ֥קֹוט כ ְסל֑ ֹו‬ Distort right?
‫ּובָ֥ית ֹ֝ ַעכ ָ֗ביׁש‬ Would the Almighty
:‫מבְ טַ ֶֽחֹו‬ Distort justice?
4 If
your sons sinned against him,
‫ל־ביתֹו‬
ְ֭ ‫טו ישָ עּ֣ן ַע‬
‫וְ ּ֣לא ַ ֶֽיע ֲ֑מד‬ He sent them away
‫ַ ֶֽיחֲזָ֥יק ֹ֝ ֗בֹו‬ For their iniquity.
:‫וְ ּ֣לא י ֶָֽקּום‬ 5 If
You
Will look out for God,
‫טז ָר ּ֣טב ֖הּוא‬ And supplicate
‫י־ׁשמֶ ׁש‬
֑ ָ ‫לפְ נ‬ The Almighty,
‫וְ עַ ָ֥ל־ ֹ֝ ַגנ ָ֗תֹו‬
6 If
pure and straightforward
:‫יֶֽ ֹונַקְ ָ֥תֹו ת ֶֽצא‬
You are, then now
‫יז ַעל־ ְַ֭גל‬ He will act for you
‫ָ ֶֽׁש ָר ָ ּׁ֣שיו ְיס ָֻב֑כּו‬ And reward
Your rightful abode.
:‫ב֖ית ֲאבָ נּ֣ים ֶיח ֱֶזֶֽה‬
7 Thenyour beginning will have been small
‫קֹומֹו‬
֑ ‫יח אם־ ְיבַ לְ ֶעָ֥נּו מ ְמ‬ But your end
‫וְ ָ֥כחֶ ׁש ֹ֝ ֗בֹו‬ Will be very large.
:‫ּ֣לא ְרא ֶֽיתיך‬
8 Tobe sure, please ask
‫ן־הּוא‬
ְ֭ ֶ‫יט ה‬ An earlier generation
‫ְמ ּ֣שֹוש דַ ְר ֑כֹו‬ And establish
‫ּוֹ֝ ֶֽמ ָע ֗ ָפר‬ The investigation of their ancestors.
:‫אַ חָ֥ר יצְ ָ ֶֽמחּו‬
9 Forsurely we are yesterdays’
‫ן־אל‬ ְ֭ ֶ‫כ ה‬ And ignorant
‫ס־תם‬
֑ ָ ַ‫ּ֣לא י ְמא‬ Four our days are shadows on the earth.
‫וְ ָ֥לא ַֹ֝ ֶֽיח ֲ֗זיק‬
10 Certainly,
they will teach you
:‫ַד־מר ֶֽעים‬
ְ ‫בְ י‬ And tell you
And from their heart
‫כא עַד־יְמַ לּ֣ה ְש ּ֣חֹוק ֑פיך‬ Will produce words:
:‫רּועה‬ֶֽ ָ ‫ּושפ ֶ ָָ֥תיך ְת‬
ְ
11 Wouldpapyrus grow tall
‫ׁשּו־בׁשֶ ת‬
֑ ‫כב ֶֽשנ ֶ ְָ֥איך ילְ ְב‬ Without a swamp?
:‫וְ ֖אהֶ ל ְרׁשָ ּ֣עים א ֶינֶֽנּו‬ Would rushes flourish without water?

‫יב ע ֶדּ֣נּו ְ֭ ְבאבֹו‬

 16
17 Over a rock pile
His roots tangle,
A stone house he envisions. 12 Still
while growing
Not ready to be picked,
18 If
he would be swallowed from his place Before any greenery it will dry up.
And denied him,
“I never saw you!” 13 Soare the ways
Of all who forget God,
19 Thenhe is The hope of the impious will perish.
Enjoying his way
14 Whose hope is hollow
And from other dust
He will sprout. And a spider’s web
His trust.
20 SoGod
15 Heleans on his house
Will not despise the simple-minded,
Will not support Which will not stand;
The criminals’ hand, He grasps it
But is will not stand.
21 Until
laughter will fill your mouth
16 Moistis he
And cheer your lips;
Before sunshine,
Shame will clothe your haters
22 And in his garden
And the evildoers’ tent is nowhere. His sapling thrives.

1 Shuah was a son of Abraham and Qetura, sent to Iraq during Abraham’s lifetime. In cuneiform records, Shuh is a
region on the middle Euphrates.
14 Explaining the hapax ‫ יקוט‬from the Arabic ‫“ וקטי‬hollow”. Vv. 13-14 describe the criminal, the verses following the
bliss of the righteous.
 17
Chapter 9

:‫א וַיַ ָ֥עַ ן אי֗ ֹוב ו ֶַֽיאמַ ר‬

‫ב אְָ֭ ְמנָם‬
‫י ַ ָּ֣דעְ תי כי־כ֑ן‬
1 Job answered and said:
:‫ם־אל‬
ֶֽ ‫ּומַ ה־יצְ ַ ֖דק אֱנּ֣ ֹוׁש ע‬
2 Indeed
I know that it is true ‫ג אם־ ְַ֭יחְ פץ‬
And how could a human argue with God? ‫ל ָּ֣ריב ע ֑מֹו‬
‫א־י ֲע ֶ֗ננּו‬
ֶֽ ַֹ֝ ‫ֶֽל‬
3 If
one desired
:‫י־אלֶף‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫אַ ַחָ֥ת מנ‬
To argue with Him,
He does not answer
‫ד חֲכַ ּ֣ם ְ֭לבָ ב‬
One out of a thousand.
‫וְ אַ ּ֣מיץ ֑כ ַח‬
4 Wise
of heart ‫מי־הקְ ָ ָׁ֥שה ֹ֝א ָ֗ליו‬
And bold in power, :‫וַי ְׁש ָ ֶֽלם‬
Who could pose Him difficult questions
And stay entire? ‫ה הַ מַ עְ ּ֣תיק הְָ֭ רים‬
‫וְ ּ֣לא י ָ ָ֑דעּו‬
5 He
displaces mountains
:‫אֲ ֶ ׁ֖שר ֲה ָפכָ ּ֣ם בְ אַ פֶֽ ֹו‬
Which do not realize
When He overturns them in His rage; ‫ו הַ מַ ְרגּ֣יז אְֶ֭ ֶרץ‬
6 Herattles land ‫קֹומּה‬
֑ ָ ‫מ ְמ‬
From its place ָ‫עַמּודיה‬
ֶ ֗ ‫ְֹ֝ו‬
While its pillars :‫י ְתפַ ל ֶָֽצּון‬
Are shaking.
‫ז ָ ֶֽהא ּ֣מר ְַ֭לחֶ ֶרס‬
7 Hecommands the sun ‫וְ ּ֣לא יז ָ ְ֑רח‬
Not to shine :‫ּובְ עַ ֖ד כֶֽ ֹוכ ָּ֣בים יַחְ ֶֽתם‬
And stars He seals off.
‫ח נ ֶ ּ֣טה ׁשָ ַמּ֣ים לְ בַ ֑דֹו‬
8 Heby Himself bends the sky ‫דֹורְך‬
֗ ‫ְֹ֝ו‬
And tramples :‫י־יֶֽם‬
ָ ‫ל־במֳת‬ֶֽ ָ ַ‫ע‬
On ocean heights.
‫ט ֶֽעשֶ ה־ ְָ֭עׁש‬
9 Hemade pleiads, ‫ימה‬
ָ ֗ ‫כְ ָ֥סיל וְ כ‬
Canopus and Arcturus, :‫וְ חַ דְ ָ֥רי ת ָ ֶֽמן‬
And the Chambers of the South.
‫י ע ֶ ּ֣שה ְ֭ ְגדלֹות‬
10 He
creates mighty things ‫עַד־אין ֑חקֶ ר‬
ּ֣
Beyond investigation ‫וְ נפְ ל ָ֗אֹות‬
And miracles :‫עַד־אין מסְ ָ ֶֽפר‬
ָ֥
Beyond number.
 18
:‫ַויַעְ קְ ֶֽׁשני‬

‫ם־אָ ני‬ ְ֭ ‫כא ָ ֶֽת‬

‫ֶֽלא־א ַ ָ֥דע נַפְ ׁ֗שי‬
:‫אֶ ְמ ַ ָ֥אס חַ ָיֶֽי‬ ‫יא ֤הן ַ ֶֽיע ֲּ֣בר ְָ֭עלַי‬
‫וְ ּ֣לא אֶ ְר ֶ ֑אה‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ַ ֶֽיח ֲֹ֗לף‬
:‫ְ ֶֽולא־אָ ָ֥בין לֶֽ ֹו‬

‫יב ּ֣הן ְַ֭יחְ תף‬

11 So
He will pass over me ‫יב֑נּו‬ ֶ ‫ּ֣מי יְ ׁש‬
While I will not notice ‫אמר ֹ֝א ָ֗ליו‬ ָ֥ ַ ‫ֶֽמי־י‬
And disappear :‫ה־תע ֶ ֲֶֽשה‬
ֶֽ ַ ‫ַ ֶֽמ‬
While I did not understand it.
ַ‫יג ְ֭אֱ לֹוּה‬
12 So
He may snatch, ‫ֶֽלא־י ָּׁ֣שיב אַ פ֑ ֹו‬
Who would return it?
‫תַ חְ ָ ָ֥תו [תַ חְ ָ ָ֥תיו] ֹ֝ ָ ֶֽׁשח ֲ֗חּו‬
Who would say to Him
What are You doing? :‫ּ֣עזְרי ָ ֶֽרהַ ב‬

13 God ‫יד אְַ֭ ף‬

Will not turn away His rage, ‫י־אנ ּ֣כי ֶ ֶֽאעֱנֶ ֑נּו‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫כ‬
Under Him are prostrate :‫אֶ ְ ֶֽבח ָ ֲ֖רה דְ בָ ַ ּ֣רי ע ֶֽמֹו‬
Power’s helpers.
‫טו אֲ ֶ ּׁ֣שר אם־צְָ֭ דַ קְ תי‬
14 Nevertheless
‫ּ֣לא אֶ עֱנֶ ֑ה‬
I shall answer Him,
‫ֹ֝ל ְמ ֶֽׁשפְ ֗טי‬
I shall select my words to Him,
:‫אֶ ְתחַ ָנֶַֽֽן‬
15 Sinceif I am justified
Should I not be able to respond? ‫טז אם־קָ ָ ָ֥ראתי ו ַ ֶַֽיעֲנ֑ני‬
In my suit ‫א־אא ֲ֗מין‬
ַ ֶֹֽ֝ ‫ֶֽל‬
I may petition. :‫קֹולי‬
ֶֽ ‫י־יֶֽאֲזָ֥ין‬ ַ ‫ֶֽכ‬
16 If
I am calling and He would answer me
‫יז אֲ ׁשֶ ר־ב ְשע ָ ָָ֥רה ְיׁשּופ֑ני‬
Should I not believe
That He will listen to my voice? :‫וְ ה ְר ָב֖ה פְ צָ עַ ּ֣י ח ָנֶֽם‬

17 Since
He will smite me for a hair ‫א־י ְתנני‬
ְ֭ ‫יח ֶֽל‬
And increases my hurt for nothing. ‫רּוחי‬
֑ ‫הָ ּׁ֣שב‬
‫ָ֥כי ַֹ֝י ְשב ַ֗עני‬
18 Hewill not let me :‫מַ ְמר ֶֽרים‬
Restore my spirit
But will satiate me ‫יט אם־לְ ּ֣כחַ אַ ּ֣מיץ הנ֑ה‬
With bitterness. ‫וְ אם־לְֹ֝ מ ְׁש ֗ ָפט‬
19 If
it be so for bold force :‫ידני‬ֶֽ ‫ּ֣מי יֶֽ ֹוע‬
Or lawful,
Who would inform me? ‫כ אם־אְֶ֭ צְ דָ ק‬
‫ּ֣פי י ְַרׁשיע֑ני‬
20 If I am in the right, ‫ם־אָ ני‬
֗ ֹ֝ ָ‫ת‬
 ‫‪19‬‬
‫‪My mouth would convict me.‬‬
‫ת־היא‬ ‫כב ַ ֶֽאחַ ְ֭‬ ‫‪I am harmless‬‬
‫עַל־כָ֥ן אָ ַמ ְ֑רתי‬ ‫‪But He perverts me.‬‬
‫ָ ָ֥תם ְֹ֝ו ָרׁשָ֗ ע‬
‫‪21 I‬‬
‫‪am harmless.‬‬
‫ּ֣הּוא ְמכ ֶ ֶַֽלה‪:‬‬
‫‪Not knowing my soul‬‬
‫?‪Would I abhor my life‬‬
‫ם־ׁשֹוט‬
‫כג א ְ֭‬
‫י ָּ֣מית פ ְת ֑אם‬
‫לְ מַ ַס֖ת ְנקיּ֣ם ילְ ָ ֶֽעג‪:‬‬

‫כד ֶ ֤א ֶרץ ׀‬
‫ַד־רׁשָ֗ ע‬
‫נ ְת ֬ ָנה ְ ֶֽבי ָ‬
‫י־ׁשפְ ֶטָ֥יהָ ְיכ ֶ ַ֑סה‬
‫פְ נ ֶֽ‬
‫י־הּוא‪:‬‬
‫ם־לא א ּ֣פֹוא מ ֶֽ‬ ‫א ֖‬

‫כה וְ י ַָמּ֣י ְ֭קַ לּו‬

‫י־רץ‬ ‫מנ ָ ֑‬
‫ֶֹֽ֝ ָב ְר ֗חּו‬
‫טֹובה‪:‬‬
‫א־ר ָ֥אּו ָ ֶֽ‬‫ֶֽל ָ‬

‫כו ְ֭ ָ ֶֽחלְ פּו‬

‫עם־אֳניּ֣ ֹות א ֶב֑ה‬
‫ֹ֝ ְכ ֗ ֶנׁשֶ ר‬
‫י־אכֶל‪:‬‬‫י ָָ֥טּוש עֲל ֶֽ‬

‫כז אם־אְָ֭ ְמרי‬

‫יחי‬ ‫אֶ ְׁשכְ ָחּ֣ה ש ֑‬
‫ֶ ֶֽא ֶעז ְָב֖ה פָנַ ּ֣י וְ אַ ְב ֶֽליגָה‪:‬‬

‫כח י ָָ֥ג ְרתי כָל־עַצְ ב ָ ֑תי‬

‫ָֹ֝י ֗ ַדעְ תי‬
‫י־לא ְתנ ֶַֽקני‪:‬‬
‫כ ָ֥‬
‫כט ָ ֶֽאנ ָ֥כי אֶ ְר ָ ׁ֑שע‬
‫ָ ֶֽלמָ ה־ ֹ֝֗ ֶזה‬
‫יגע‪:‬‬ ‫הֶ ּ֣בֶ ל א ָ ֶֽ‬

‫ל אם־ה ְת ָר ַחָ֥צְ תי ְבמו [ ְבמי] ָ ֑‬

‫־ׁשלֶג‬
‫ַֹ֝ ֶֽוהֲזכ֗ ֹותי‬
‫בְ ּ֣בר כ ָ ֶַֽפי‪:‬‬

‫לא אְָ֭ ז‬
‫בַ ַ ּ֣שחַ ת ת ְט ְבל֑ני‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ֶֽתעֲב֗ ּוני‬
‫מֹותי‪:‬‬
‫שַ לְ ָ ֶֽ‬

‫א־איׁש כ ָּ֣מֹוני ֶ ֶֽאעֱנֶ ֑נּו‬

‫לב ֶֽכי־ל ּ֣‬
 20
‫נ ָָ֥בֹוא ַֹ֝יחְ ֗ ָדו‬
22 Allis one :‫בַ מ ְׁש ָ ֶֽפט‬
Therefore I said,
He finishes off
The harmless and the criminal.
23 Ifthe scourge
Kills suddenly
It will scoff at the innocent’s perdition.
24 The Land
Was given in the criminal’s hand
Its judge’s face was covered
Since otherwise, who is he?
25 Mydays went faster
Than a sprinter;
They fled,
Did not see any good.
26 They left
As is a boat of reeds,
Like a vulture
Throws itself on food.
27 IfI would say
I will forget my sayings,
I shall leave my looks and become strong,
28 Iam afraid in all my nerves;
I know
That You will not let me be free.
29 I
will be found guilty,
Why is this
That I will toil in vain?
30 If
I had washed in melting snow
And cleansed
My hands in purity,
31 Still
then
You would immerse me in the pit,
Make my garments
Abhorrent;
32 For
He will not answer a man like me.
Could we come together
To trial?
 21

33 No
investigator is between us ַ‫מֹוכיח‬
֑ ‫לג ּ֣לא יֶֽׁש־בינּ֣ינּו‬
Who could put his hand on both of us. :‫ל־ׁשנֶֽינּו‬
ְ ‫י ָׁ֖שת י ָּ֣דֹו ַע‬

34 If
He would remove His stick from me ‫לד י ָּ֣סר ֶֽמ ָעלַ ּ֣י ׁשבְ ֑טֹו‬
And his cubit ‫ְֹ֝ו ֶֽאמָ ֗תֹו‬
Would not make me phobic, :‫ל־ת ַ ֶֽבע ַ ֲֶֽתני‬
ְ ַ‫א‬
35Then I could speak ‫לה אְַ֭ דַ בְ ָרה‬
Without fearing Him ‫וְ ּ֣לא ֶֽא ָיר ֶ ֑אנּו‬
But otherwise I cannot be ‫ֶֽכי־לא־כָ֥ן אָֹ֝ נ ֗כי‬
With myself.
:‫עמָ ֶֽדי‬
 22
Chapter 10
‫יב חַ יּ֣ים ְָ֭וחֶ סֶ ד‬ ‫א ָנֶַֽֽקְ ָ ָ֥טה נַפְ ׁ֗שי בְ חִַ֫ יָ ָ֥י‬
‫ע ָּ֣שיתָ עמָ ֑די‬ ‫יחי‬ ֑ ‫ֶ ֶֽאעֶ ז ְָבּ֣ה עָ לַ ּ֣י ש‬
‫ּוֹ֝ פְ קֻ ָ ֶֽד ְת ֗ך‬ :‫ֹ֝אֲ דַ בְ ָר ֗ה בְ ַמּ֣ר נַפְ ֶֽׁשי‬
:‫רּוחי‬
ֶֽ ‫ָ ֶֽׁש ְמ ָ ָ֥רה‬
ַ‫ל־אֱ לֹוּה‬
ְ֭ ֶ‫ב א ַמּ֣ר א‬
‫אַ ל־תַ ְרׁשיע֑ני‬
‫יעני‬
֗ ‫ֹ֝ ֶֽהֹוד‬
1 My soul loathed my life; :‫יבני‬
ֶֽ ‫ה־תר‬ ְ ַ‫עַ ּ֣ל מ‬
I abandon meditation about me;
I shall talk about my soul’s bitterness. ‫י־תע ֲׁ֗שק‬
ֶֽ ַ ‫ג ה ֲ֤טֹוב לְ ך ׀ ֶֽכ‬
2Ishall say to God: ‫ּ֣כי ְ֭ת ְמאַ ס‬
Do not make me out as evil. ‫יְ גּ֣יעַ כַפֶ ֑יך‬
Tell me : ָ‫הֹופעְ ת‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫וְ עַ ל־ע ֲַצ֖ת ְרׁשָ ּ֣עים‬
Why You pursue me.
‫ד ַ ֶֽהעינּ֣י בָ ָ ּ֣שר לָ ְ֑ך‬
3 Whatgood does it You to suppress me?
:‫אם־כ ְר ֖אֹות אֱנּ֣ ֹוׁש ת ְר ֶ ֶֽאה‬
That You despise
Your handiwork
‫ימי אֱנּ֣ ֹוׁש י ֶָמ֑יך‬ ּ֣ ‫ה ֲהכ‬
And appear in the counsel of evildoers?
‫נֹותיך‬ ֶ ֗ ‫ם־ׁש‬ ְ ֹ֝ ‫א‬
4 Are
Your eyes those of flesh, :‫ּ֣כימי ָ ֶֽגבֶ ר‬
Do You see like a human sees?
‫י־תבַ ָ֥קׁש ַ ֶֽלעֲֹונ֑י‬
ְ ‫ו ֶֽכ‬
5 Are Your days like those of humans?
Or Your years :‫אתי תדְ ֶֽרֹוׁש‬ ָ֥ ָ‫ּוְ֭ לְ חַ ט‬
Like those of man?
‫ז עַ ל־דְַ֭ עְ ְתך‬
6 ThatYou inquire about my iniquity ‫י־לא אֶ ְר ָ ׁ֑שע‬ ּ֣ ‫כ‬
And investigates my sin? :‫וְ ֖אין מ ָ ֶֽיַֽדְ ךּ֣ מַ ֶֽציל‬
7 Is
it Your opinion
That I may not sin? ‫ח י ֶָדּ֣יך ְ֭עצְ בּוני‬
Then nothing saves from Your hand. ‫ו ַ ֶַֽיע ֲ֑שּוני‬
‫יַ ָ֥חַ ד סָֹ֝ ֗ביב‬
8 Your hand formed me ‫ ט ְזכָר־ ְָ֭נא‬:‫ו ְַתבַ לְ ֶֽעני‬
And made me ‫יתני‬
֑ ָ ‫ֶֽכי־כ ַּ֣חמֶ ר עֲש‬
All around, :‫יבני‬ֶֽ ‫ְ ֶֽואֶ ל־עָפָ ָ֥ר ְתׁש‬
And swallowed me.
9 Please,
remember ‫י ה ֲּ֣לא ְ֭ ֶ ֶֽכחָ לָב‬
That You made me like clay, ‫תַ תיכ֑ני‬
And You will return me to dust. ‫ְֹ֝וכַגְ ב ָ֗נה‬
:‫יאני‬
ֶֽ ‫תַ קְ פ‬
10 Anddid You not melt me
Like milk ‫יא עּ֣ ֹור ּוְ֭ בָ שָ ר‬
And made me jell ‫יׁשני‬֑ ‫תַ לְ ב‬
Like cheese? ‫ּובעֲצָ ָ֥מֹות ְֹ֝וג ֗ידים‬ ֶֽ ַ
11 You clothed me :‫ְתשכְ ֶֽכני‬
With skin and flesh
 ‫‪23‬‬

‫וְ ּ֣לא אָ ׁ֑שּוב‬ ‫‪And sheltered me‬‬

‫ל־א ֶרץ ּ֣חׁשֶ ְך וְ צַ לְ ָ ֶֽמוֶת‪:‬‬
‫אֶ ֶ ֖‬ ‫‪With bones and sinews.‬‬
‫‪12 Life and grace‬‬
‫ֹו־אפֶל‬
‫כב ֶ ֤א ֶרץ עי ָֹ֝פתָ ה ׀ כְ ֶֽמ ֗‬ ‫‪You created with me‬‬
‫‪ And my spirit‬צְַ֭ לְ מָ וֶת‬
‫א־סדָ ֗רים‬
‫וְ ֶֽל ְ‬ ‫‪Kept your commandments.‬‬
‫מֹו־אפֶ ל‪:‬‬
‫ו ַָ֥תפַ ע כְ ֶֽ‬

‫יג ְ֭ ְואלֶה‬
‫צָ פַ ּ֣נְתָ ב ְלבָ ֶב֑ך‬
‫ָֹ֝י ֗ ַדעְ תי‬
‫י־זאת ע ָ ֶֽמְך‪:‬‬
‫כ ָ֥‬

‫ּוׁשמַ ְר ָ ֑תני‬
‫יד אם־חָ ָטָ֥אתי ְ‬
‫ּוֹ֝ ֶֽמע ֲֹ֗וני‬
‫ּ֣לא ְתנ ֶַֽקני‪:‬‬

‫ם־רׁשִַ֡ עְ תי אַ לְ ַ֬לי ֗לי‬

‫טו א ָ‬
‫ְ֭ ְוצָ דַ קְ תי‬
‫ְש ַבָ֥ע ָֹ֝ק ֗לֹון‬
‫עָנְיי‪:‬‬
‫ְּור ָ֥אה ֶֽ‬

‫טז ְ֭ ְויגְ אֶ ה‬
‫צּודני‬
‫ַשחַ ל ְת ֑‬
‫כ ַ ּ֣‬
‫ְֹ֝ותָ ׁ֗שב‬
‫ָא־בי‪:‬‬
‫ת ְת ַפל ֶֽ‬

‫יז ְתחַ ֬דׁש ע ַ֨ ֶדיך ׀ נֶגְ ֗די‬

‫וְ ֶ ּ֣ת ֶרב ַ ֶֽכעַ ְשךּ֣ עמָ ֑די‬
‫חֲליפ֖ ֹות וְ צָ ָבּ֣א ע ֶֽמי‪:‬‬

‫יח וְ לָ ּ֣מָ ה ְ֭מ ֶרחֶ ם‬

‫אתני‬‫ֶֽהצ ָ ֑‬
‫אֶֹ֝ גְ ֗ ַוע‬
‫וְ עַ ּ֣ין ֶֽלא־ת ְר ֶֽאני‪:‬‬

‫יט ַ ֶֽכאֲ ֶ ּׁ֣שר ֶֽלא־הָ יּ֣יתי אֶ הְ יֶ ֑ה‬

‫ֹ֝מ ֗ ֶבטֶ ן‬
‫אּובל‪:‬‬
‫ל ֶ ַָ֥קבֶ ר ָ ֶֽ‬

‫א־מעַ ּ֣ט י ַָמּ֣י ַ ֶֽיח ָ ֲ֑דל [ ַ ֶֽוח ָ ֲ֑דל]‬

‫כ ה ֲֶֽל ְ‬
‫יְ ָׁ֥שית [וְ ָׁ֥שית] ֹ֝מ ֗ ֶמני‬
‫וְ אַ בְ לָ֥יגָה ְמ ָ ֶֽעט‪:‬‬

‫כא בְ ֶט ֶּ֣רם ְ֭אלְך‬

 24

13 These
18 Why did You extract me You hid in Your heart,
From the womb? I know
I should have expired That this is with You.
Before an eye saw me.
14 If
I sinned but You preserved me
19 I
shall be as I not yet was, And You would not cleanse me
From the womb From my transgression,
I will be brought to the grave. 15 If I acted criminally, woe me
Even if I acted correctly
20 Arenot my days few [and let me be], I will not lift my head
Let me be Full of shame
That I may rest a little bit And see my wretched state.
16 It will be haughtiness
21 Before I will go, If like a lion You caught me
And not return, And repeatedly
To the land of darkness and permanent shadow. Will exhibit me.
22 A
waste land, only darkness, 17 Renew Your witnesses against me,
Deep shadow Increase Your rage against me,
Without order, Replacements and masses against me.
Appearing only darkness.

17 The Eastern Massorah reads ‫“ וַצְ בא‬He will lead against me” instead of ‫וְ צָ ָבּ֣א‬.

Chapter 11
‫ֶֽמי־י ּ֣תן ֱאלּ֣ ֹוּהַ דַ ב֑ר‬ ‫א ְַ֭ויַעַ ן‬
:‫וְ יפְ ַ ֖תח ְשפ ָ ָּ֣תיו ע ָ ֶֽמְך‬ ‫צפַ ָ֥ר הַ ַ ֶֽנעֲמָ ֗תי‬
:‫ו ֶַֽיאמַ ר‬
‫ו וְ ַיגֶד־לְ ך ׀ ַ ֶֽת ֲעל ֻּ֣מֹות ָחכְ מָ ה‬ ‫ב ה ֲּ֣רב ְ֭ ְדבָ רים‬
‫תּוׁשיָ ָ֥ה‬
ִ֫ ‫ֶֽכי־כפְ לַ ֵ֢ים ְ ֶֽל‬ ‫ּ֣לא ֶֽיעָנֶ ֑ה‬
‫וְ ִ֡ ַדע‬
:‫ם־איׁש ְשפ ַ ָּ֣תים יצְ ָ ֶֽדק‬ ֖ ‫וְ א‬
:‫ַשה ְלךָ֥ ֹ֝ ֱא ֗לֹוהַ ֶֽמע ֲֶֹונֶַֽֽך‬ ָ֥ ֶ ‫ֶֽכי־י‬
‫ג בְַ֭ דֶ יך‬
‫ז הַ ּ֣חקֶ ר ֱאלּ֣ ֹוּהַ ת ְמ ָצ֑א‬ ‫ְמ ּ֣תים ַ ֶֽיח ֲ֑ריׁשו‬
‫ֹ֝ ַותלְ עַ֗ ג‬
:‫֤אם עַד־תַ כְ ל֖ית ׁשַ ַדּ֣י ת ְמ ָ ֶֽצא‬
:‫וְ ּ֣אין מַ כְ ֶֽלם‬

‫ח גָבְ הּ֣י ׁשְָ֭ מַ ים‬ ‫ד ְַ֭ותאמֶ ר‬

‫מַ ה־תפְ ָעּ֣ל‬ ‫זַ ְַּֽ֣ך לקְ ֑חי‬
‫ֲעמ ָ ָֻ֥קה ֹ֝מ ְש ֗אֹול‬ ‫ּוֹ֝ ֗ ַבר‬
:‫מַ ה־ת ָ ֶֽדע‬ :‫הָ יָ֥יתי בְ ע ֶינֶֽיך‬

‫ט אֲרֻ כָ ּ֣ה מ ֶ ּ֣א ֶרץ מ ָ ֑דּה‬

‫ּוֹ֝ ְרחָ ֗ ָבה‬ ‫ה ְ ֶֽואּו ָ֗לם‬
 25
8 In
the heights of Heaven :‫י־יֶֽם‬
ָ ‫מנ‬
What would to do?
Deeper than the Netherworld ‫ם־יחֲֹלָ֥ ף וְ יַסְ ג֑יר‬ֶֽ ַ ‫י א‬
What do you know? ‫ְֹ֝ויַקְ ֗היל‬
9 The
measure is longer than earth, :‫יבנּו‬ ֶֽ ֶ ‫ּומי ְיׁש‬
ּ֣
And wider
Than the Sea. ‫י־הּוא‬ ְ֭ ‫יא כ‬
‫י־ׁשוְ א‬
֑ ָ ‫י ַ ָּ֣דע ְמת‬
10 If
He exchanges or excludes, ‫א־אָ וֶן‬
֗ ֹ֝ ‫ַוי ְַר‬
Or assembles,
:‫בֹונֶַֽֽן‬
ָ ‫וְ ּ֣לא י ְת‬
Who would object?
11 Certainly
He
Knows dishonest men.
Would He see evil
And not recognize?

1 Śofar from Naamah

‫יב וְ ּ֣איׁש ְָ֭נבּוב‬ Answered
‫יל ָ֑בב‬ And said:
‫וְ עַ ָ֥יר ֹ֝ ֗ ֶפ ֶרא‬
2 Does a multitude of words
:‫אָ ָדָ֥ם יּו ֶָֽלד‬ Preclude an answer,
Or is the master of words justified?
‫יג אם־אְַ֭ תָ ה‬
‫הֲכינּ֣ ֹותָ ל ֶב֑ך‬ 3 Your inventions

:‫ּופ ַָר ְש ָ ֖ת אלָ ּ֣יו כ ֶ ֶַֽפך‬ Silence men

You may be scoffing
‫ם־אוֶן ְ֭ ְב ָ ֶֽי ְַֽדך‬
ּ֣ ָ ‫יד א‬ And nobody is humiliated.
‫יקהּו‬ ֑ ‫הַ ְרח‬
4 You are saying
:‫וְ אַ ל־תַ ְׁשכ֖ן ְב ֶֽא ָה ֶלּ֣יך עַוְ ָ ֶֽלה‬ Pure is my teaching
And clean
12 Could a hollow man I was in Your eyes.
Grow a heart?
Or a wild onager 5However,
Be born as a human? Who could make God to speak
That He opens His lips for you?
13 If
you
6 That
He would tell you hidden wisdom,
Prepared your heart
And spread your hand over it, Double resourcefulness;
Then You will know
14 If
evil is in your hand, That God is your creditor for your sin.
Remove it,
7 Could
you reach investigating God?
And do not let wrong stay in your tents
Would you find a limit of the Almighty?
‫וְ הָ יָ֥יתָ ֹ֝ ֻמ ֗ ָצק‬ ‫י־אז ׀‬
֤ ָ ‫טו ֶֽכ‬
:‫וְ ּ֣לא ת ָ ֶֽירא‬ ‫ת ָ ּ֣שא פָנֶ ּ֣יך מ ֑מּום‬
 26
15 Then
You will lift your face free of blemish, ‫טז ֶֽכי־אְַ֭ תָ ה‬
You will be firm ‫ע ָ ָּ֣מל ת ְׁשכָ ֑ח‬
And have nothing to fear. :‫כְ ַמ֖ים ָ ֶֽעבְ ּ֣רּו תז ְֶֽכר‬

16 ThenYou ‫יז ֶֽ ְּ֭ומצָ ה ֳַרים‬

Will forget toil, ‫י ָּ֣קּום ָ ֑חלֶד‬
You will remember like a passed flood. ‫תָֹ֝ ֻ֗עפָ ה‬
:‫כ ַָ֥בקֶ ר תהְ ֶיֶֽה‬
17 Morethan noontime
Will life be firm; ָ‫יח ֶֽ ְּ֭ובָ טַ חְ ת‬
You will be spreading wings ‫כי־יּׁ֣ש תקְ וָ ֑ה‬
As a morning. ‫פַר ֗ ָת‬
ְ ‫ְֹ֝ו ָ ֶֽח‬
:‫ל ֶָבָ֥טַ ח ת ְׁש ָ ֶֽכב‬
18 Youwill be confident
That you have hope,
ָ‫יט ְֶֽ֭ ְו ָרבַ צְ ת‬
And digging deep
‫וְ ּ֣אין ַ ֶֽמח ֲ֑ריד‬
You will lie down in safety.
:‫וְ חל֖ ּו פָנֶ ּ֣יך ַר ֶֽבים‬
19 You
will stretch yourself out
Without fear ‫כ וְ עינָ֥י ְרׁשָ ֗עים ִ֫תכְ לֶ ָ֥ינָה‬
And many will ask for your favors. ‫ּוְ֭ מָ נֹוס‬
‫אָ ַבּ֣ד מ ְנ ֶה֑ם‬
20The eyes of the wicked will cease, ‫ְֹ֝ותקְ ו ֗ ָָתם‬
Refuge :‫ח־נ ֶפׁש‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫ַ ֶֽמ ַפ‬
Will be lost for them,
And their hope
Is anguish.
 ‫‪27‬‬

‫‪Chapter 12‬‬

‫ְֹ֝ו ֗רּוחַ‬ ‫א וַיַ ָ֥עַ ן אי֗ ֹוב‬

‫ר־איׁש‪:‬‬
‫כָל־בְ שַ ֶֽ‬ ‫ו ֶַֽיאמַ ר‪:‬‬
‫ב אְָ֭ ְמנָם‬
‫ּ֣כי אַ תֶ ם־עָ ֑ם‬
‫ְֹ֝ועמָ ֶ֗כם‬
‫תָ ָ֥מּות חָ כְ ָ ֶֽמה‪:‬‬

‫ג גַם־ל֤י ל ַ֨ ָבב ׀ כְ מֹו ֶ֗כם‬

‫ֶֽלא־נפּ֣ל ָ ֶֽאנ ּ֣כי מכֶ ֑ם‬
‫י־אין כְ מֹו ֶֽאלֶה‪:‬‬ ‫וְ אֶ ת־מ ָ֥‬

‫ד ְש ֤חק לְ ר ַ֨עהּו ׀ ֶ ֶֽאהְ ֶ֗יה‬

‫ק ּ֣רא ְֶ֭ל ֱאלֹוּהַ‬
‫ו ַ ֶַֽיעֲנ֑הּו‬
‫ֹ֝ ְש ֗חֹוק‬
‫צַ ָ֥דיק תָ ֶֽמים‪:‬‬
‫ה ל ַּ֣פיד ְ֭בּוז‬
‫לְ ַע ְׁש ּ֣תּות ַ ֶֽׁשאֲנָ ַֽ֑ן‬
‫ָֹ֝נכ֗ ֹון‬
‫לְ ּ֣מֹועֲדי ָ ֶֽרגֶל‪:‬‬

‫ו י ְׁשלָ ֤יּו ֶֽאהָ ַ֨לים ׀ לְ ֶֽׁשדְ ֗דים‬

‫ֶֽ ְּ֭ובַ טֻחֹות‬
‫לְ מַ ְרגּ֣יזי ֑אל‬
‫ַ ֶֽלאֲ ֶ ׁ֤שר ה ֖ביא ֱאלּ֣ ֹוּהַ בְ י ֶָֽדֹו‪:‬‬

‫ז ְ ֶֽואּו ָ֗לם‬
‫ְׁשאַ ל־נָ ּ֣א בְ ה ּ֣מֹות וְ ת ֶ ֑ר ָך‬
‫וְ עָ֥ ֹוף הַֹ֝ שָ ֗ ַמים‬
‫ֶד־לְך‪:‬‬
‫וְ ַיג ָ ֶֽ‬

‫ח ֤אֹו ּ֣שיחַ ל ָ ָּ֣א ֶרץ וְ ת ֶ ֑ר ָך‬

‫ֶֽויסַ פְ ָ֥רּו לְֹ֝ ֗ך‬
‫דְ גּ֣י הַ ָיֶֽם‪:‬‬

‫ט ְ֭מי‬
‫ָל־אלֶה‬
‫ֶֽלא־י ַ ָּ֣דע בְ כ ֑‬
‫ַד־יהוָה‬
‫ָ֥כי י ֹ֝ ְ‬
‫עָ ְּ֣שתָ ה ֶֽזאת‪:‬‬

‫י אֲ ֶ ּׁ֣שר ְ֭ ְביָדֹו‬
‫ָל־ח֑י‬
‫נֶ ּ֣ ֶפׁש כ ָ‬
 28
‫א־אזֶן‬ְ֭ ‫ יא הֲל‬1 Job answered
‫מלּ֣ין ת ְב ָח֑ן‬ And said:
‫ְֹ֝ו ֗חְך‬
2 In fact
:‫ּ֣אכֶל י ְטעַם־לֶֽ ֹו‬
You are the people,
And with you
‫יׁשים חָ כְ ָ ֑מה‬ ָ֥ ‫יב ֶֽביׁש‬
Wisdom will die.
:‫בּונֶֽה‬
ָ ‫וְ ֖א ֶרְך י ָּ֣מים ְת‬
3 I also have a heart as you do;
‫ יג ְ֭עמֹו‬I am not less than you are;
‫בּורה‬֑ ָ ְ‫חָ כְ ָ ּ֣מה ּוג‬ Who is not like these?
‫ֹ֝ ֗לֹו‬
4 I will be a laughter for one’s neighbor:
:‫בּונֶֽה‬ָ ‫ּות‬ ְ ‫ע ָצָ֥ה‬
Invoking God
And being answered;
‫יד ּ֣הן ְ֭ ַ ֶֽיהֲרֹוס‬
Laughter
‫וְ ּ֣לא יבָ נֶ ֑ה‬
Of the perfectly just one.
‫ל־איׁש‬
֗ ֹ֝ ‫יסְ ָ֥גר ַע‬
: ַ‫וְ ּ֣לא יפ ֶָֽתח‬ 5 A catastrophe of shame
For the insouciant block
‫טו ֤הן יַעְ ּ֣צר בַ ַמּ֣ים וְ י ָבׁ֑שּו‬. Prepared
‫ֶֽ ֹ֝ויׁשַ לְ ֗חם‬ For those whose foot stumbles.
:‫וְ ַיֶֽהַ פְ כּו־ ָ ֶֽא ֶרץ‬
6 Tranquil tents for robbers
And safety
‫טז ְ֭עמֹו‬
For those who anger God,
‫ּ֣עז וְ תּוׁשיָ ֑ה‬
For him who brought a god in his hand.
‫ֹ֝ ֗לֹו‬
:‫ׁשגָ֥ג ּומַ ְׁש ֶגֶֽה‬ 7 However,
Please ask animals and they will teach you,
‫ׁשֹול֑ל‬
ָ ‫ יז מֹולּ֣יְך יֶֽ ֹוע ֲּ֣צים‬And the bird of the sky
:‫הֹולל‬
ֶֽ ‫ְ ֶֽוׁשפְ ָ֥טים ְי‬ Will tell you.
8 Or speak to the ground and it will teach you,
ַ‫ ְמל ָּ֣כים פ ֑תח‬.. ‫ יח‬And the fish of the Sea
‫ַוי ְֶא ָ֥סר ֹ֝אז֗ ֹור‬ Will narrate you.
:‫יהם‬ ֶֽ ֶ ‫בְ מָ ְתנ‬
9 Who
‫ׁשֹול֑ל‬
ָ ‫יט מֹולּ֣יְך ֶֽכהֲנּ֣ים‬ Does not know of all of these
:‫ וְ ֶֽאתָ נּ֣ים ְיסַ ֶֽלף‬That the Eternal’s hand
Created this.
‫מ ּ֣סיר שְָ֭ ָפה‬. 10 Since in His hand
‫לְ ֶנאֱמָ נ֑ים‬ Is the soul of living beings
:‫ וְ ַ ֖טעַם זְקנּ֣ים י ָ ֶֽקח‬And the spirit
Of all human flesh.
‫כא ׁשֹופְּ֣ך ְ֭בּוז‬
‫יבים‬ ֑ ‫ַעל־נְד‬
:‫יקים ר ָ ֶֽפה‬ ּ֣ ‫ּומז֖יחַ אֲפ‬ ְ
‫כב ְמגַלֶ ּ֣ה ְ֭ ֲעמֻקֹות‬
‫י־חׁשֶ ְך‬
֑ ‫מנ‬
 29
11 Doesnot the ear :‫וַיצ֖א ל ָּ֣אֹור צַ לְ ָ ֶֽמוֶת‬
Understand words,
And the palate
Tastes food?
12 In
the elders rests wisdom
And insight in length of days.
13 InHim
Is wisdom and strength,
His is
Counsel and insight.
14 Would He tear down
Not to be rebuilt,
Shut up a man
Not to be released?
15Can He not stop water so it dries up,
Or send it
To overturn land?

16 With Him
Is might and understanding,
His is
Erring person and deceiver.
17 Heleads counselors astray,
And judges rakish.
18 Heundoes the punishment by kings
But closes a belt
On their hips.
19 Heleads priests astray
And distorts normal states.
++
20 Heremoves speech
From the trustworthy
And lifts reason from the elderly.
21 He
pours out scorn
On the nobles
And weakens the dam of river beds.
22 Heuncovers depths
In darkness
And turns deep shadow into light.
 30

23 Heleads peoples into error ‫כג מַ ְשגּ֣יא ְַ֭לגֹוים‬

To destroy them, ‫ַויְאַ בְ ֑דם‬
Prepares space for peoples ‫גֹוים‬ ֗ ‫ׁש ָ֥טחַ ֹ֝ ַל‬
And settles them.
:‫ַו ַי ְנ ֶֽחם‬
24 Heremoves sense
‫כד מ ֗סיר ְ֭לב‬
Of the leaders of the freeholders
‫אׁשי עַם־הָ ָ ֑א ֶרץ‬ ּ֣ ‫ָר‬
And makes them err
‫ֹ֝ ַוי ְַת ֗עם‬
In pathless chaos.
:‫א־ד ֶרְך‬ ֶֽ ָ ‫בְ ּ֣תהּו ֶֽל‬
25 Theygrope in darkness without light.
He leads them astray ‫א־אֹור‬
֑ ‫ׁש־חׁשֶ ְך וְ ל‬
ָ֥ ‫יְמ ְׁש‬
ֶֽ ַ ‫כה‬
Like a drunkard. ‫ֹ֝ ַוי ְַת ֗עם‬
.‫כשכור‬

19 Cohen also may mean “high official” (2S. 8:18, 20:26), probably meant here.
 31
Chapter 13

1 All this my eye saw, ‫ן־כל ָ ֶֽרא ָ ֲּ֣תה עינ֑י‬ ֖ ֶ‫א ה‬

My ear heard, ‫ָ ֶֽׁש ְמעָ ָ֥ה אָֹ֝ ז ְ֗ני‬
And understood it. :‫ו ָ ַָ֥תבֶ ן ָ ֶֽלּה‬
2 Your knowledge ‫ב ְֶֽ֭ ְכדַ עְ ְת ֶכם‬
I also am knowing; ‫ַם־אני‬֑ ָ ‫י ַ ָּ֣דעְ תי ג‬
I am not less than you. :‫ֶֽלא־נפ֖ל ָ ֶֽאנ ּ֣כי מ ֶ ֶֽכם‬
3 However, I ‫ג אּו ָ֗לם ְ֭ ֲאני‬
Am speaking to the Almighty; ‫אֶ ל־ׁשַ ַדּ֣י אֲדַ ב֑ר‬
My desire is to argue with God.
:‫ל־אל אֶ חְ ָ ֶֽפץ‬
ּ֣ ֶ‫וְ הֹוכ֖חַ א‬
4 However,
You are pasting falsehood; ‫ד ְ ֶֽואּו ָ֗לם‬
‫י־ׁשקֶ ר‬֑ ָ ‫אַ ֶ ָ֥תם ֶֽטפְ ל‬
All of you are quack healers.
:‫רפְ ֖אי ֱא ּ֣לל כֻלְ ֶ ֶֽכם‬
5 Who could make
That you should shut up; ‫י־יתן‬ְ֭ ‫ה ֶֽמ‬
This would be wisdom by you. ‫יׁשּון‬
֑ ‫ַ ֶֽהח ֲּ֣רׁש ַ ֶֽתחֲר‬
:‫ּות ֖הי לָכֶ ּ֣ם לְ חָ כְ ָ ֶֽמה‬
ְ
6 Pleaselisten to my admonition;
Be attentive to my lips’ complaints. ‫ו ׁש ְמעּו־נָ ָ֥א ֶֽתֹוכַחְ ֑תי‬
:‫וְ ר ֖בֹות ְשפ ַ ָּ֣תי הַ קְ ֶֽׁשיבּו‬
7 Wouldyou speak evil
About God? ‫ז ְ֭ ַ ֶֽהלְ אל‬
About Him ‫ְתדַ בְ ּ֣רּו עַוְ לָ ֑ה‬
Speak deceit? ‫ְֹ֝ו ֗לֹו‬
:‫ְ ֶֽתדַ בְ ָ֥רּו ְרמ ָיֶֽה‬
8 Would you be partial to Him,
Or quarrel with God? ‫ח הֲפָנָ ָ֥יו תשָ ֑אּון‬
:‫יבּון‬
ֶֽ ‫אם־ל ָָ֥אל ְתר‬
9 Is
it good
That He should investigate you
‫ט ְ֭ ֲהטֹוב‬
Since You mocked Him
‫ֶֽכי־יַחְ ּ֣קר אֶ ְתכֶ ֑ם‬
Like a human is mocked?
‫אם־כְ הָ ָ֥תל בֶֹ֝ אֱנ֗ ֹוׁש‬
10 You have to be admonished :‫ְתהָ ָ֥תלּו ֶֽבֹו‬
If in secret
You are partial. ‫יֹוכיחַ אֶ ְתכֶ ֑ם‬
ּ֣ ַ‫י הֹוכּ֣ח‬
‫אם־בַֹ֝ ֗סתֶ ר‬
:‫פָ נָ֥ים תשָ ֶֽאּון‬
 32
‫ָ ָ֥אז ֹ֝מ ָפ ֗ ֶניך‬
:‫ּ֣לא אֶ סָ ֶֽתר‬

‫כא ְַ֭כפְ ך‬ ‫יא ה ֲּ֣לא ְ֭ ְשאתֹו‬

‫ֶֽמ ָע ַלּ֣י הַ ְר ַח֑ק‬ ‫תבעת אתכם‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ָ֥א ָ ֶֽמ ְת ֗ך‬ ‫ּוֹ֝ פַ חְ ד֗ ֹו‬
:‫ל־ת ַ ֶֽבע ַ ֲֶֽתני‬
ְ ַ‫א‬ :‫יכם‬
ֶֽ ֶ ‫י ָ֥פל עֲל‬

‫יב ְ֭זכְ ֶֽרניכֶם‬

‫י־אפֶר‬
֑ ‫מ ְׁשל‬
11 Doesnot His majesty ‫י־חמֶ ר‬ ֗ ֹ֝ ‫לְ גַב‬
Make you dread? :‫יכם‬ֶֽ ֶ ‫גַב‬
And His fear
Will fall on you. ‫יג ַ ֶֽהח ֲּ֣ריׁשּו ְ֭ממֶ ני‬
‫ה־אני‬
֑ ָ ‫ַ ֶֽואֲדַ בְ ָר‬
12 Yourmemories
Are parables of dust;+ :‫וְ ַ ֶֽיע ֲ֖בר ָעלַ ּ֣י ָ ֶֽמה‬
Your backs ‫ל־מה ׀‬֤ ָ ַ‫יד ע‬
Are clay clods. ‫אֶ ָ ּ֣שא בְ שָ ּ֣רי בְ ׁשנָ ֑י‬
‫ְֹ֝ונַפְ ׁ֗שי‬
13 Besilent to me,
Let me talk, :‫אָ ָ֥שים בְ כ ֶַֽפי‬
Let come over me anything.
‫טו ּ֣הן ְ֭יקְ טְ לני‬
14 Therefore ‫ּ֣לא [לּ֣ ֹו] ֲאי ַ֑חל‬
I shall take my flesh into my hands ‫אַ ְך־דְֹ֝ ָר ַ֗כי‬
And my soul : ַ‫אֹוכיח‬
ֶֽ ‫אֶ ל־פָנָ ָ֥יו‬
Take into my hands.
15 Soif He will kill me, ‫טז גַם־הּוא־לָ֥י ֶֽליׁשּועָ ֑ה‬
I do not expect it [To Him I will pray], ‫י־לא לְֹ֝ ָפ ֗ ָניו‬
ָ֥ ‫כ‬
But my behavior :‫חָ ָ֥נַֽף י ֶָֽבֹוא‬
I will justify in His presence.
‫יז ׁש ְמעּ֣ ּו ׁשְָ֭ מֹו ַע‬
16 Also,He is my help ‫מל ָ֑תי‬
Since into His presence ‫ְֹ֝ו ַ ֶֽא ֲחו ָ֗תי‬
Flattery will not come. :‫יכם‬ֶֽ ֶ ‫בְ אָ זְנ‬
17 Listen
hearing
To my word, ‫יח הנה־ ְָ֭נא‬
And my declaration ‫עָרכְ תי מ ְׁשפָ ֑ט‬ ּ֣ ַ
In your ears. ‫ָֹ֝י ֗ ַדעְ תי‬
:‫ֶֽכי־אֲנָ֥י אֶ צְ ָ ֶֽדק‬
18 Look,
I arranged the argument,
‫י־הּוא‬
ְ֭ ‫יט מ‬
I know
‫י ָּ֣ריב עמָ ֑די‬
That I shall be justified.
:‫י־עַתה ַ ֶֽאח ֲּ֣ריׁש וְ אֶ גְ ָ ֶֽוע‬
֖ ָ ‫ֶֽכ‬
19 Who is He
Who will quarrel with me, ‫ְך־ׁשתַ ים‬
ְ ְ֭ ַ‫כ א‬
That now I shall be silent and perish? ‫ל־ת ַעש עמָ ֑די‬
ּ֣ ַ ַ‫א‬
 33
‫כח ְ֭ ְוהּוא כְ ָר ָ ּ֣קב י ְב ֶל֑ה‬
20 Onlytwo things
‫ֹ֝ ְכ ֗ ֶבגֶד‬
Do not do with me,
:‫ֲאכָ ּ֣לֹו ָעְׁש‬
Then I will not be hidden
Before Your presence.
21 Remove from me
Your hand
That Your dread
22 And call Should not make me fear.
So that I may answer,
Then I will talk ‫כב ּוְ֭ קְ ָרא‬
And You will answer me. ‫וְ ָ ֶֽאנ ּ֣כי ֶ ֶֽאעֱנֶ ֑ה‬
‫ָ֥אֹו ֹ֝אֲ דַ ֗בר‬
23 How much :‫יבני‬ ֶֽ ‫ַ ֶֽוהֲׁש‬
Are crimes and sins?
Inform me ‫כג כ ָ ַּ֣מה ְ֭לי‬
Of my guilt and sin. ‫עֲֹונּ֣ ֹות וְ חַ טָ ֑אֹות‬
‫אתי‬ ֗ ָ‫פ ְׁש ָ֥עי ְֹ֝וחַ ט‬
24 Whyare You hiding Your presence, :‫יעני‬
ֶֽ ‫ֶֽהד‬
And consider me Your enemy?
‫כד ָ ֶֽלמָ ה־פָנֶ ָ֥יך תַ סְ ֑תיר‬
25 Do You make fear smelling leaf
:‫וְ תַ חְ ְׁשב֖ני לְ אֹויּ֣ב ָ ֶֽלְך‬
Or persecute dry straw?
‫כה הֶ עָ לֶ ּ֣ה נ ָ ּ֣דף ַ ֶֽתע ֲ֑רֹוץ‬
26 That
You prescribe me bitterness :‫ת־קׁש י ָּ֣בׁש ת ְר ֶֽדף‬ ֖ ַ ֶ‫וְ א‬
And make me inherit
The crimes of my youth, ‫כו ֶֽכי־תכְ ּ֣תב ָעלַ ּ֣י ְמר ֑רֹות‬
‫יׁשני‬
֗ ‫ְֹ֝ו ֶֽתֹור‬
27 Put my feet into the pillory,
:‫עּורי‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫עֲֹונָ֥ ֹות ְנ‬
Watch all my paths;
On the roots of my feet
‫כז וְ תָ ֤שם בַ ַ֨ ַסד ׀ ַרגְ ַ֗לי‬
You investigate.
‫חֹותי‬
֑ ָ ‫וְ ת ְׁש ָ֥מֹור כָל־אָ ְר‬
‫עַ ל־ׁשָ ְר ָׁ֥שי ֹ֝ ַרגְ ַ֗לי‬
28 But it will waste in putrescence,
Like a garment :‫ת ְתחַ ֶ ֶֽקה‬
Moth eaten.
28 But it will waste in putrescence,
Like a garment
Moth eaten.
 34

Chapter 14

:‫וַיגְ וַ ֖ע אָ ָדּ֣ם וְ אַ יֶֽ ֹו‬ ‫א אְָ֭ דָ ם‬

‫ְילּ֣ ּוד א ָ ֑שה‬
‫יא ָ ֶֽאזְלּו־מְַ֭ ים‬ ‫קְ ַצָ֥ר ָֹ֝י ֗מים‬
‫מני־יָ ֑ם‬ :‫ּ֣ע־רגֶז‬
ֶֽ ‫ּוֶֽ ְש ַב‬
‫ְֹ֝ונ ֗ ָָהר‬
:‫ֶיח ַ ֱָ֥רב וְ י ֶָֽבׁש‬ ‫ב כְ ּ֣ציץ ְָ֭יצָ א‬
‫וַי ָ ֑מל‬
‫וַיבְ ַ ָ֥רח ַֹ֝כ ֗צל‬
1Man is :‫וְ ּ֣לא ַ ֶֽיע ֲֶֽמֹוד‬
Woman born,
Short of days ‫ג אַ ף־עַ ל־ ְֶ֭זה‬
And full of worries. ‫ָפ ַ ּ֣קחְ תָ עינֶ ַֽ֑ך‬
2 Likea blossom he appeared :‫וְ א ֤תי תָ ֖ביא בְ מ ְׁשפָ ּ֣ט ע ָ ֶֽמְך‬
And wasted,
He fled like a shadow ‫ד ֶֽמי־י ּ֣תן טְָ֭ הֹור‬
And did not stay. ‫מטָ ֗מא‬
:‫ּ֣לא אֶ ָ ֶֽחד‬
3 Even
on this
You opened Your eye; ‫ֲרּוצים ׀ י ֗ ָָמיו‬ַ֨ ‫ה ָ֥אם ח‬
Me you will drag for judgment before You. ‫ֶֽמסְ פַר־חֳדָ ָ ָׁ֥שיו א ָ ֑תְך‬
4 Who would produce pure ָ‫ח ָ ָֻ֥קו [ח ָ ָֻ֥קיו] ֹ֝ ָע ֗שית‬
From impure? :‫וְ ּ֣לא ַ ֶֽיע ֲֶֽבר‬
No one.
5 If
his days are laborious, ‫ו ְׁשעּ֣ה מ ָעלָ ּ֣יו וְ יֶחְ ָ ֑דל‬
The number of his months with You, ‫ד־י ְרצֶ֗ ה‬
ֹ֝ ַ‫ע‬
You made his workload[s] :‫יֹומֹו‬
ֶֽ ‫כְ שָ ָ֥כיר‬
Unchangeable.
‫זכי יש לעץ תקוה‬
6 Turn away from him, let him be ephemeral, ‫ם־יכָרת‬
ְ֭ ‫ֶֽא‬
Until he accepts ‫וְ עּ֣ ֹוד ַ ֶֽיחֲל֑יף‬
His day’s work like a hireling. ‫ְֹ֝ו ֶֽינַקְ ֗תֹו‬
7 Does not wood have hope, :‫ּ֣לא תֶ חְ ָ ֶֽדל‬
If it is cut down,
For a new growth, ‫ח אם־ ַיז ְּ֣קין בָ ָ ּ֣א ֶרץ ׁשָ ְר ׁ֑שֹו‬
When its roots ‫ּוֹ֝ בֶ עָפָ֗ ר‬
Are not transitory? :‫י ָָ֥מּות גזְעֶֽ ֹו‬
8 Ifits root ages in the ground,
In dust ַ‫ט מ ּ֣ריחַ ַ ּ֣מים יַפְ ֑רח‬
Its stem will die. :‫מֹו־נֶֽטַ ע‬
ָ ְ‫וְ עָ ָ ֖שה קָ ּ֣ציר כ‬

9 Fromthe smell of water it will blossom ‫י וְ גֶ ּ֣בֶ ר ְָ֭ימּות‬

And produce harvest as planted. ‫ו ֶ ֶַֽיחֱלָ ׁ֑ש‬
 ‫‪35‬‬
‫‪10 But a man will die‬‬
‫יב וְ ָ֥איׁש ׁשָ ַ֗כב ְ ֶֽולא־ ִָ֫י ָ֥קּום‬ ‫‪And weaken.‬‬
‫?‪ A human will perish; where is he‬עַד־בלְ ּ֣תי ׁשְָ֭ מַ ים‬
‫ּ֣לא י ָ֑קיצּו‬
‫‪11 Water drained‬‬
‫וְ ָ֥לא ֹ֝י ֗ערּו‬
‫‪Into the sea‬‬
‫מ ְשנ ָ ֶָֽתם‪:‬‬ ‫‪And a river bed‬‬
‫‪Dried up and became waterless,‬‬
‫יג ֤מי י ַ֨תן ׀‬
‫ב ְׁש ֬אֹול תַ צְ פ ֗נני‬
‫תְַ֭ סְ תירני‬
‫ַד־ׁשּוב אַ פֶ ֑ך‬ ‫ע ּ֣‬
‫ָ ֤ת ֶֽׁשית ל֖י ּ֣חק וְ תזְכְ ֶֽרני‪:‬‬

‫יד אם־י ָָ֥מּות ֗ ֶגבֶ ר ה ֲִ֫י ְחיֶ ָ֥ה‬

‫כָל־י ְּ֣מי צְ בָ ּ֣אי ֲאי ַ֑חל‬
‫ַד־בֹוא‬
‫ע ֹ֝ ֗‬
‫חֲליפ ֶָֽתי‪:‬‬

‫טו ְ֭תקְ ָרא‬

‫וְ ָ ֶֽאנ ּ֣כי ֶ ֶֽאעֱנֶ ַֽ֑ ָך‬
‫ְ ֶֽל ַ ֶֽמע ֲ֖שה י ֶָדּ֣יך תכְ ֶֽסף‪:‬‬

‫טז ֶֽכי־ ְַ֭עתָ ה‬

‫צְ ָע ַדּ֣י ת ְס ֑פֹור‬
‫א־ת ְׁש ֗מֹור‬‫ֶֽל ֹ֝‬
‫אתי‪:‬‬ ‫ַעל־חַ טָ ֶֽ‬

‫יז חָ תֻ ּ֣ם בצְ ּ֣רֹור פ ְׁש ֑עי‬

‫ֹ֝ ַותטְ ֗פל‬
‫ַעל־ע ֲֶֹֽוני‪:‬‬
‫יח ְ֭ ְואּולָם‬
‫הַ ר־נֹופּ֣ל י ֑בֹול‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ֗צּור‬
‫יֶעְ ַ ָ֥תק מ ְמק ֶֽמֹו‪:‬‬

‫יט ֲאבָ נ֤ים ׀‬

‫ׁשְַ֥חֲקּו ֗ ַמים‬ ‫ָ ָ֥ ֶֽ‬
‫ַר־א ֶרץ‬
‫יחָ֥יהָ ֲעפ ָ ֑‬ ‫ת ְׁש ֶֽטף־סְ פ ֶ‬
‫וְ תקְ וַ ֖ת אֱנּ֣ ֹוׁש הֶ ֱא ָ ֶֽב ְדתָ ‪:‬‬

‫כ ת ְתקְ פּ֣הּו ְ֭ ָלנֶצַ ח‬

‫ַו ַ ֶֶַֽֽֽיהֲֹל֑ ְך‬
‫ְמׁשַ נֶ ָ֥ה ָֹ֝פ ֗ ָניו‬
‫ו ְַתׁשַ לְ ֶֽחהּו‪:‬‬

‫כא יכְ בְ ּ֣דּו בְָ֭ נָיו‬

 36
‫וְ ּ֣לא י ָ ֑דע‬
12 But a man lies down and will not get up. ‫ְֹ֝וי ְ ֶֽצע ֲ֗רּו‬
Until heavens are no more :‫ְ ֶֽולא־י ָָ֥בין ָ ֶֽלמֹו‬
They will not wake up
And not arise
From their sleep.
13 Who could make
That You would hide me in the underworld,
Conceal me
Until Your rage turns away,
Then give me a task and remember me.
14 Ifa man die, could he live?
All the days of my service I will hope,
Until
My relief comes.
15 Call
And I will answer,
If You long for Your handiwork.
16 For
then
You will count my steps,
You will not preserve
My infraction.
17 Mycrime will be sealed in a file;
You will deal
With my sin.
18 However
A decaying mountain will fall
And a rock
Will be transported from its place.
19 Stones
Are eroded by water,
Its remainders are washed away as earthly dust,
So You make perish human hope.
20 If
You attack him eternally
And he will be gone,
Changing his looks
You send him away.
His sons will honor
21
Without knowing
And suffer
Without understanding.
 37

22 But
his flesh ‫ְך־בשָ רֹו‬
ְ ְ֭ ַ‫כב א‬
Will hurt him, ‫ָעלָ ּ֣יו יכְ ָ ֑אב‬
And his soul ‫ְֹ֝ונַפְ ׁ֗שֹו‬
Will be mourning him. :‫עָ לָ ָ֥יו תֶ ֱא ָ ֶֽבל‬
 ‫‪38‬‬

‫‪Chapter 15‬‬

‫ְֹ֝ודָ ֗ ָבר‬ ‫א ְַ֭ויַעַ ן‬

‫ל ַ ָָ֥אט ע ָ ֶֽמְך‪:‬‬ ‫ֱאליפַ ָ֥ז הַ ֶֽתימָ ֗ני‬
‫אמר‪:‬‬
‫וַי ַ ֶֽ‬

‫ב ֶ ֶֽהחָ ָ֗כם‬
‫ַת־רּוחַ‬
‫ַ ֶֽיעֲנֶ ָ֥ה ַ ֶֽדע ֑‬
‫ֶֽוימַ ל֖א קָ ּ֣דים בטְ נֶֽ ֹו‪:‬‬

‫ג הֹוכּ֣חַ ְ֭ ְבדָ בָ ר‬
‫ּ֣לא יסְ כ֑ ֹון‬
‫ּוֹ֝ מ ֗לים‬
‫א־יֹועיל ָ ֶֽבם‪:‬‬
‫ָ֥‬ ‫ל‬

‫ד אַ ף־אְַ֭ תָ ה‬
‫תָ פּ֣ר י ְר ָ ֑אה‬
‫יחה‬ ‫וְ תגְ ַ ָ֥רע ֹ֝ש ֗ ָ‬
‫י־אל‪:‬‬ ‫לפְ נ ֶֽ‬

‫ה ֶֽכי־יְאַ לּ֣ף עֲֹוֶֽ ְנךּ֣ ֑פיך‬

‫ְֹ֝ותבְ חַ֗ ר‬
‫ֲרּומים‪:‬‬
‫לְ ּׁ֣שֹון ע ֶֽ‬
‫ו י ְַר ֶֽׁשיֶֽ עֲךּ֣‬
‫א־אני‬
‫ּ֣פיך וְ ֶֽל ָ ֑‬
‫פָתיך‬
‫ּוֹ֝ ְש ֗ ֶ‬
‫ֲנּו־בְך‪:‬‬
‫ַ ֶֽיע ָ ֶֽ‬

‫איׁשֹון אְָ֭ דָ ם‬
‫ז הֲר ּ֣‬
‫תּוָל֑ד‬
‫חֹוללְ תָ ‪:‬‬
‫וְ לפְ נ֖י גְ בָ עּ֣ ֹות ָ ֶֽ‬

‫ח הַ בְ ּ֣סֹוד ֱאלּ֣ ֹוּהַ ת ְׁש ָ ֑מע‬

‫וְ תגְ ַ ֖רע אלֶ ּ֣יך חָ כְ ָ ֶֽמה‪:‬‬
‫‪.‬‬
‫ט מַ ה־ ְָ֭ידַ עְ תָ‬
‫וְ ּ֣לא נ ָ ֑דע‬
‫תָֹ֝ ֗בין‬
‫ְ ֶֽולא־ע ָמָ֥נּו ֶֽהּוא‪:‬‬

‫ַם־שב גַם־י ָּׁ֣שיׁש ָב֑נּו‬ ‫י ג ָ ּ֣‬

‫כ ַ֖ביר ֶֽמאָ ּ֣ביך י ֶָֽמים‪:‬‬

‫יא הַ ְמעַ ּ֣ט ְ֭מ ְמך‬

‫ֻומֹות ֑אל‬
‫תַ ְנח ּ֣‬
 39
1 Eliphaz from Teman
‫יב מַ ה־י ָ ֶֽקחֲךָ֥ ל ֶב֑ך‬ Answered
:‫ּוֶֽ מַ ה־י ְרז ְָ֥מּון ע ֶינֶֽיך‬ And said:
2 Does a wise man
‫רּוח֑ך‬
ֶ ‫ל־אל‬ ּ֣ ֶ‫יג ֶֽכי־תָ ּׁ֣שיב א‬
Answer with wind knowledge
:‫ וְ הצ֖אתָ מ ּ֣פיך מ ֶֽלין‬And would his belly be filled with East wind?

‫ יד ָ ֶֽמה־אֱנָ֥ ֹוׁש ָ֥כי יזְכֶ ֑ה‬3 To prove with words

‫י־יצְ ֗ ַדק‬
ֹ֝ ‫וְ ֶֽכ‬ Is not dangerous
:‫ְילּ֣ ּוד א ָ ֶֽשה‬ Nor with words
When no use is in them.
]‫ טו ּ֣הן ְ֭בקְ דׁשָ ו [ ְ֭בקְ דׁשָ יו‬4 You also
‫ּ֣לא ַ ֶֽיא ֲ֑מין‬ Did violate reverence;
‫ ְֹ֝וׁשָ ֗ ַמים‬You talked awfully
:‫ֶֽלא־ז ַָ֥כּו ְבע ָינֶֽיו‬ Before God.

‫טז אְַ֭ ף‬
5 Clearly your sin strengthened your mouth
‫ֶֽכי־נ ְת ָעָ֥ב ְ ֶֽו ֶנ ֱא ָל֑ח‬ You chose
:‫ֶֽאיׁש־ׁש ֶ ֖תה כ ַַמּ֣ים עַוְ ָ ֶֽלה‬ The language of trhe sly.

‫ יז ֲאחַ וְ ךָ֥ ְ ֶֽׁש ַ ֶֽמע־ל֑י‬6 Your mouth, not I

‫וְ ֶזֶֽה־חָֹ֝ ֗זיתי‬ Will convict you;
And your lips
:‫ַ ֶֽו ֲאסַ ֶֽפ ָרה‬
Will testify against you.
‫יח ֲאׁשֶ ר־ ֲחכ ָָ֥מים יַג֑ידּו‬
‫ וְ ָ֥לא ֹ֝ ֶֽכחֲד֗ ּו‬7 Are you the first man
To be born?
:‫בֹותם‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫ֶֽמ ֲא‬ Or were you formed before mountains?
‫ יט ל ֶָהּ֣ם ְ֭ ְלבַ דָ ם‬8 Are you listening in to God’s council
‫נ ְתנָ ּ֣ה הָ ָ ֑א ֶרץ‬ Or is your wisdom missing?
:‫תֹוכם‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫וְ ֶֽלא־עָ ֖בַ ר זָ ּ֣ר ְב‬
9 What do you know

‫כ כָל־י ְּ֣מי ְָ֭רׁשָ ע‬ Which we do not know,

‫ּ֣הּוא מ ְתחֹול֑ל‬ Do you understand
‫ּומסְ פַ ָ֥ר ֹׁ֝שָ ֗נים‬ What is not with us?
:‫נצְ פְ נָ֥ ּו ֶ ֶֽלע ֶָֽריץ‬ 10 Alsoold and aged applies to us
More than your father’s days.
‫כא ֶֽקֹול־פְ חָ ָ֥דים ְבאָ זְנָ ֑יו‬
‫בַֹ֝ שָ ֗לֹום‬ 11 AreGod’s consolations
:‫בֹואנּו‬
ֶֽ ֶ ‫ׁשֹודד ְי‬
ָ֥ Too few for you
And speech
‫א־יא ֲּ֣מין ְׁ֭שּוב‬
ֶֽ ַ ‫כב ל‬ To slow with you?
‫י־חׁשֶ ְך‬
֑ ‫מנ‬
:‫י־ח ֶרב‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫וְ צָ פ֖ ּו [וְ צָ פ֖ ּוי] ּ֣הּוא ֱאל‬
 40
‫כג נ ֤דד ּ֣הּוא ל ֶַלּ֣חֶ ם‬
‫ אַ י֑ה י ֶׁ֓ ַָדע ׀‬12 What removes your heart
:‫ּ ֶֽי־נ ָ֖כֹון ְבי ָּ֣דֹו יּ֣ ֹום ֶֽחׁשֶ ְך‬ ‫כ‬ And what weakens your eyes?
13 How will you return your spirit to God
‫כד ְֶֽ֭ ְי ַ ֶֽב ֲע ֻתהּו‬
And your mouth produced words?
‫צּוקה‬ ֑ ָ ‫ּומ‬ ְ ‫ַצּ֣ר‬
‫ ֹ֝ת ְתקְ ֗פהּו‬14 What is a human that he be innocent
:‫כְ ֶ ֤מלְֶך ׀ ע ָ֬תיד לַכ ֶֽידֹור‬ And how would a woman-born
Be justified?
‫ל־אל י ָ֑דֹו‬ ּ֣ ֶ‫כה ֶֽכי־נ ָ ָּ֣טה א‬
ֹ֝ ֶ‫ וְ א‬15 Behold, He will not trust
‫ל־ׁשַ ֗ ַדי‬
His holy [holies] one[s]
:‫י ְתג ָ ֶַֽבר‬
Nor is Heaven
Pure in His eyes!
‫כו י ָּ֣רּוץ אלָ ּ֣יו ְבצַ ּוָ ֑אר‬
‫ ֶֹֽ֝ ַבע ֲ֗בי‬16 So much more
:‫גַבָ֥י ָ ֶֽמג ָנֶֽיו‬ Abhorred and corrupted
Is man, drinking evil like water.
‫כז ֶֽכי־כ ָ ּ֣סה פָנָ ּ֣יו ְבחֶ לְ ֑בֹו‬
17 I will give you an opinion, listen to me,
:‫י־כסֶ ל‬ ֶֽ ָ ‫ימה עֲל‬ ּ֣ ָ ‫וַיַ ֖ ַעש פ‬
This I had as a vision
And I shall tell it.
‫כח וַי ְׁשכ֤ ֹון ׀‬
‫ָע ֤רים נכְ חָ ֗דֹות‬ 18 What wise men told,
‫ בְָ֭ תים‬Did not conceal,
‫לא־י ְּׁ֣שבּו ָל֑מֹו‬ Other than their ancestors.
:‫ֲא ֶ ׁ֖שר ה ְתע ְַת ּ֣דּו לְ ג ֶַֽלים‬
19 Only to them

‫כט ֶֽלא־֭ ֶיעְ ׁשַ ר‬ The land was given,

‫וְ ֶֽלא־י ָּ֣קּום חיל֑ ֹו‬ No stranger passed by between them.
:‫ וְ ֶֽלא־י ֶ ֖טה ל ָ ָּ֣א ֶרץ מ ְנ ָ ֶֽלם‬20 On any day of an evildoer
He will riot,
‫ ל ֶֽלא־י ַָ֨סּור ׀‬And the number of years
‫י־חׁשֶ ְך ְֶֽ֭ינַקְ תֹו‬ ֗ ‫מנ‬ Is hidden for a tyrant.
‫ְתי ַּ֣בׁש ׁשַ ְל ָה֑בֶ ת‬
‫ ְֹ֝וי ָ֗סּור‬21 A sound of fears is in his ears;
In peace
:‫בְ ּ֣רּוחַ ֶֽפיו‬
A robber will come over him.
‫ל־יא ֲּ֣מן בַ ָ ּ֣שו [בַ ָ ּ֣שוא] נ ְתעָ ֑ה‬
ֶֽ ַ ַ‫ לא א‬22 He will not regain confidence
‫י־ׁשָ וְ א‬
֗ ֹ֝ ‫ֶֽכ‬ Out of darkness,
:‫מּור ֶֽתֹו‬
ָ ‫ת ְהיֶ ָ֥ה ְת‬ He is destined [expected] for the sword.

‫לב ְ ֶֽבלא־יְ֭ ֹומֹו‬

‫תמָ ל֑א‬
‫ְֹ֝וכפ ָ֗תֹו‬
:‫ּ֣לא ַ ֶֽרע ָ ֲֶֽננָה‬

‫לג יַחְ ּ֣מס כַגֶ ּ֣ ֶפן ב ְס ֑רֹו‬

 41
23 He
is moving around for food. ‫וְ י ְַׁשלְָ֥ך ַֹ֝כ ַ֗זית‬
Would he know :‫נצָ ֶֽתֹו‬
That a day of darkness is prepared for him?
24 Troubles and anguish
Make him afraid,
Will attack him,
Like a king expecting attack.
25 For
he lifted his hand against God,
The Almighty
He intended to overcome.
26 He runs into it with his neck
In the thickness
By his shields.
27 For
he covered his face with his fat
And made lard on the kidney.
28 He dwelt
In abandoned towns
In houses
Uninhabitable,
Which were destined for tumuli.
29 Hewill not get rich
Nor will his might have permanence
Their ill gotten gains will not touch ground. 30
He will not depart
From the darkness that nursed him
The flame will dry up,
And he will depart
By his mouth’s wind.
31He cannot be believed being in vain error,
For vain
Will be his substitute,
32 Before his day
He wasted,
And his palm shoot
Was not refreshed.
Like a vine he sheds his unripe fruit
33
And like an olive tree he throws away
His flower buds.
 42

For the group of the dishonest is lonely

34 ‫לד ֶֽכי־ע ֲַדּ֣ת חָ ּ֣נַֽף גַלְ ֑מּוד‬
And fire ‫ְֹ֝ו ֗אׁש‬
Eats the tents of bribes. :‫י־ׁשחַד‬
ֶֽ ‫ָ ֶֽאכְ לָ ָ֥ה ָ ֶֽאהֳל‬
35He is pregnant with trouble ‫לה הָ ּ֣רה ְָ֭עמָ ל‬
And gives birth to evil; ‫וְ יָ ֹּ֣לֶֽ ד ָ ֑אוֶן‬
Their belly ‫ּוֹ֝ בטְ ָ֗נם‬
Contains deceit.
:‫תָ ָ֥כין מ ְר ָ ֶֽמה‬

7 Since the background seems to be Accadic, where ‫ הר‬means “domain, territory”, ‫ גבעה‬here means “mountain,
mountain range”.
12. ‫“ לב‬understanding”. ‫ רזם‬is an Arabism. ‫ نقح‬to start quarrel; ‫ رزم‬to die?
27 ‫ פימה‬is either Accadic (as translated) or Arabic ‫“ فام‬to stuff one’s mouth”.
32 Following Ibn Ezra, reading ‫ מלא‬as a form of ‫ מלל‬.
 ‫‪43‬‬
‫‪Chapter 16‬‬

‫ירני ְ֭אל‬‫יא יַסְ ג ּ֣‬ ‫א וַיַ ָ֥עַ ן אי֗ ֹוב ו ֶַֽיאמַ ר‪:‬‬
‫ֶ ּ֣אל עֲו֑יל‬
‫וְ ַעל־י ְ֖די ְרׁשָ ּ֣עים י ְר ֶֽטני‪:‬‬ ‫ב ׁשָ ַ ּ֣מעְ תי כְ ּ֣אלֶה ַר ֑בֹות‬
‫ְמ ַ ֶֽנח ֲ֖מי ע ָ ָּ֣מל כֻלְ ֶ ֶֽכם‪:‬‬

‫י־רּוחַ‬ ‫ג ה ֲָ֥קץ לְ דבְ ר ֑‬

‫ָ֥אֹו מַ ה־ ַֹ֝י ְמ ֶֽריצְ ֗ך‬
‫ּ֣כי ַ ֶֽתע ֲֶנֶֽה‪:‬‬

‫ד גַ ֤ם ׀ ָ ֶֽאנכי‬
‫כָכֶ ֵ֢ם א ִ֫ ֲַדב ָָ֥רה‬
‫‪.‬ל֤ ּו־יֵׁ֢ש נַפְ ְׁש ִֶ֡כם ַ ֤תחַ ת נַפְ ׁ֗שי‬
‫אַ חְ ּ֣ב ָירה עֲליכֶ ּ֣ם בְ מל֑ים‬
‫וְ אָ נָ֥יעָ ה ֹ֝ ֲעלי ֶ֗כם‬
‫אׁשי‪:‬‬‫בְ ּ֣מֹו ר ֶֽ‬

‫מֹו־פי‬
‫֑‬ ‫ה אֲאַ מצְ כֶ ָ֥ם בְ‬
‫וְ נ֖יד ְשפ ַ ָּ֣תי יַחְ ֶֽשְך‪:‬‬

‫ם־אֲ דַ בְ ָרה‬
‫ו ֶֽא ְ֭‬
‫לא־יֶֽחָ ּ֣שְך כְ א ֑בי‬
‫ְֹ֝ואַ חְ דְ ָ֗לה‬
‫מַ ה־מנָ֥י ַ ֶֽיהֲֹלֶֽ ְך‪:‬‬

‫ְך־עַתה הֶ לְ ָ ֑אני‬
‫ָ ָ֥‬ ‫ז אַ‬
‫ֹ֝ ֲהׁש ֗מֹותָ‬
‫כָל־עֲדָ ֶֽתי‪:‬‬

‫ח ְַ֭ותקְ ְמטני‬
‫לְ עּ֣ד הָ יָ ֑ה‬
‫וַיָ ַָֽ֥קָ ם ָ֥בי ֶֹֽ֝ ַכח ֲׁ֗שי‬
‫בְ פָנַ ָ֥י ַ ֶֽיע ֲֶנֶֽה‪:‬‬

‫ט אַ פ֤ ֹו טָ ַ ַ֨רף ׀ וַי ְשטְ ֗מני‬

‫חָ ַ ּ֣רק עָ לַ ּ֣י בְ ׁשנָ ֑יו‬
‫צָ ֶׁ֓רי ׀‬
‫ילְ ֖טֹוׁש עינָ ּ֣יו ֶֽלי‪:‬‬

‫יהם‬ ‫י ָ ֶֽפע ֲ֬רּו ָע ַַ֨לי ׀ בְ פ ֗ ֶ‬

‫ְ֭ ְבחֶ ְרפָ ה‬
‫הכּ֣ ּו לְ חָ יָ ֑י‬
‫ֹ֝֗ ַיחַ ד‬
‫ָעלַ ָ֥י י ְתמַ ל ֶָֽאּון‪:‬‬
 44
1 Job answered and said:
‫יב ׁשָ ל֤ו הָ ַ֨ייתי ׀ ַו ְיפ ְַרפְ ֗רני‬
‫ וְ אָ ַחּ֣ז ְ֭ ְבע ְָרפי‬2 I heard lots of similar speech;
‫ַו ְיפַצְ פְ צ֑ני‬ You all are sorry comforters.
‫ימני ֹ֝ ֗לֹו‬ ָ֥ ‫ ַו ְיק‬3 Is there an end to vain words
:‫לְ מַ טָ ָ ֶֽרה‬ Or what impelled you
So to argue?
‫יג ָי ֤סבּו ָע ַַ֨לי ׀ ַר ֗ ָביו‬
‫ ְי ַפלַ ּ֣ח ְ֭כלְ יֹותַ י‬4 Also, I
‫וְ ּ֣לא י ְַח ֑מֹול‬ Am able to talk like you,
‫י ְׁש ָ֥פְך ֹ֝ ָל ֗ ָא ֶרץ‬ If you were in my situation
:‫ְמ ֶֽר ָ ֶֽרתי‬ I could overwhelm you with words
And shake about you
‫יד יפְ ְרצּ֣ני ְֶ֭פ ֶרץ‬ My own head.
‫ ַעל־פְ ני־פָ ֶ֑רץ‬5 I could strengthen you with my own mouth,
:‫ י ֻ ָ֖רץ ָעלַ ּ֣י כְ ג ֶֽבֹור‬And my lips’ praise will be full.
‫ טו ַ ּ֣שק תְָ֭ פ ְַרתי‬6 If I would talk
‫עֲלּ֣י גלְ ֑די‬ Would my sorrow not be made full?
:‫ וְ עלַ ֖לְ תי בֶ ע ָָפּ֣ר קַ ְר ֶֽני‬And if I refrain,
What would leave me?
]‫טז פָנַ ּ֣י ְ֭ ֳחמַ ְר ְמרֻ ה [ ְ֭ ֳחמַ ְר ְמרֻ ו‬
7 But now it has weakened me,
‫י־ב֑כי‬
ֶ ‫מנ‬
You silenced
:‫וְ עַ ֖ל עַפְ עַפַ ּ֣י צַ לְ ָ ֶֽמוֶת‬ All my company.
‫יז ְַ֭על לא־חָ ָ ּ֣מס ְבכ ַָפ֑י‬ 8 And You tied me down,
:‫ּותפל ָָ֥תי ז ָ ֶַֽכה‬
ְ It was as witness;
On me descended my weight loss
‫ל־תכ ַּ֣סי דָ ֑מי‬
ְ ַ‫יח אְֶ֭ ֶרץ א‬ Signifying me.
‫ְ ֶֽואַ ל־ ְי ָ֥הי מָֹ֝ ֗קֹום‬
9 His rage tore and treated me as enemy,
:‫ לְ ַ ֶֽזעֲקָ ֶֽתי‬He ground His teeth against me,
My enemy
‫יט גַם־ ְַ֭עתָ ה‬ Will sharpen his eyes against me.
‫הנה־ ַבשָ ַמּ֣ים ע ֑די‬
‫ ֹ֝ו ָ ֶֽשה ֲ֗די‬10 They opened their mouths against me,
:‫רֹומים‬ ֶֽ ‫ בַ ְמ‬As insult
They hit my jaws;
‫יצָ֥י רעָ ֑י‬ ַ ‫ כ ְמל‬Together
ַ‫אֶ ל־ ֹ֝ ֱא ֗לֹוּה‬ The will fill themselves.
:‫ ָ ֶֽדלְ פָ ָ֥ה ע ֶֽיני‬11 God will deliver me
To Evil;
ַ‫ כא וְ יֹוכַ ּ֣ח לְ גֶ ּ֣בֶ ר עם־ ֱאל֑ ֹוּה‬Through evildoers He will drive me insane.
:‫ּוֶֽ בֶ ן־אָ ָדָ֥ם לְ ר ֶֽעהּו‬

‫י־ׁשנּ֣ ֹות מ ְס ָפּ֣ר ֶי ֱא ָ ֑תיּו‬

ְ ‫כב ֶֽכ‬
:‫וְ ֖א ַרח ֶֽלא־אָ ּׁ֣שּוב אֶ הֱֹלֶֽ ְך‬
 45
On my eyelashes is dark shadow,
12 Iwas quiet but He made me agitated;
17 Without
evil on my hands, He grabbed my neck
And my prayer is pure. And made me tremble,
18 Land, do not cover up my blood, Set me up
So as to leave space As a target.
For my wailing. 13 Hisgrandees assembled around me,
19 Alsonow He split my loins,
Behold my witness is in Heaven, Would not show mercy,
And my assistant Spilled down to earth
Is up high. My spleen.
14 He
tears me down breach
20 Myintercessors, my friends: By breach,
To God Rushes against me like a warrior.
My eye is dripping.
15 I
sewed sackcloth
21 Whilehe pleads before God for a man, On my skin,
Like a man with his neighbor. And inserted my horn into dust.
16 My face is red
22 Foronly few years will come;
On a road without return will I walk. From crying;
 46

4, line 4: Accadic hubur “assembly”.

5, line 4: Accadic na`adu “praise respectfully”; Arabic hšk “to be full”/
7 Arabic smm “to poison”.
8 Arabic ‫“ ֗עד‬to express something”.
11 Arabic ‫“ רטט‬to drive insane”.
12, line 3. Translated following R. Saadya Gaon.
15 Arabic ‫“ ֗עלל‬to insert”.
19 Hebrew ‫ עד‬and Arabic ‫ שהד‬are really equivalent. The translation follows R. Saadya Gaon who replaces shahad
by ‫חאצר‬.
֗
 ‫‪47‬‬
‫‪pter 17‬‬

‫יא י ַָמּ֣י ְ֭ ָ ֶֽע ְברּו‬ ‫רּוחי ְ֭ ֻחבָ לָה‬

‫א ּ֣‬
‫זמ ַ ּ֣תי נ ְת ֑קּו‬ ‫י ַָמָ֥י נ ְז ָ֗עכּו‬
‫ֶֽמ ָֹור ּׁ֣שי לְ בָ ֶֽבי‪:‬‬ ‫קְ בָ ָ֥רים ֶֽלי‪:‬‬

‫ם־לא ְ֭ ֲה ֻתלים‬ ‫ב א ּ֣‬

‫עמָ ֑די‬
‫רֹותם‬
‫ּוֹ֝ בְ הַ ְמ ֗ ָ‬
‫תָ לַ ָ֥ן ע ֶֽיני‪:‬‬

‫ג ֶֽשימָ ה־ ְָ֭נא‬
‫ע ְָרבּ֣ני ע ָ ֑מְך‬
‫מי ֹ֝ ֗הּוא‬
‫לְ י ָָ֥די יתָ ֶֽק ַע‪:‬‬

‫י־לבָ ם‬
‫ד ֶֽכ ְ֭‬
‫צָ פַ ּ֣ נְתָ מ ָ ֑שכֶל‬
‫ל־כן‬
‫עַ ֹ֝ ֗‬
‫רֹומם‪:‬‬
‫ּ֣לא ְת ֶֽ‬

‫ה ְ֭ ְלחלֶק‬
‫יַגּ֣יד ר ֑עים‬
‫וְ עינ֖י בָ נָ ּ֣יו תכְ ֶ ֶֽלנָה‪:‬‬

‫ו ְֶֽ֭ ְוהצגַני‬
‫ל ְמ ּׁ֣של ע ַ֑מים‬
‫וְ ֖תפֶת לְ פָנּ֣ים ֶ ֶֽאהְ ֶיֶֽה‪:‬‬

‫ז ו ַּ֣תכַּה מכַ ּ֣ ַעש עינ֑י‬

‫ֶֽויצ ַ ֻ֖רי כ ַּ֣צל כ ָ ֶֻֽלם‪:‬‬

‫ל־זאת‬ ‫ח י ָּׁ֣שמּו ְיׁשָ ּ֣רים ַע ֑‬

‫ְֹ֝ונ ָ֗קי‬
‫ַעל־חָ ָ֥נַֽף י ְתע ָ ֶֽרר‪:‬‬

‫ט וְ יאחּ֣ז צַ ּ֣דיק דַ ְרכ֑ ֹו‬

‫ּוֶֽ טֳהָ ר־ ָֹ֝י ֗ ַדים‬
‫י ָ֥סיף ֶֽאמֶ ץ‪:‬‬

‫י ְ ֶֽואּו ָ֗לם‬
‫כֻלָ ּ֣ם תְָ֭ ׁשֻ בּו‬
‫ּובאּו נָ ֑א‬
‫ּ֣‬
‫וְ ֶֽלא־אֶ ְמ ָצ֖א בָ כֶ ּ֣ם חָ כָ ּ֣ם‪:‬‬
 48
:‫י־חׁשֶ ְך‬
ֶֽ ‫קָ ָ֥רֹוב מפְ נ‬ 1 Myspirit is injured,
My days extinguished;
‫יג אם־ ְ֭ ֲאקַ ּוֶה‬ Graves are for me.
‫יתי‬
֑ ‫ְׁש ּ֣אֹול ב‬
2 Onlyscoffers
‫בַֹ֝ ֗חׁשֶ ְך‬
Are with me,
:‫ְצּועי‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫ר ַפ ְָ֥דתי י‬
And on their opposites
Does mine eye rest.
‫ַשחַ ת ְ֭קָ ָראתי‬ ּ֣ ַ ‫יד ל‬
‫ָ ּ֣אבי ָ ֑אתָ ה‬
3 Please,
take it;
‫א ָ֥מי ַֹ֝ ֶֽו ֲאח ֗תי‬
Take a pledge for me with you.
:‫ָ ֶֽלר ָ ֶֽמה‬ Who is the one
Who would shake hands with me?
‫טו ְ֭ ְואַ יה‬
‫א ּ֣פֹו תקְ ו ָ֑תי‬ 4 Truly,
from their heart
‫ְֹ֝ותקְ ו ָ֗תי‬ You hid intelligence;
:‫ׁשּורנָה‬
ֶֽ ֶ ‫ּ֣מי ְי‬ Therefore
You will not elevate them;
‫טז בַ ּ֣די ְׁש ּ֣אל ת ַ ֑ר ְדנָה‬
:‫ל־עָפּ֣ר ָנֶֽחַ ת‬
ָ ַ‫אם־יַ ֖חַ ד ע‬ 5 For
smoothly
He will tell about friends.
And his children/s eyesight may stop.

6 Sinehe exhibited me
As a byword for the populace,
And I would be tophet for the face.

7 My eyesight was hit by worry,

All my creations are like shadows.

8 Straight
ones are appalled by this:
The innocent
Will expose the criminal.
9But the just will stick with his way,
And whose hands are clean
10 However
All will return.
Pleased come;
I would not find among you a wise one.
11 Mydays have passed,
My desires have disappeared,
My heart’s possessions.
‫יב ְַ֭ליְ לָה‬
‫לְ יּ֣ ֹום י ָ֑שימּו‬
‫ֹ֝ ֗אֹור‬
 49
“You are my father”, 12 Night
“My mother and sister” They are turning into day;
To the worm. Light
Close to darkness.
15 Where
Could be my hope? 13 Could I have hope?
Or my expectations Sheol is my house,
Who could envision? In darkness
16 Theywill descend to the sides of Sheol, I laid out my mattress.
Or together will stoop down to dust. 14 To destruction I said,

17:1 ‫זעך‬: It is anybody’s guess what the root means. With many commentators the word is identified as dialectal
form of ‫“ דעך‬to become extinguished”.

17:2 ‫התולים‬. Saadya: “scoffers”.

17:4 ‫“ תרומם‬to elevate”. Saadya “to appeal to a superior court”.

17:6 ‫תפת‬. Saadya and Rashi derive from ‫“ תוף‬tambourine”. Accadic tappu “company”.
 ‫‪50‬‬
‫‪Chapter 18‬‬

‫א ְַ֭ויַעַ ן‬
‫יא סְָ֭ ביב‬ ‫ש ֗חי‬
‫בלְ ַדָ֥ד הַ ֻ‬
‫ֶֽבעֲתֻ ּ֣הּו בַ ל ָ֑הֹות‬ ‫אמר‪:‬‬ ‫וַי ַ ֶֽ‬
‫ֶוהֱפיצֻ ָ֥הּו לְ ַרגְ ָ ֶֽליו‪:‬‬
‫ד־אנָה ׀‬ ‫ב עַ ָ ֤‬
‫ימּון קנְצּ֣י לְ מל֑ין‬ ‫ְתש ּ֣‬
‫תָֹ֝ ֗בינּו‬
‫וְ אַ ַחָ֥ר נְדַ ֶֽבר‪:‬‬

‫ג מְַ֭ דּועַ‬
‫נֶחְ ַ ּׁ֣שבְ נּו כַבְ ה ָ ֑מה‬
‫ֹ֝נטְ ֗מינּו‬
‫יכם‪:‬‬
‫בְ ֶֽעינ ֶ ֶֽ‬

‫ד ֶֽט ָ֥רף נַפְ ׁ֗שֹו בְ ִ֫ ַאפֹו‬

‫הְַ֭ לְ מַ עַנְ ך‬
‫תעָ ּ֣ זַב ָ ֑א ֶרץ‬
‫וְ יֶעְ תַ ק־ ֹ֝ ֗צּור‬
‫מ ְמק ֶֽמֹו‪:‬‬

‫ה גַ ֤ם‬
‫ּ֣אֹור ְרׁשָ ּ֣עים ידְ עָ ְ֑ך‬
‫א־י ֗ ַגּה‬
‫וְ ֶֽל ֹ֝‬
‫ְׁש ּ֣ביב א ֶֽשֹו‪:‬‬

‫ו ְ֭אֹור‬
‫חָ ַ ּׁ֣שְך בְ ָ ֶֽאהֳל֑ ֹו‬
‫ְֹ֝ונ ֗רֹו‬
‫עָ לָ ָ֥יו ידְ ָ ֶֽעְך‪:‬‬

‫ז ְ֭ ֶֽיצְ רּו‬
‫ַ ֶֽצע ֲּ֣די אֹונ֑ ֹו‬
‫ְ ֶֽותַ ְׁשליכָ֥הּו עֲצָ ֶֽתֹו‪:‬‬

‫ח ֶֽכי־ׁשֻ לַ ּ֣ח בְ ֶ ּ֣רׁשֶ ת בְ ַרגְ לָ ֑יו‬

‫ל־שבָ ָ֗כה‬ ‫וְ עַ ֹ֝ ְ‬
‫י ְתהַ ָ ֶֽלְך‪:‬‬

‫ט יאחּ֣ז בְ ָע ּ֣קב פָ ֑ח‬

‫ַ ֶֽיחֲז֖ק עָ לָ ּ֣יו צַ ֶֽמים‪:‬‬

‫י טָ ּ֣מּון בָ ָ ּ֣א ֶרץ חַ בְ ל֑ ֹו‬

‫ּוֹ֝ מַ לְ כֻדְ ֗תֹו‬
‫עֲלּ֣י נ ֶָֽתיב‪:‬‬
 51
‫ְֹ֝ו ֗איד‬ 1 Thenanswered
:‫נָכָ֥ ֹון לְ צַ לְ ֶֽעֹו‬ Bildad from Shuah
And said:
‫יג ְ֭יאכַל‬
2 How long
‫עֹורֹו‬
֑ ‫בַ ּ֣די‬
Will you engage in hunting for words?
‫יאכַ ָ֥ל בַֹ֝ ֗ ָדיו‬
Understand,
:‫בְ כּ֣ ֹור ָ ֶֽמוֶת‬ And afterwards speak.
‫ יד ינ ָּ֣תק ְ֭מ ָ ֶֽאהֳלֹו‬3 Why
‫מבְ טַ ֑חֹו‬ Are we considered as beasts,
‫ ְֹ֝ותַ צְ ע ֗דהּו‬Are we blocked
:‫לְ ֶ ּ֣מלְֶך בַ ל ֶָֽהֹות‬ In their eyes,
4 One who tears himself in his rage?
‫טו ת ְׁשכּ֣ ֹון ְ֭ ְב ָ ֶֽאהֳלֹו‬
Should because of you
‫מבְ לי־ל֑ ֹו‬
Earth be abandoned,
:‫ יְז ֶ ֖רה ַעל־נָוּ֣הּו גָפְ ֶֽרית‬Or a rock be moved
ַ‫טז ְ֭מתַ ח‬ From its place?
‫ָ ֶֽׁש ָר ָ ּׁ֣שיו י ָבׁ֑שּו‬ 5 Abundantly,
‫ּוֹ֝ מ ֗ ַמ ַעל‬ The evildoers’ light is being extinguished;
:‫י ַ ָ֥מל קְ צ ֶֽירֹו‬ There is no illumination
In his fire’s flame.
‫יז ֶֽזכְ רֹו־אְָ֭ בַ ד‬
‫י־א ֶרץ‬ ֑ ָ ‫מנ‬ 6 Light
‫א־ׁשם ֹ֝ ֗לֹו‬
ָ֥ ‫וְ ל‬ Became dark in his tent,
:‫י־חּוץ‬ ֶֽ ‫ַעל־פְ נ‬ And his candle
Will be extinguished for him.
‫ יח ְֶ֭יהְ דְ פֻהּו‬7 Narrowed
‫ל־חׁשֶ ְך‬֑ ֶ‫מ ּ֣אֹור א‬ Are his steps by his own force;
:‫ ּומת ָ֥בל יְנ ֻדֶֽהּו‬His counsels throw him out.

‫ יט לא־נ֤ין לּ֣ ֹו וְ לא־נֶ ּ֣כֶד ְבע ַ֑מֹו‬8 For he put his feet in a trap,
‫ וְ ָ֥אין ֹ֝שָ ֗ריד‬And on the webbing
:‫גּוריו‬ֶֽ ָ ‫ב ְמ‬ He promenades.
9 The snare grabs his heel
‫ כ ַעל־י֖ ֹומֹו‬The joints will overpower him.
‫ָׁשמּו ַ ֶֽאחֲרנ֑ים‬ ּ֣ ַ ‫נ‬
‫ ְֹ֝וקַ דְ מ ֗נים‬10 His rope is hidden in the ground,
:‫ָ ּ֣אחֲזּו ָ ֶֽשעַר‬ And his trap
On the path.
‫ְך־אלֶה‬
ְ֭ ַ‫כא א‬
11 All around
‫מ ְׁשכְ נּ֣ ֹות עַּוָ ֑ל‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ֶ֗זה‬ Terror makes him afraid
And diverts his steps.
:‫ְמ ּ֣קֹום לא־י ַ ֶָֽדע ֶֽאל‬

‫י־רעָ֥ב אנ֑ ֹו‬

ָ ‫יב יְ ֶֽה‬
 52

17 Hismemory perished 12 His

firstborn shall be famished,
From the earth, And distress
He has no name Be ready in his bone.
On the outside.
13 His
skin’s limbs
18 Hewill be pushed Are eaten,
From light into darkness, Death’s firstborn
And be banned from dry earth. Devours his limbs.
19 Neither kith nor kin is in his people; 14 His
confidence
No remainder Is separated from his tent,
In his dwellings. And makes him parade
20 Abouthis day In front of the King of terror.
Are Westerners appalled; 15 In his tent will dwell
And Easterners What is not his,
Are grabbed by insanity. It will rain sulfur on his pasturage.
These are
21
16 Frombelow
The dwellings of evil; His roots will dry up;
And this is From above
A place not known by power. His harvest will wither.

18:2 Saadya reads ‫ קנצי‬like Arabic ‫“ נקצ‬defect”. Arabic ‫“ קנצ‬hunt”.

18:5 ‫גם‬, Arabic ‫“ גממ‬have in abundance”.

18:9 ‫צמים‬. Arabic ‫“ ֗צמ‬to assemble, to put together”/ As noun, “joining one thing to another”.

18:20 ‫ אחרון‬,‫“ קדמון‬East, West”/ ‫ סער‬Arabic “insanity”.

 53

‫י י ְתצּ֣ני סְָ֭ ביב‬ Chapter 19

‫ָוֶֽאלַ ְ֑ך‬
‫ַוי ַ ַָ֥סע ָֹ֝כ ֗עץ‬
:‫תקְ ו ֶָֽתי‬ ‫א וַיַ ָ֥עַ ן אי֗ ֹוב‬
:‫אמר‬ ֶֽ ַ ‫וַי‬
‫יא וַיַ ּ֣חַ ר ָעלַ ּ֣י אַ ֑פֹו‬
:‫ַויַחְ ְׁשב֖ני לּ֣ ֹו כְ צָ ָ ֶֽריו‬ ‫ב עַ ד־אְָ֭ נָה‬
1 Job answered ‫ֶֽתֹוגְ יּ֣ ּון נַפְ ׁ֑שי‬
And said:
:‫ּוֶֽ ְתדַ כאּונַ ָ֥ני בְ מ ֶֽלים‬
2 How long
Will you aggrieve me, ‫ג זֶ ֤ה עֶ ּ֣שֶ ר ְ֭ ְפעָמים‬
And subdue me by words? ‫ימּוני‬ ֑ ‫תַ כְ ל‬
‫א־ת ֗בׁשּו‬ ֹ֝ ‫ֶֽל‬
3 Now these ten times :‫רּו־לי‬
ֶֽ ְ‫תַ הְ כ‬
You insulted me;
You are not ashamed ‫ד וְ אַ ף־אָ ְמנָ ָ֥ם ׁשָ ג֑יתי‬
To treat me unjustly. ‫ֹ֝א ֗תי‬
4 Evenwhen I erred, :‫תָ לָ֥ין ְמ ֶֽׁשּוג ֶָֽתי‬
With me
My error will rest. ‫ה אם־אְָ֭ ְמנָם‬
‫עָ לַ ּ֣י תַ גְ ֑דילּו‬
5 If
however ‫תֹוכיחּו ֹ֝ ָע ַ֗לי‬
ָ֥ ְ‫ו‬
You feel superior over me :‫חֶ ְרפ ֶָֽתי‬
And argue against me
My shame, ‫עּו־אפֹו‬
ְ֭ ‫ו ְ ֶֽד‬
6 Know therefore ‫כי־ ֱאלּ֣ ֹוּהַ עּוְ ָ ֑תני‬
That God has damaged me ‫ּוֹ֝ ְמצּוד֗ ֹו‬
And his net :‫עָ לַ ָ֥י ה ֶֽקיף‬
Threw around me.
‫ז ֤הן אֶ צְ עַ ּ֣ק חְָ֭ מָ ס‬
7 Even while I am crying foul ‫וְ ּ֣לא ֶֽאעָנֶ ֑ה‬
I will not be listened to; ‫ֹ֝אֲ ׁשַ ֗ ַּוע‬
I will ask for help :‫וְ ּ֣אין מ ְׁש ָ ֶֽפט‬
But there is no justice.
8 Mypath is fenced in; ‫ח אָ ְר ּ֣חי ְָ֭גדַ ר‬
I cannot transgress. ‫וְ ּ֣לא אֶ ע ֱ֑בֹור‬
On my paths ‫יבֹותי‬
ַ ֗ ‫וְ עַ ָ֥ל ֹ֝ ְנ ֶֽת‬
He spreads darkness. :‫ּ֣חׁשֶ ְך י ֶָֽשים‬

9 Hestripped me ‫ט ְ֭ ְכבֹודי‬
Of my honor ‫הפְ ׁ֑שיט‬
And removed ‫ֹ֝ ַו ָ֗יסַ ר‬
My head’s crown. :‫אׁשי‬
ֶֽ ‫ע ֲֶט ֶּ֣רת ר‬
 ‫‪54‬‬
‫ָֹ֝ ֶֽואֶ ְתמַ לְ ֗ ָטה‬ ‫‪10 He‬‬‫‪tore me down all around‬‬
‫בְ עּ֣ ֹור ׁש ָנֶֽי‪:‬‬ ‫;‪And I went‬‬
‫‪He removed my hope‬‬
‫כא חָ ֻ֬נני חָ ֻנ ּ֣ני אַ ֶ ּ֣תם ר ָע֑י‬ ‫‪Like a tree.‬‬
‫ָ֥כי יַד־ ֹ֝ ֱא ֗לֹוּהַ‬
‫‪11 His anger is kindled against me,‬‬
‫נָ ַּֽ֣גְ ָעה ֶֽבי‪:‬‬ ‫‪He considers me His enemy.‬‬
‫כב ְָ֭למָ ה‬
‫יב יַ ֤חַ ד ׀‬
‫מֹו־אל‬
‫֑‬ ‫ת ְרדְ פֻ ּ֣ני כְ‬
‫דּודיו‬‫ָי ֤באּו גְ ֗ ָ‬
‫ּוֹ֝ מבְ שָ ֗רי‬
‫ַוי ָּ֣סלּו ָעלַ ּ֣י דַ ְרכָ ֑ם‬
‫ו ּ֣לא ת ְש ָ ֶֽבעּו‪:‬‬
‫ו ַ ֶַֽיחֲנ֖ ּו סָ ּ֣ביב לְ ָ ֶֽאה ֳֶֽלי‪:‬‬

‫יג אְַ֭ חַ י‬
‫מעָ לַ ּ֣י ה ְר ֑חיק‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ֶֽידְ עַ֗ י‬
‫אַ ְך־זָ ָ֥רּו מ ֶ ֶֽמני‪:‬‬

‫רֹוב֑י‬
‫יד ָ ֶֽחדְ לָ֥ ּו קְ ָ‬
‫ּוֶֽ ְמיֻדָ עַ ֖י ְׁשכ ֶֽחּוני‪:‬‬

‫יתי ְ֭ ְואַ ְמהתַ י‬ ‫טו ָג ֤רי ב ּ֣‬

‫לְ זָ ּ֣ר תַ חְ ְׁשבֻ ֑ני‬
‫ָֹ֝נכְ ֗רי‬
‫יהם‪:‬‬ ‫הָ יָ֥יתי בְ ֶֽעינ ֶ ֶֽ‬

‫טז לְ עַ בְ ּ֣די קְָ֭ ָראתי‬

‫וְ ּ֣לא ַ ֶֽיעֲנֶ ֑ה‬
‫מֹו־פי‬
‫בְ ֹ֝ ֗‬
‫אֶ ְתחַ נֶן־לֶֽ ֹו‪:‬‬

‫ּוחי‬ ‫יז ְ֭ר ֶֽ‬

‫זָ ּ֣ ַָֽרה לְ א ְׁש ֑תי‬
‫ְֹ֝וחַ נ ֗תי‬
‫לבְ נָ֥י בטְ ֶֽני‪:‬‬

‫יח גַם־עַ ֖וילים ָ ּ֣מ ֲאסּו ֑בי‬

‫אָֹ֝ ֗קּומָ ה‬
‫רּו־בי‪:‬‬
‫ֶֽ‬ ‫וַיְ דַ בְ‬

‫יט ְֶֽ֭תעֲבּוני‬
‫סֹודי‬
‫ָל־מ ּ֣תי ֑‬‫כ ְ‬
‫וְ ֶזֶֽה־אָֹ֝ הַ֗ בְ תי‬
‫כּו־בי‪:‬‬
‫הְ פְ ֶֽ‬

‫עֹורי ּוְ֭ בבְ שָ רי‬

‫כ בְ ּ֣‬
‫ָ ֶֽדבְ ָ ּ֣קה עַצְ ֑מי‬
 55

12 Together

‫כג ֶֽמי־י ּ֣תן ְ֭אפֹו‬ His troops will come,

‫וְ י ָ ֶֽכ ְת ּ֣בּון מ ָל֑י‬ To prepare their path against me;
:‫ ֶֽמי־י ֖תן בַ ּ֣ספֶר וְ י ָ ֶֻֽחקּו‬They will encamp encircling my tent.
13 My brothers
‫כד בְ עט־בַ ְרזֶ ָ֥ל וְ ע ָפ ֶ֑רת‬ He removed from me;
‫ ֹ֝ ָל ַ֗עד‬Those who know me
:‫בַ ָ֥צּור י ָ ֶֽחצְ ֶֽבּון‬ Also removed away from me.

‫ כה ַ ֶֽואֲנּ֣י ְָ֭ידַ עְ תי‬14 My relatives have abandoned me,

‫ּ֣ ֶֽג ֲאלי ָח֑י‬ My acquaintances forgot me.
‫ְֹ֝ו ַ ֶֽאח ֲ֗רֹון‬
15 My house-mates and my hand-maids
:‫ַעל־עָפָ ָ֥ר י ֶָֽקּום‬ Consider me as a stranger;
An alien
‫כו וְ אַ ַחּ֣ר ע֖ ֶֹֽורי‬ I was in their eyes.
‫פּו־זאת‬ ֑ ְ‫נק‬
‫ ּוֹ֝ מבְ שָ ֗רי‬16 I called my slave
: ַ‫ֶ ֶֽאחֱזֶ ָ֥ה ֱאלֶֽ ֹוּה‬ But he did not answer me;
Expressly
‫ֶה־לי‬
֗ ‫כז ֲא ֶ ׁ֤שר אֲ ַ֨ני ׀ ֶ ֶֽא ֱחז‬ I have to beg him.
‫וְ עינַ ּ֣י ָר ּ֣אּו וְ לא־זָ ֑ר‬
17 My exhalation
:‫כָל֖ ּו כלְ י ַ ּ֣תי ְבח ֶֽקי‬ Repulses my wife;
And my stench
‫אמרּו‬ ְ ‫כח ּ֣כי ֖ ֶֽת‬ My body’s children.
‫מַ ה־נ ְרדָ ף־ל֑ ֹו‬
‫ וְ ָׁ֥ש ֶרׁש דָֹ֝ ֗ ָבר‬18 Even boys despise me.
:‫א־בי‬
ֶֽ ָ‫נ ְמצ‬ I am standing up
And they gossip about me.
‫י־ח ֶרב‬ֶ ֗ ‫כט ג֤ ּורּו ָל ֶַ֨כם ׀ מפְ נ‬
‫י־חמָ ה‬ ְ֭ ‫ ֶֽכ‬19 All men of my group
‫עֲֹונּ֣ ֹות ָח ֶ֑רב‬ Abhorred me;
What I loved
:]‫לְ ַ ֖מ ַען ֶֽתדְ עּ֣ ּון ׁשַ ֶֽדין [ׁשַ ֶֽדּון‬ Turned against me.
20 My bone clung
To my skin and flesh;
I am cemented
On the gums of my teeth.
21 You,my friends, have mercy with me, have
mercy with me,
For God’s hand
Did touch me.
22 Why
Do you pursue me like God does,
And are not satiated
With my flesh?
 56
In my flesh
I shall see God.
23 Whowould now cause
27 Since
for me He will appear to me; That my words be written down,
Mine eyes will see, not a stranger, Who could record them on a scroll
My reins will stop in my bosom.
24 With
an iron or lead pen;
28 If
you would say Permanently
What should we go after, Should they be engraved on rock.
And the root of the matter
is found in me, 25 ButI know:
My Redeemer is alive,
29 Beafraid of the sword, And at the end
For rage, Will overcome the dust.
Is the sword of sins,
That you shall know that there is judgment. 26 And
after that my skin
Was thus broken,

19:3 ‫ הכר‬is taken in the sense of Arabic ‫“ חכר‬to treat unjustly”.

19:6 ‫ עות‬is taken in the sense of Arabic ‫עות‬

֗ “to damage somebody”.

19:10 The tree is a leaf-tree which loses all leaves at the onset off winter.

19:12 The Accadic noun sellu means “sheet”, but a verb selu means “to shoot arrows”.

19:17 Arabic ‫“ חנ‬to stink”.

19:20 Arabic ‫ מלט‬is “cement”. There is no expression “to escape by the skin of one’s teeth. Saadya Gaon’s
explanation: my tooth slipped away from my gums,

Chapter 20

:‫מ ֶֽבינ ָָ֥תי ַ ֶֽיעֲנֶֽני‬ ‫א ְַ֭ויַעַ ן‬

‫צֹופַ ָ֥ר הַ ַ ֶֽנעֲמָ ֗תי‬
ָ‫ד ה ֲּ֣זאת ְָ֭ידַ עְ ת‬ :‫ו ֶַֽיאמַ ר‬
‫מני־עַ ֑ד‬
:‫י־א ֶרץ‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫מנ֤י ֖שים אָ ָ ּ֣דם עֲל‬ ‫ב ְָ֭לכן‬
‫יבּוני‬
֑ ‫ְשעפַ ּ֣י יְ ׁש‬
‫ה ֤כי רנְנַ ּ֣ת ְ֭ ְרׁשָ עים‬ ‫ּוֹ֝ ַ ֶֽבעֲב֗ ּור‬
‫מקָ ֑רֹוב‬ :‫ּ֣חּוׁשי ֶֽבי‬
:‫י־רגַע‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫וְ ש ְמ ַח֖ת חָ ּ֣נַֽף עֲד‬
‫מּוסּ֣ר כְ למָ ּ֣תי אֶ ְׁש ָ ֑מע‬
ַ ‫ג‬
‫ם־יעֲלֶ ּ֣ה לַשָ ַמּ֣ים ש ֑יאֹו‬
ֶֽ ַ ‫ו א‬ ַ‫ְֹ֝ו ֗רּוח‬
‫אׁשֹו‬ ֗ ‫ְֹ֝ור‬
 57
1 Sofar
from Naama :‫לָעָ ָ֥ב י ֶַֽגי ַע‬
Answered
And said: ‫ז ְֶֽ֭ ְכגֶלְ לֹו‬
‫לָנֶ ּ֣צַ ח יאב֑ד‬
2 Really
‫ֹ֝ר ֗ ָאיו‬
My thoughts make me answer;
And because of :‫אמ ָ֥רּו אַ יֶֽ ֹו‬
ְ ‫ֶֽי‬
I am moved to pity.
‫ח ַ ֶֽכחֲלּ֣ ֹום ְָ֭יעּוף‬
3Idid listen to my abusive correction; ‫וְ ּ֣לא י ְמצָ ֑אּוהּו‬
The spirit ‫ְֹ֝וי ֗ ַֻדד‬
Of my understanding will make me answer. :‫כְ חֶ זְיָ֥ ֹון ָ ֶֽל ְילָה‬
4 Didyou not know this
‫ט עַ ּ֣ין ְ֭ ְׁש ָזפַתּו‬
From always,
‫תֹוסיף‬
֑ ‫וְ ּ֣לא‬
Since man was on the earth,
‫א־עֹוד‬ ֗ ֹ֝ ‫וְ ל‬
5 Thatthe song of wicked ones :‫קֹומֹו‬
ֶֽ ‫ׁשּורנּו ְמ‬ ָ֥ ֶ ‫ְת‬
Is close,
And the joy of the impious only a moment? ‫י בְָ֭ נָיו‬
‫ַיְר ּ֣צּו דַ ל֑ים‬
6 If
his affairs would ascend to the sky ‫ְֹ֝וי ֗ ָָדיו‬
And his head
:‫תָ ָׁ֥שבְ נָה אֹונֶֽ ֹו‬
Reach a cloud,
7 Byhis turn ‫יא עְַ֭ צְ מֹותָ יו‬
He will disappear forever; ]‫ֲלּומ֑יו‬
ָ ‫ֲלּומ֑ו [ ֶֽע‬ָ ‫ָ ֶֽמלְ ּ֣אּו ֶֽע‬
Those who saw him ‫ְֹ֝וע ֗מֹו‬
Will say, where is he? :‫עַ ל־עָפָ ָ֥ר ת ְׁש ָ ֶֽכב‬
8 Like a floating dream
One cannot find him,
Fleeting
Like a nightly vision.
9 Theeye caught him
But no longer;
Nevermore
Will his place see him.
10 His
sons
Oppress the poor
And his hands
Handle his wealth
11 Hisbones
Are full of his knowledge
But with him
It will sleep on the dust.
 ‫‪58‬‬
‫כב ב ְמ ּ֣לאות ְ֭שפְ קֹו‬
‫יּ֣צֶ ר ל֑ ֹו‬
‫כָל־יַ ֖ד ע ָּ֣מל ְתב ֶ ֶֽאנּו‪:‬‬ ‫יב אם־תַ ְמ ּ֣תיק בְ ּ֣פיו ָרעָ ֑ה‬
‫ידנָה‬
‫ַֹ֝יכְ ח ֗ ֶ‬
‫ַ ּ֣תחַ ת לְ ׁשֹונֶֽ ֹו‪:‬‬

‫יג יַחְ ּ֣מל ְָ֭עלֶיהָ‬

‫וְ ּ֣לא ַ ֶֽי ַעז ֶ ְ֑בנָה‬
‫ְֹ֝וי ְמנָעֶ ֑ נָה‬
‫בְ ּ֣תֹוְך חכֶֽ ֹו‪:‬‬

‫יד ְַ֭לחְ מֹו‬

‫בְ מעָ ּ֣יו נֶהְ פָ ְ֑ך‬
‫רֹורת פְ תָ נּ֣ים בְ ק ְר ֶֽבֹו‪:‬‬
‫ְמ ַ ֖‬
‫טו ַחּ֣יל בְָ֭ לַע‬
‫ַו ְיק ֶ ֑אנּו‬
‫ֹ֝מבטְ נ֗ ֹו‬
‫ֶֽיר ֶ ָׁ֥שנּו ֶֽאל‪:‬‬

‫טז ֶֽראׁש־פְ תָ נָ֥ים יינָ ֑ק‬

‫ֶֹֽ֝ ַתהַ ְר ֗גהּו‬
‫לְ ּׁ֣שֹון אֶ פְ ֶ ֶֽעה‪:‬‬

‫ל־י ֶַֽרא בפְ לַג֑ ֹות‬‫יז אַ ָ֥‬

‫ַ ֶֽנה ֲָ֥רי ֶֹֽ֝ ַנח ֲ֗לי‬
‫דְ ַבּׁ֣ש וְ חֶ ְמ ָ ֶֽאה‪:‬‬

‫יח מ ּׁ֣שיב ְָ֭יגָע‬

‫וְ ּ֣לא יבְ לָ ֑ע‬
‫כְ חָ֥יל ְֹ֝ת ֶֽמ ָּור ֗תֹו‬
‫וְ ּ֣לא ַ ֶֽיעֲֹלֶֽ ס‪:‬‬

‫י־רצַ ץ‬ ‫יט ֶֽכ ְ֭‬

‫עָזַ ּ֣ב דַ ל֑ים‬
‫ַבָ֥ית ֹ֝ ָג ַ֗זל‬
‫וְ ּ֣לא יבְ נֶֽהּו‪:‬‬

‫כ ֤כי ׀‬
‫ֶֽלא־י ַ ָּ֣דע ׁשָ לּ֣ו בְ בטְ נ֑ ֹו‬
‫ֶֹֽ֝ ַבחֲמּוד֗ ֹו‬
‫ּ֣לא יְמַ ֶֽלט‪:‬‬

‫כא ֶֽאין־שָ ָ֥ריד לְ אָ כְ ל֑ ֹו‬

‫ל־כן‬
‫עַ ֹ֝ ֗‬
‫טּובֹו‪:‬‬
‫ֶֽלא־י ָָ֥חיל ֶֽ‬
 59

‫כג ְי ֤הי ׀‬
‫לְ מַ ֬לא ב ְטנ֗ ֹו‬ 12 If evil in his mouth becomes sweet,
‫ַח־בֹו ח ֲּ֣רֹון אַ ֑פֹו‬ ֖ ‫ ְ ֶֽיׁשַ ל‬He will deny it
‫וְ י ְַמ ָ֥טר ֹ֝ ָע ֗לימֹו‬ Under his tongue.
:‫חּומֹו‬
ֶֽ ְ‫בל‬
13 He will feel sorry about it
And not abandon it
‫כד ְ֭יבְ ַרח‬
And retain it
‫מנּׁ֣שֶ ק בַ ְרזֶ ֑ל‬
In his palate.
‫תַֹ֝ חְ לְ ֗פהּו‬
:‫חּוׁשה‬ ֶֽ ָ ‫ֶ ּ֣קׁשֶ ת ְנ‬ 14 His food
Will turn over in his innards;
‫ כה ׁשָ לַף‬The bitterness of pythons is inside him.
‫וַיצֵ֢א מ ִ֫גוָ ָ֥ה‬
‫ ּוְ֭ בָ ָרק‬15 He swallowed a fortune
‫מ ְמ ֶֽר ָר ָ֥תֹו ַ ֶֽיה ֲֹ֗לְך‬ And will vomit it;
:‫ָע ָלָ֥יו א ֶֽמים‬ From his belly
God will expel it.
‫כו כָל־חׁשֶ ְך‬
16 He will suck the poison of snakes;
‫טָ ֵ֢מּון לצְ ִ֫פּונָ ָ֥יו‬
The tongue of an asp
‫ְ֭ ְתאָ כְ להּו‬
Will kill him.
‫ּ֣אׁש ֶֽלא־נ ָֻפ֑ח‬
:‫ ֖י ַַֽרע שָ ּ֣ריד ְבאָ הֳלֶֽ ֹו‬17 He shall not see brooks,
Rivers, ravines
‫כז ְיגַלּ֣ ּו ׁשָ ַמּ֣ים עֲֹונ֑ ֹו‬ Of honey and milk.
‫ְֹ֝ו ֗ ֶא ֶרץ‬
18 He shall give back the fruit of his effort
:‫מ ְת ֶֽקֹומָ ָ ָ֥מה לֶֽ ֹו‬
Without swallowing it;
Like the power of his substitute
‫כח ְ֭יגֶל‬
Unable to chew it.
‫יתֹו‬֑ ‫ְי ּ֣בּול ב‬
‫ ֹ֝נג ָ֗רֹות‬19 For he smashed,
:‫בְ יּ֣ ֹום אַ ֶֽפֹו‬ Abandoned the meek-
He by robbery took a house
‫כט זֶ ֤ה ׀ ֶֽחלֶק־אָ ָדּ֣ם ְ֭ ָרׁשָ ע‬ Which he did not build.
‫ֹלהים‬ ֑ ‫מ ֱא‬
20 Certainly
:‫וְ ַ ֶֽנחֲלַ ֖ת א ְמ ּ֣רֹו מ ֶֽאל‬
He knew no quiet in his belly;
In his desire
He had no escape.

21 Thereremains nothing from his food;

Therefore
His wellbeing will not be permanent.
22 Out
of abundance
He shall have
23 He will be in straights;
His belly full, Any kind of of trouble will come over him.
He will send into him the fire of His rage,
 60
Will devour him, And rain upon him
Any escapee of his tent will fare badly. His ordure.
27 TheHeavens will make his sin public, 24 Hewill flee
And the Earth From iron weaponry,
Will revolt against him. To exchange it
For a snake-like bow.
28His house’s yield
Will be exiled; 25 He may draw it
Carted away It will come from his back,
On the day of His rage. Brilliant fluid
Will come out of his gall;
is the wicked’s part
29 This
Fear over him.
From God,
And the inheritance of Divine order. 26 Totaldarkness
Is hidden for him,
An unlit fire
20:2 Accadic, Aramaic ‫“ חוס‬to have mercy”.
20:6 Arabic ‫“ שיא‬affair”.
20:10 Translated following R. Saadya Gaon.
20:23 Accadic luhummu “dirt, refuse”.
20:25 ‫ יהלך‬is verb for both lines, 4 and 5.20:29 ‫ אמר‬Arabic “command”.
 61

Chapter 21
1 Job answered ‫א ַויַ ָ֥עַ ן אי֗ ֹוב‬
And said: :‫אמר‬
ֶֽ ַ ‫וַי‬
2 Listen
to the voice
‫ב ׁש ְמעּ֣ ּו ׁשְָ֭ מֹו ַע‬
Of my word;
‫מל ָ֑תי‬
This may be
‫י־זאת‬ ֹ֗֝ ‫ּותה‬ ְ
Your consolation.
:‫יכם‬
ֶֽ ֶ ‫ּומת‬
ֶֽ ‫תַ ְנ ָ֥ח‬
3Tolerate me,
That I may speak, ‫ג שְָ֭ אּוני‬
After I have spoken you may scoff. ‫וְ ָ ֶֽאנ ּ֣כי אֲדַ ב֑ר‬
:‫וְ אַ ַח֖ר דַ בְ ּ֣רי תַ לְ ֶֽעיג‬
4But I,
My speech is addressed to a human, ‫ד הְֶ֭ ָ ֶֽאנכי‬
Why ‫יחי‬
֑ ‫לְ אָ ָדּ֣ם ש‬
Should I not be impatient? ‫וְ אם־מַֹ֝ ד֗ ּו ַע‬
5Turn to me and be devastated, :‫רּוחי‬
ֶֽ ‫לא־תקְ ַצָ֥ר‬
Put your hand on your mouth.
‫ה פְ נֶֽ ּו־אלַ ָ֥י וְ הָ ַ ׁ֑שמּו‬
6If I remembered and remembered, :‫ל־פה‬
ֶֽ ֶ ‫וְ ֖שימּו יָ ּ֣ד ַע‬
And my flesh was stricken
With trembling. ‫ו וְ אם־זָכַ ְָ֥רתי וְ נבְ ָה֑לְ תי‬
‫וְ אָ ַחָ֥ז בְֹ֝ שָ ֗רי‬
7Why may the wicked go on living?
They got old, :‫ַפל ֶָֽצּות‬
And are full of force
‫ז מַ ּ֣דּועַ ְרׁשָ ּ֣עים ֶֽיחְ י֑ ּו‬
8Their seed is firm before them, ‫ֹ֝עָ ְת ֗קּו‬
And their descendants :‫גַם־גָ ָ֥בְ רּו ָ ֶֽחיל‬
Are before their eyes.
‫יהּ֣ם ע ָמ֑ם‬
ֶ ‫ח ז ְַרעָ ֤ם נָכּ֣ ֹון לפְ נ‬
9Their houses are peaceful, without fear, ‫יהם‬ ֶ ֗ ‫אֱצא‬
ֶֽ ָ ֶ‫ְֹ֝וצ‬
No scourge of God is on them.
:‫יהם‬ ֶֽ ֶ ‫לְ עינ‬
10His bull sires
Without fail, ‫יהּ֣ם ׁשָ לּ֣ ֹום מפָ ֑חַ ד‬
ֶ ‫ט ָ ֶֽבת‬
His cow gives birth :‫יהם‬
ֶֽ ֶ ‫וְ ֤לא ׁ֖שבֶ ט אֱלּ֣ ֹוּהַ עֲל‬
Without miscarriage.
‫ׁשֹורֹו ְ֭עבַ ר‬ ּ֣ ‫י‬
They produce like sheep
11 ‫וְ ּ֣לא יַגְ ֑על‬
Their young; ‫ְתפַ לָ֥ט ֶֹֽ֝ ָפ ָר ֗תֹו‬
And their children :‫וְ ּ֣לא ְתׁשַ ֶֽכל‬
Are dancing.
‫יא יְ ׁשַ לְ ּ֣חּו ְַ֭כצאן‬
‫יה֑ם‬
ֶ ‫ע ֲֶֽויל‬
‫ְֹ֝ויַלְ דיהֶ֗ ם‬
:‫י ְַרק ֶֽדּון‬
 ‫‪62‬‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ֗הּוא‬
‫ָר ָ֥מים י ְׁשפֶֽ ֹוט‪:‬‬
‫יב ְ֭י ְשאּו‬
‫כְ ּ֣תף וְ כנ֑ ֹור‬
‫ְֹ֝וי ְש ְמ ֗חּו‬
‫עּוגב‪:‬‬
‫לְ ּ֣קֹול ָ ֶֽ‬

‫יה֑ם‬ ‫יג יְ בַ לּ֣ ּו [ ְיכַלּ֣ ּו] בַ ּ֣טֹוב יְמ ֶ‬

‫ּוֹ֝ בְ ֶ ֗רגַע‬
‫ְׁש ּ֣אֹול י ַ ֶֽחתּו‪:‬‬

‫אמ ּ֣רּו ְָ֭לאל‬‫יד ו ֶַֽי ְ‬

‫ּ֣סּור מ ֶמ֑נּו‬
‫וְ ַ ָ֥דעַת דְֹ֝ ָר ֶ֗כיך‬
‫ּ֣לא חָ ָ ֶֽפצְ נּו‪:‬‬

‫י־נ ַעבְ ֶד֑נּו‬

‫טו מַ ה־ׁשַ ַדָ֥י ֶֽכ ַ ֶֽ‬
‫ֹועיל‬ ‫ּומַ ה־נֹ֝ ֗‬
‫ַע־בֹו‪:‬‬
‫ּ֣כי נפְ ג ֶֽ‬

‫טּוב֑ם‬
‫טז ֤הן ּ֣לא בְ י ָָדּ֣ם ָ‬
‫ע ֲַצָ֥ת ְֹ֝רׁשָ ֗עים‬
‫ָ ּ֣רחֲקָ ה ֶ ֶֽמני‪:‬‬

‫יז כ ָ ַ֤מה ׀‬
‫ֶֽר־רׁשָ ֤עים ידְ ָ֗עְך‬ ‫נ ְ‬
‫וְ י ָּ֣בא עָ לּ֣ימֹו א ָיד֑ם‬
‫ֹ֝ ֲחבָ ֗לים‬
‫יְ חַ לָ֥ק בְ אַ פֶֽ ֹו‪:‬‬

‫יח ֶֽיהְ י֗ ּו‬

‫י־רּוחַ‬
‫כְ ֶ ָ֥תבֶ ן לפְ נ ֑‬
‫ּוֹ֝ כְ ֗מץ‬
‫סּופה‪:‬‬
‫גְ נ ַָבָ֥תּו ָ ֶֽ‬

‫יט אֱ ֗לֹוּהַ יצְ ֶֽפן־ ְלבָ נָ ָ֥יו אֹונ֑ ֹו‬

‫יְ ׁשַ ל֖ם אלָ ּ֣יו וְ י ָ ֶֽדע‪:‬‬

‫כ י ְר ּ֣אּו עינָ ּ֣ו [עינָ ּ֣יו] כ ֑ידֹו‬

‫ּומח ֲַמ֖ת ׁשַ ַדּ֣י י ְׁש ֶ ֶֽתה‪:‬‬
‫ֶֽ‬

‫יתֹו ַ ֶֽאח ָ ֲ֑ריו‬

‫כא ֤כי ַ ֶֽמה־חֶ פְ ּ֣צֹו בְ ב ּ֣‬
‫ּומסְ פַ ֖ר חֳדָ ָ ּׁ֣שיו ח ָ ֶֻֽצצּו‪:‬‬

‫ד־דעַת‬
‫כב הַ לְ ָ֥אל ְילַמֶ ָ ֑‬
 63
‫כג ֶ֗זה ְָ֭ימּות‬
‫בְ ֶעּ֣צֶ ם ת ֻ֑מֹו‬
‫ֹ֝ ֻכ ֗לֹו‬ They lift
12

:‫ׁשַ ְ ֶֽלאֲנַ ַָֽ֥ן וְ ׁשָ ֶֽליו‬ Drum and lute,

And enjoy
‫כד ְ֭ ֲעטינָיו‬ The sound of the flute.
‫ָ ֶֽמלְ ּ֣אּו חָ ָל֑ב‬
13 Theyfinish their days in comfort;
ַ‫ּומח‬
֖
And in a moment
:‫מֹותיו ְיׁשֻ ֶ ֶֽקה‬
ּ֣ ָ ְ‫עַצ‬ The descend into the Netherworld.
‫ כה וְ ֶ֗זה ְָ֭ימּות‬14 They say to God,
‫בְ נֶ ּ֣ ֶפׁש מָ ָ ֑רה‬ Get away from me;
‫ וְ ֶֽלא־אָֹ֝ ַ֗כל‬The knowledge of Your ways
:‫טֹובה‬
ֶֽ ָ ַ‫ב‬ They do not desire.

15 Who
is Almighty that we should serve Him?
‫כו ְַ֭יחַ ד‬
‫ַעל־ע ָָפּ֣ר י ְׁשכָ ֑בּו‬ What use would it be
‫ְֹ֝ור ֗ ָמה‬ If we would pray to him?
.‫יהם‬
ֶֽ ֶ ‫ְתכַסֶ ה עֲל‬ 16True, is not their well-being in their hands?
The wicked’s plotting
‫כז ּ֣הן ְָ֭ידַ עְ תי‬ Is far from me.
‫מַ ְח ְׁש ֶֽבֹותיכֶ ֑ם‬
‫ּוֹ֝ ְמז ֗מֹות‬ How often
17

:‫ָע ַלָ֥י תַ ְח ֶֽמסּו‬ Will the flame of the wicked go out,

That over them comes their calamity;
ְ ‫ כח ֤כי ֶֽת‬Snares
‫אמ ֗רּו‬
‫אַ יָ֥ה ֶֽבית־נ ָ֑דיב‬ He distributes in His rage?
‫ ְֹ֝ואַ ֗יה‬18 They should be
:‫֤אהֶ ל ׀ מ ְׁשכְ נ֬ ֹות ְרׁשָ ֶֽעים‬ Like straw in the wind,
And like chaff
‫כט ה ֲּ֣לא ְ֭ ְׁשאֶ לְ תֶ ם‬ Stolen by the storm.
‫ֹוברי ָד ֶ֑רְך‬ְ ּ֣‫ע‬
‫ ְֹ֝ואת ֗ ָתם‬19 God hides His power for His sons?
:‫ּ֣לא ְתנ ֶַֽכרּו‬ He should pay him that he knows it.

‫ ל ֤כי לְ יּ֣ ֹום ְ֭איד‬20 His eyes should see his perdition,
‫י ָחּ֣שֶ ְך ָ ֑רע‬ And from Almighty’s rage let him drink.
:‫יּובלּו‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫ לְ י֖ ֹום עֲבָ ּ֣רֹות‬21 What is his interest in his house after him?
The number of his months is alotted.
‫לא ֶֽמי־יַגּ֣יד ַעל־פָנָ ּ֣יו דַ ְר ֑כֹו‬
‫ וְ הּוא־ ֹ֝ ָעשָ֗ ה‬22 Could he teach knowledge to God?
:‫ּ֣מי ְיׁשַ לֶם־לֶֽ ֹו‬ But He
Judges the high ones!
‫לב ְ֭ ְוהּוא‬
‫יּוב֑ל‬
ָ ‫לקְ בָ ּ֣רֹות‬
:‫ְ ֶֽו ַעל־ג ָָ֥דיׁש י ְׁש ֶֽקֹוד‬
 64
But he
32
Will be brought to burial; ‫קּו־לֹו רגְ ִ֫בי נָ ָ֥חַ ל‬
֗ ‫לג ָ ֶֽמ ְת‬
And he will be careful to have it firm. ‫ְ֭ ְו ַ ֶֽאח ֲָריו‬
‫כָל־אָ ָדּ֣ם י ְמ ׁ֑שֹוְך‬
33Sweet for him are the clods of the valley;
‫ּוֹ֝ לְ פָ ָ֗ניו‬
After him
Every man is drawn, :‫ּ֣אין מסְ ָ ֶֽפר‬
Also in front of him
Without number.
23This one will die
In his simplicity
All
Peaceful and satisfied.
24 His
drinking vessels
Are full of milk,
And the marrow
Of his bones is kept moist.
Another one will die
25
With a bitter soul,
And never ate
In well-being.
26 Together
They will sleep in the dust;
And worm
Will cover both of them.
Certainly I know
27

Your thoughts,
And the intentions
With which you are irritated against me.
If you would say,
28
Where is the house of the nobleman,
And where are
The dwellings of the wicked?
29 Could you not ask
The passers-by
And their signs
Could not not misjudge?
For even if at the day of calamity
30
The evil one will be protected,
On the day of wraths they will be taken away.
31 Who will tell him his behavior in his face,
And if he does,
Who would reward him?
 65

34 So how ‫לד ְ֭ ְואיְך‬

Could you console me vainly, ‫ְת ַ ֶֽנח ֲּ֣מּוני ָה֑בֶ ל‬
And your answers ‫ׁשּובתי ֶ֗כם‬
ֶֽ ‫ּוֹ֝ ְת‬
Remain fraud. .‫ר־מעל‬ ֶֽ ָ ַ‫נ ְׁשא‬

21:17 Arabic ‫“ חבל‬snare”.

21.19 For “sons of God” cf. Deut. 14.1
‫ כיד‬Arabic “ruse, artifice, stratagem”. (Targum and Saadya Gaon: breaking).
21:21 ‫ חצץ‬,‫ חץ‬Arabic “to allot a share”.
21:24 ‫ עטן‬Arabic “to soak, to rest before drink”.
21:27 ‫ חמש‬Arabic “to irritate”.
21:32 ‫ גדס‬Arabic “hard, solid”.
 66

Chapter 22

‫א ְַ֭ויַעַ ן‬
ַ‫יב הלא־ ְ֭ ֱאלֹוּה‬ ‫אֱ ליפַ ָ֥ז הַ ֶֽתמָ ֗ני‬
‫ּ֣גבַ ּה ׁשָ ָמ֑ים‬ :‫אמר‬ ֶֽ ַ ‫וַי‬
:‫י־רמּו‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫ְּור ֤אה ר ֖אׁש ֶֽכֹוכ ָּ֣בים כ‬
‫ב הַ לְ ָ֥אל יסְ כָן־גָ ֑בֶ ר‬
:‫ֶֽכי־יסְ ֖כן ָעלּ֣ימֹו מַ ְש ֶֽכיל‬
1 Eliphazfrom Timna
Took the word ‫ג הַ חּ֣פֶץ ְ֭ ְלׁשַ דַ י‬
And said: ‫ּ֣כי תצְ ָ ֑דק‬
‫ם־בֶ צַ ע‬
֗ ֹ֝ ‫וְ א‬
:‫ֶֽכי־תַ ָ֥תם ְד ָר ֶ ֶֽכיך‬
2 Could a man be peaceful by God,
For an understanding one will deal with him? ‫ד ְ֭ ֲהמי ְר ָ ּ֣א ְתך‬
‫יח֑ך‬ ֶ ‫ֶֽיכ‬
3 Does the Almighty have pleasure
‫י ָָ֥בֹוא ֹ֝ע ְמ ֗ך‬
If you are just,
Or does He have gain :‫בַ מ ְׁש ָ ֶֽפט‬
If you straighten your behavior?
‫ה ה ֲּ֣לא ָר ָ ֶֽע ְתךּ֣ ַר ָב֑ה‬
4 Would he reprove you ‫ין־קץ‬
֗ ֹ֝ ‫וְ ֶֽא‬
For your faith, :‫ַ ֶֽלעֲֹוֶֽ נ ֶ ֶֽתיך‬
Bring you
To judgment? ‫ו ֶֽכי־תַ חְ ּ֣בל אַ ֶחּ֣יך חנָ ֑ם‬
5 But
is not your wickedness great, :‫ֲרּומים תַ פְ ֶֽׁשיט‬
ּ֣ ‫ּובגְ ֖די ע‬
And boundless are
Your sins? ‫ז לא־מְַ֭ ים‬
‫עָיַֽף תַ ְׁש ֶ ֑קה‬
ּ֣
6 If
you distrain your brothers causeless ‫ּוֹ֝ ֶֽמ ָר ֗עב‬
And strip clothing from the naked? :‫ַע־לחֶ ם‬ ֶֽ ָ ‫ת ְמנ‬
7 Theweary you would let drink
‫ח וְ ּ֣איׁש ְ֭ ְזרֹו ַע‬
No water
‫לּ֣ ֹו הָ ָ ֑א ֶרץ‬
And from the hungry
‫ּונְ ָ֥שּוא ָֹ֝פ ֗נים‬
You withheld bread.
:‫יּׁ֣שֶ ב ָ ֶֽבּה‬
8 Thestrongman,
Him belongs the earth, ‫ט אְַ֭ לְ מָ נֹות‬
And high in honor ‫יקם‬
֑ ָ ‫ׁשלַ ּ֣חְ תָ ר‬
He lives therein. :‫ּוזְרע֖ ֹות יְת ּ֣מים ְיד ָ ֶֻֽכא‬
9 Widows
‫ל־כן‬
ְ֭ ַ‫י ע‬
You dismissed with nothing,
‫יבֹותיך ַפ ֑חים‬
ּ֣ ֶ ‫סְ ֶֽב‬
And orphans’ arms will be broken.
:‫יבהֶ לְ ך פַ ּ֣חַ ד פ ְת ֶֽאם‬
ֶֽ ַ ‫ֹ֝ו‬
10 Therefore
Snares are surrounding you ‫אֹו־חׁשֶ ְך ָ֥לא ת ְר ֶ ֑אה‬
ָ֥ ‫יא‬
And sudden fears disquiet you. :‫עַת־מָ֥ים ְתכ ֶ ֶַֽס ָך‬
ַ ְ‫ְ ֶֽוׁשפ‬
 ‫‪67‬‬

‫‪ 11 Either darkness where you cannot see‬יג ְֶֽ֭ ְואָ מַ ְרתָ‬

‫מַ ה־יָ ַּֽ֣דַ ע ֑אל‬ ‫‪Or water flood which covers you,‬‬
‫‪ 12 But is not God‬הַ בְ עַ ֖ד ע ֲָרפֶ ּ֣ל י ְׁש ֶֽפֹוט‪:‬‬
‫‪High in Heaven,‬‬
‫‪ And see the main stars elevated‬יד ָע ּ֣בים ֶֽסתֶ ר־ל֖ ֹו‬
‫וְ ּ֣לא י ְר ֶ ֑אה‬
‫וְ ָ֥חּוג ֹׁ֝שָ ֗ ַמים‬
‫י ְתהַ ָ ֶֽלְך‪:‬‬

‫עֹולּ֣ם ת ְׁש ֑מר‬

‫טו הַ ּ֣א ַרח ָ‬
‫י־אוֶן‪:‬‬
‫ֲא ֶ ׁ֖שר ָ ֶֽד ְרכּ֣ ּו ְמת ָ ֶֽ‬

‫טז ֲאׁשֶ ר־קֻ ְמ ָ֥טּו וְ לא־ע֑ת‬

‫ָֹ֝נ ֗ ָהר‬
‫סֹודם‪:‬‬
‫יּוצָ֥ק ְי ָ ֶֽ‬
‫ַ‬

‫יז הָ ֶֽא ְמ ּ֣רים ְָ֭לאל‬

‫ּ֣סּור מ ֶמ֑נּו‬
‫ּומה־יפְ עַ ֖ל ׁשַ ַדּ֣י ָ ֶֽלמֹו‪:‬‬
‫ַ ֶֽ‬

‫יהּ֣ם ֑טֹוב‬ ‫יח וְ ֤הּוא מלּ֣א ָ ֶֽבת ֶ‬

‫ַ ֶֽוע ֲַצָ֥ת ְֹ֝רׁשָ ֗עים ָ ּ֣רחֲקָ ה ֶ ֶֽמני‪:‬‬

‫יקים וְ י ְש ָ ֑מחּו‬‫יט י ְר ּ֣אּו צַ ד ּ֣‬

‫ְֹ֝ונ ָ֗קי‬
‫ג־למֹו‪:‬‬
‫ילְ ַע ָ ֶֽ‬

‫ימ֑נּו‬
‫ם־לא נכְ ַחּ֣ד ק ָ‬
‫כ א ּ֣‬
‫ְֹ֝וי ְת ָ ֗רם‬
‫ָ ּ֣אכְ לָה ֶֽאׁש‪:‬‬

‫כא הַ סְ כֶן־נָ ּ֣א ע ֑מֹו‬

‫ּוׁשלָ ֑ם בָֹ֝ ֗ ֶהם‬
‫ְ‬
‫טֹובה‪:‬‬
‫ְ ֶֽתבֹואָ ְתךָ֥ ָ ֶֽ‬

‫תֹורה‬
‫כב קַ ח־נָ ּ֣א מ ּ֣פיו ָ ֑‬
‫וְ ָ֥שים ֹ֝ ֲאמָ ָ ֗ריו‬
‫בלְ בָ ֶ ֶֽבך‪:‬‬

‫ַד־ׁשַ דַ י‬
‫כג אם־תָ ּׁ֣שּוב ע ְ֭‬
‫תבָ נֶ ֑ה‬
‫תַ ְר ָ֥חיק ֹ֝ ַעוְ ָ֗לה‬
‫מ ָ ֶֽאה ֶ ֳֶֽלך‪:‬‬

‫כד וְ ׁשית־ ַעל־ע ָָפָ֥ר ָב֑צֶ ר‬

 68
13 And you said, :‫אֹופיר‬
ֶֽ ‫ּובְ ֖צּור ְנחָ לּ֣ים‬
What does God see?
Could He judge in the mist? ‫כה וְ הָ יָ ּ֣ה ׁשַ ַדּ֣י בְ צָ ֶ ֑ריך‬
14 Clouds are His hiding., :‫וְ כֶ ֖סֶ ף ֶֽתֹועָפּ֣ ֹות ָ ֶֽלְך‬
He would not see,
The circle of heaven
He promenades.
15 Do
you observe the dark way
Which men of evil trod?
16 Which are plucked in untimely fashion,
A river
Poured out from their foundation.
17 Whosay to God,
Get away from us,
What could the Almighty do to us?
18 But
He filled their houses with good,
While the intent of the wicked is far from him.
19 Thejust may see and enjoy,
The innocent
Will scoff at them.
20 Is
not their substance negated,
And their surplus
Ate the fire.
21Make yourself an agent of his,
Submit to them,
Your yield will be good.
22 Acceptinstruction from Him
And put His commandments
In your heart.
23 If
you repent to the Almighty
You will be rebuilt.
Remove evil
From your tent.
24 Put
beser stone on dust
And ophir in river pebbles.
25 Then
the Almighty will be your fortress
And money will fly to you.
 69
26 For then ‫כו כי־אְָ֭ ז‬
You will be enjoying the Almighty ‫עַ ל־ׁשַ ַדּ֣י ת ְתעַנָ ֑ג‬
And to God lift your face. :‫וְ ת ָ ֖שא אֶ ל־ ֱאלּ֣ ֹוּהַ פ ֶָנֶֽיך‬
27 Pray
to him
‫כז תַ עְ ּ֣תיר ְ֭אלָיו‬
And He will answer you.
‫וְ י ְׁשמָ עֶ ֑ ָך‬
And pay your vows.
:‫ּונְ דָ ֶ ָ֥ריך ְתׁשַ ֶֽלם‬
28 Youwill decree and it will happen;
And on your way ‫ַר־אמֶ ר וְ יָ ַּֽ֣קָ ם לָ ְ֑ך‬
֖ ‫כח ְ ֶֽותגְ ז‬
Light is shining. ‫וְ עַ ל־דְֹ֝ ָר ֶ֗כיך‬
:‫נָ ַּֽ֣גַּה ֶֽאֹור‬
29 Certainly,
if one is brought down
You may order, be high,
‫י־ה ְׁשפילּו‬
ְ֭ ‫כט ֶֽכ‬
And the one of low aspirations will be helped.
‫ו ַּ֣תאמֶ ר גוָ ֑ה‬
30 Thenot-innocent will escape; :‫יֹוׁש ַע‬
ֶֽ ‫וְ ַ ׁ֖שח עינַ ַּֽ֣ים‬
He will escape
By the purity of your hands. ‫ל יְמַ לָ֥ט ֶֽאי־נ ָ֑קי‬
‫ְֹ֝ונ ְמ ַ֗לט‬
:‫בְ ּ֣בר כ ֶ ֶַֽפיך‬

22:2 Arabic ‫“ סכנ‬peaceful”. In the second part ‫ סכן‬is the agent; a pun. See also v. 21.
22:15 ‫ עולם‬here is Ugarit (Canaanite) ‫“ ֗עלמת‬darkness’ (Dahood).
22:24 In Arabic ‫ בצרה‬is a white stone. Ophir is the land of gold.
22:28 In prose the verse means “you will decide in a commandment”.
 ‫‪70‬‬

‫‪Chapter 23‬‬

‫י כי־ ְָ֭ידַ ע‬ ‫א וַיַ ָ֥עַ ן אי֗ ֹוב‬

‫ֶד ֶּ֣רְך עמָ ֑די‬ ‫אמר‪:‬‬‫וַי ַ ֶֽ‬
‫ֹ֝ ְבחָ ֗ ַנני‬
‫ב גַם־הְַ֭ יֹום‬
‫ַכז ָָהָ֥ב א ֶֽצא‪:‬‬ ‫ְמ ּ֣רי ש ֑חי‬
‫ָֹ֝י ֗די‬
‫כָבְ ָ ָ֥דה עַל־אַ ְנחָ ֶֽתי‪:‬‬
‫יא ְ֭ ַ ֶֽב ֲאׁשֻ רֹו‬
‫ָ ֶֽאחֲזָ ּ֣ה ַרגְ ל֑י‬ ‫ג ֶֽמי־י ּ֣תן ְָ֭ידַ עְ תי‬
‫א־אט‪:‬‬
‫דַ ְרכ֖ ֹו ׁשָ ַמ ְּ֣רתי וְ ֶֽל ָ ֶֽ‬ ‫וְ אֶ ְמצָ ֑אהּו‬
‫ד־תכֶֽ ּונ ֶָֽתֹו‪:‬‬
‫עַ ְ‬

‫עֶרכָ ּ֣ה לְ פָנָ ּ֣יו מ ְׁשפָ ֑ט‬

‫ד ֶ ֶֽא ְ‬
‫ּוֹ֝ ֗פי‬
‫אֲמַ לָ֥א ֶֽתֹוכ ֶָֽחֹות‪:‬‬

‫ה ְ֭ ֶֽאדְ עָ ה‬
‫מלּ֣ים ַ ֶֽיעֲנ֑ני‬
‫ְֹ֝ואָ ֗בינָה‬
‫ה־יאמַ ר ֶֽלי‪:‬‬ ‫מַ ָ֥‬

‫ב־כחַ‬
‫ו הַ בְ ָר ֖‬
‫י ָּ֣ריב עמָ ֑די‬
‫ְך־הּוא‬
‫ָ֥לא אַ ֹ֝ ֗‬
‫י ָָ֥שם ֶֽבי‪:‬‬

‫ז ׁשָ֗ ם ְָ֭יׁשָ ר‬
‫נֹוכָ ּ֣ח ע ֑מֹו‬
‫ַוֶֽאֲפַ לְ ָ ָ֥טה‬
‫ֹ֝ ָל ֶ֗נצַ ח מ ֶֽשפְ ֶֽטי‪:‬‬

‫ח ֤הן ֶ ּ֣קדֶ ם אֶ הֱֹלּ֣ ְך וְ אינֶ ֑נּו‬

‫ְֹ֝ואָ ֗חֹור‬
‫ְ ֶֽולא־אָ ָ֥בין לֶֽ ֹו‪:‬‬

‫א־אחַ ז‬
‫ֲשתֹו וְ ל ָ ֑‬
‫ט ְש ּ֣מאול ַ ֶֽבע ּ֣‬
‫יַעְ ָ֥טף ָֹ֝י ֗מין‬
‫וְ ּ֣לא אֶ ְר ֶ ֶֽאה‪:‬‬
 71
1 Job answered
7There, the straightforward And said:
Would be in His presence,
And I could escape 2Also today
Victorious against my respondent. My speech is refractory;
My hand
8 But if I go Eastward, He is not there
Is heavy for my groaning.
Or Westward
And I would not spy him. 3If only that I could know
How to find Him
9North in doing He is not seen, In His essence!
He turns South
And I will not see. 4I would file a suit before Him,
My mouth
10 Certainly
He knows I would fill with proofs.
The way with me;
I examined me, 5I would know
Like gold I came out. When He will answer me in words
And understand
11In His path What He would say to me.
My foot has held;
I watched His way without noise. 6 The Most Powerful
Will oppose me,
But also He
Will take notice of me.
‫י־לא ְ֭נצְ מַ תי‬
ּ֣ ‫יז ֶֽכ‬ ‫יב מצְ וַ ּ֣ת ְ֭ ְשפָתָ יו‬
‫י־חׁשֶ ְך‬
֑ ‫מפְ נ‬ ‫וְ ּ֣לא אָ ֑מיׁש‬
‫ִּ֠וֹ֝ מ ָפ ֗ ַני‬ ‫ֹ֝מח ֻ֗קי‬
:‫ה־א ֶפל‬ֶֽ ָ‫כס‬ :‫י־פיו‬
ֶֽ ‫צָ פַ ָ֥נְ תי א ְמר‬
6
‫יג וְ ּ֣הּוא ְ֭ ְבאֶ חָ ד‬
‫יב֑נּו‬ ֶ ‫ּומי יְ ׁש‬ ּ֣
:‫וְ נַפְ ׁ֖שֹו אּוְ ָ ּ֣תה ו ָ ֶַֽיעַש‬

‫יד ְ֭כי‬
‫י ְַׁשלּ֣ים ח ֻ֑קי‬
:‫וְ כ ָ֖הנָה ַר ּ֣בֹות ע ֶֽמֹו‬

‫ל־כן‬ְ֭ ַ‫טו ע‬
‫מפָנָ ּ֣יו אֶ בָ ֑הל‬
‫בֹונן‬
֗ ‫אֶֹ֝ ְת‬
:‫וְ אֶ פְ ַחָ֥ד מ ֶ ֶֽמנּו‬

‫טז ְ֭ ְואל‬
‫ה ַ ּ֣רְך ל ֑בי‬
‫ְֹ֝וׁשַ ֗ ַדי‬
:‫ילני‬ֶֽ ָ ‫הבְ ה‬
 72
I am dismayed before Him. The commandments of His lips
12
I am considering, I would not deviate,
And am afraid of Him. By my own principle
I am hoarding the orders vof His mouth.
16For God
Has softened my heart, But He is the One,
13
The Almighty Who can dispute with Him?
Has confounded me. He desired it and acted.
14 Certainly
For I would not be silent
17
Before darkness If He completes my measure,
And in front of me Similarly there is much with Him
Thick gloom is covering. 15 Therefore

23:6 ‫ הַ ברב כח‬is vocalized as a statement. Torczyner’s “by an attorney” would require ‫הֲברב כח‬. Since the Tiberian
vocalization is the result of a scholarly edition, if one starts to correct this edition, one tries the reconstruct the
author’s text which is quite impossible since time and place of the author are totally unknown.
23:7 ‫ משפטי‬is the opponent before the judge (Saadya Gaon).
23:10 ‫ אצא‬as past is an Accadism.
23:11 ‫ אט‬Arabic “tremble, make a noise”.
23:17 ‫“ צמת‬to be silent” (Arabic).
 ‫‪73‬‬

‫‪Chapter 24‬‬
‫ְ ֶֽו ַעל־עָנָ֥י י ְַח ֶֽבלּו‪:‬‬ ‫א מַ ד֗ ּועַ ְ֭משַ דַ י‬
‫לא־נצְ פְ נּ֣ ּו ע ֑תים‬
‫י ע ָּ֣רֹום ְ֭הלְ כּו‬
‫ְֹ֝וידְ עָ֗ ו [ ְֹ֝ו ֶֽידְ ָ֗עיו]‬
‫בְ לּ֣י לְ ֑בּוׁש‬
‫ּוֹ֝ ְרע ֗בים‬ ‫א־חָ֥זּו י ָ ֶָֽמיו‪:‬‬
‫ל ָ‬
‫נָ ְּ֣שאּו ֶֽעמֶ ר‪:‬‬

‫ין־ׁשּור ָ ָ֥תם יַצְ ֑הירּו‬

‫יא ב ֶֽ‬ ‫ב גְ בֻלָ֥ ֹות י ַ֑שיגּו‬
‫ְיקָ ָ֥בים ֶֹֽ֝ ָד ְר ֗כּו‬ ‫עָ֥דֶ ר ָֹ֝ ֶֽגז ְ֗לּו‬
‫וַיצְ ָ ֶֽמאּו‪:‬‬ ‫וַי ְרעֶֽ ּו‪:‬‬

‫ְתֹומים י ְנ ָה֑גּו‬
‫ג ח ֲּ֣מֹור י ּ֣‬
‫ַֹ֝יחְ בְ ֗לּו‬
‫ּׁ֣שֹור אַ לְ מָ ָנֶֽה‪:‬‬

‫ד י ַּ֣טּו אֶ בְ ינּ֣ים מ ָד ֶ֑רְך‬

‫יַ ָ֥חַ ד ֹ֝ ֻחבְ ֗אּו‬
‫ֶֽעֲנּוי [ ֶֽעֲניי־] ָ ֶֽא ֶרץ‪:‬‬

‫ה ֤הן פְ ָר ַ֨אים ׀ ַ ֶֽבמדְ ֗ ָבר‬

‫ָיֶֽצְ ּ֣אּו ְ֭ ְב ָ ֶֽפ ֳעלָם‬
‫ְמ ַ ֶֽׁשח ֲּ֣רי ל ַָט ֶ֑רף‬
‫ע ֲָר ָבָ֥ה לָ֥ ֹו ֹ֝ ֗ ֶלחֶ ם‬
‫לַנְ ע ֶָֽרים‪:‬‬

‫ו בְַ֭ שָ דֶ ה‬
‫בְ לילּ֣ ֹו יקְ ֑צירּו [יקְ ֑צֹורּו]‬
‫וְ כֶ ֶ֖רם ָר ָ ּׁ֣שע ְיל ֶַֽקׁשּו‪:‬‬

‫עָרֹום ְָ֭ילינּו‬ ‫ז ּ֣‬

‫מבְ לּ֣י לְ ֑בּוׁש‬
‫וְ ָ֥אין ֹ֝ ְכ ֗סּות‬
‫בַ קָ ָ ֶֽרה‪:‬‬

‫ח מזֶ ּ֣ ֶַֽרם הָ ּ֣רים י ְר ָ ֑טבּו‬

‫ּוֶֽ מבְ לָ֥י מַֹ֝ חְ ֗ ֶסה‬
‫קּו־צּור‪:‬‬
‫ֶֽ‬ ‫חבְ‬

‫ט ְ֭יגְ זְלּו‬
‫מ ּ֣שד י ָ֑תֹום‬
 74
1 Why are the times not hidden
‫יב מ ֤עיר ְמ ַ֨תים ׀ ינ ֗ ְָאקּו‬ From the Almighty,
‫וְ ֶ ֶֽנ ֶפׁש־ ֲחלָלָ֥ים ְתׁשַ ּ֑ו ַע‬ So that those who know Him
ַ‫ֹ֝ ֶו ֱא ֗לֹוּה‬ Cannot envision His days?
:‫לא־י ָָ֥שים תפְ ָ ֶֽלה‬ 2 Theymove boundaries,
They rob flocks
‫יג ה֤מָ ה ׀ הָ יּו‬ And shepherd.
‫י־אֹור‬ ָ֥ ‫ְ ֶֽבמ ְר ִ֫ד‬
‫ֶֽלא־ה ָ֥כירּו ְד ָרכָ ֑יו‬ 3 Theydrive away the orphans’ donkey,
‫וְ ָ֥לא ָֹ֝ ֶֽי ְׁש ֗בּו‬ They take as pledge
:‫בנְתיב ָ ֶֽתיו‬ The widow’s ox.
4 Theyturn away the needy from the way,
‫יד ל ִָ֡אֹור‬ The meek of the land
ַ‫רֹוצח‬
֗ ‫ָי ֤קּום‬ Together are pushed into hiding.
‫יקְ טָ ל־עָנָ֥י וְ אֶ ְבי֑ ֹון‬
‫ּוֹ֝ בַ ַ֗ל ְילָה‬ 5 Seeonagers in the prairie
:‫ְי ּ֣הי ַכג ַָנֶֽב‬ Go out to their work
Looking for food.
‫טו וְ ע֤ין נ ַ֨אף ׀‬ The heath is him food
‫ָ ׁ֤ש ְמ ָרה נֶ ּׁ֣שֶ ף ְ֭לאמר‬ For the young.
‫ׁשּורני ָע֑ין‬
ּ֣ ‫א־ת‬ ְ ‫ל‬
:‫וְ ֖סתֶ ר פָנּ֣ים י ֶָֽשים‬ 6 Onthe field
They will cut its fodder;
‫טז ח ַ ָָ֥תר בַ ֗חׁשֶ ְך ִ֫ ָב ָ֥תים‬ The wicked’s vineyard they will strip.
‫יֹומָ֥ם ח ְתמּו־ ָ֗למֹו‬ ָ
7 They stay overnight
:‫לא־יָ ָ֥ ְַֽדעּו ֶֽאֹור‬
Without dress;
‫יז כּ ֤י יַחְ ַ֨ ָדו ׀‬ There is no garment
In the cold.
‫ּ֣בקֶ ר ָלּ֣מֹו צַ לְ ָ ֑מוֶת‬
‫ָ֥כי ַֹ֝י ֗כיר‬ 8 They get wet from the flow of mountains,
:‫בַ ְל ָ֥הֹות צַ לְ ָ ֶֽמוֶת‬ Without shelter
They hug a rock.
‫י־מים‬
ַ ֗ ‫ל־הּוא ׀ עַל־פְ נ‬ ֤ ַ‫יח ק‬ 9 Theywill snatch
‫ְתקֻ לַ ּ֣ל ֶחלְ קָ ָ ּ֣תם בָ ָ ֑א ֶרץ‬ The orphan from the breast
‫א־יפְ נֶה‬
ֹ֝ ‫ֶֽל‬ And the poor as pledge.
:‫ֶד ֶּ֣רְך כְ ָר ֶֽמים‬
10 Nakedthey make him walk
‫ַם־חם‬ ֗ ‫יט ציָ ֤ה ג‬ Without dress;
‫יגְ זְלָ֥ ּו ֶֽמימי־ׁשֶ֗ לֶג‬ And hungry
They carry sheaves.
:‫ְׁש ּ֣אֹול חָ ָ ֶֽטאּו‬
11 Between their walls they press oil,
‫כ י ְׁש ָכ ֤חהּו ֶ ַ֨רחֶ ם ׀‬ The tread wine presses
‫ְמתָ ֤קֹו ר ֗ ָמה‬ While thirsty.
‫עָ֥ ֹוד ֶֽלא־יזָכ֑ר‬
:‫וַתשָ ב֖ר כָעּ֣ץ עַוְ ָ ֶֽלה‬
 75
He never will be remembered, ‫כא רעֶ ּ֣ה ְ֭ ֲעקָ ָרה‬
And evil will be broken like wood. ‫ּ֣לא תל֑ד‬
‫ְֹ֝ואַ לְ מָ ָ֗נה‬
21 He shepherds the infertile
Who will not give birth :‫ּ֣לא יְי ֶֽטיב‬
But to a widow
He will not be good.

12 Fromthe city men are groaning,

And the soul of the slain is crying,
But on God
No bad smell attaches.
13 Theywere
Rebels against light,
Did not recognize His ways,
Did not stay
In His paths.
14 At
light
The murderer will get up,
He will kill the poor and needy,
And in the night
He will act as a thief.
15 Andthe adulterer’s eye
Watches dusk, saying
No eye will spy me;
And put a cover over his face.
16 Hedigs into houses in the dark.
During the day they are sealing themselves;
They know no light.
17 Fortogether
Morning is for them deep darkness,
For he knows
Deep darkness fear.
18Swift is he on the surface of the water;
Their part in the land may be cursed,
He would not turn to
The way of vineyards.
19 Desertand also heat
Will rob snow water,
The Netherworld their sins.
20 The mother’s womb will forget him,
The worm finds him sweet;
 76

22 Whilehe draws the mighty by his force, ‫כב ּומָ ַ ּׁ֣שְך אַ ב ּ֣ירים בְ כ ֑חֹו‬
He get up ‫ָֹ֝י ֗קּום‬
And does not believe in Life. :‫א־יא ֲָ֥מין ַ ֶֽבחַ ֶֽיין‬
ֶֽ ַ ‫ְ ֶֽול‬
23 Hegives him security
And he is given support, ‫כג יתֶ ן־לּ֣ ֹו ְָ֭לבֶ טַ ח‬
But His eye ‫וְ ישָ ע֑ן‬
Is on their ways. ‫ְֹ֝וע ֗יניהּו‬
:‫יהם‬ֶֽ ֶ ‫עַ ל־דַ ְרכ‬
24 Risea little bit, then he is not,
And they were mollified, ‫כד ֤רֹומּו ְמ ַַ֨עט ׀ ְ ֶֽואי ֗ ֶננּו‬
Like all locked up, ‫ְ ֶֽוה ְֻמכ֗ ּו‬
And like the heads of grain they wither. ‫כ ַָ֥כל יקָ פְ ֑צּון‬
25 Andif it is not so, :‫ּוכְ ֖ראׁש ׁש ּ֣בלֶת י ָ ֶֽמלּו‬
Who will prove me a liar
And turn ‫ם־לא ְ֭אפֹו‬
ּ֣ ‫כה וְ א‬
My word into its negative? ‫ּ֣מי יַכְ זיב֑ני‬
‫וְ י ָָ֥שם‬
:‫לְֹ֝ ֗ ַאל מל ֶָֽתי‬

24:2 A reference to the wicked is missing.

24:12 ‫ תפל‬Arabic “bad smell”.
24:22 It seems that “Life” here is Life Everlasting.
24:25 This ironic remark turns Job’s turns Job’s repetition of the arguments of his friends into its opposite.
 77

Chapter 25

1Bildad from Shuah ‫א ְַ֭ויַעַ ן‬

Answered ‫בלְ ַדָ֥ד הַ שֻ ֗חי‬
And said. :‫אמר‬ ֶֽ ַ ‫וַי‬
2Dominion and reverence are His
Who creates peace
‫ב הַ ְמ ּׁ֣של וָפַ ּ֣חַ ד ע ֑מֹו‬
In His heights.
‫ע ֶ ָ֥שה ֹׁ֝שָ ֗לֹום‬
3 Is
there a number :‫רֹומיו‬ ֶֽ ָ ‫ב ְמ‬
To his brigades?
And over whom ‫ג הֲיּׁ֣ש ְ֭מסְ פָר‬
‫דּודיו‬
֑ ָ ְ‫לג‬
Does His light not stand?
‫ַל־מי‬
֗ ֹ֝ ‫וְ ע‬
4How can man justified before God, :‫אֹורהּו‬
ֶֽ ‫ֶֽלא־י ָָ֥קּום‬
How could be blameless
One born by woman? ‫ם־אל‬
֑ ‫ד וּמַ ה־יצְ ַ ּ֣דק אֱנּ֣ ֹוׁש ע‬
‫ה־י ְז ֶ֗כה‬
ֹ֝ ַ‫ּומ‬
5Even the moon :‫יְ לּ֣ ּוד א ָ ֶֽשה‬
Does not shine
And the stars ַ‫ה ּ֣הן עַ ד־ ְָ֭ירח‬
Are not pure in His eyes! ‫וְ ּ֣לא ַ ֶֽי ֲא ֑היל‬
‫ְֹ֝וכֶֽ ֹוכ ָ֗בים‬
6 How much less :‫ֶֽלא־זַכָ֥ ּו בְ ע ָינֶֽיו‬
Since man is a maggot
And human ‫ו אְַ֭ ף‬
A worm. ‫ֶֽכי־אֱנּ֣ ֹוׁש ר ָ ֑מה‬
‫ּובֶ ן־אָֹ֝ ֗ ָדם‬
:‫ֶֽתֹול ָ ֶֽעה‬
 ‫‪78‬‬

‫‪Chapter 26‬‬
‫א וַיַ ָ֥עַ ן אי֗ ֹוב‬
‫ָרגַ ּ֣ע הַ יָ ֑ם‬ ‫אמר‪:‬‬‫ו ֶַֽי ַ ֶֽ‬
‫ּוֹ֝ ב ְתובנ ָ֗תֹו [ּוֹ֝ ב ְתבּונ ָ֗תֹו]‬
‫ָ ּ֣מחַ ץ ָ ֶֽרהַ ב‪:‬‬ ‫א־כחַ‬
‫ב ֶ ֶֽמה־עָזַ ָ֥ ְַֽרתָ לְ ל ֑‬
‫ֹ֝הֹוׁשַ֗ עְ תָ‬
‫א־עז‪:‬‬
‫ז ְּ֣רֹועַ ל ֶֽ‬

‫ג מַ ה־ ְָ֭יעַצְ תָ‬
‫לְ ּ֣לא חָ כְ ָ ֑מה‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ֻ ֶֽתׁש ָ֗יה‬
‫הֹודעְ תָ ‪:‬‬
‫ל ָָ֥רב ָ ֶֽ‬

‫ת־מי‬
‫ד אֶ ְ֭‬
‫הגַ ַּֽ֣דְ תָ מל֑ין‬
‫ת־מי‬ ‫וְ נ ְׁשמַ ֹ֝‬
‫ָיֶֽצְ ָ ָ֥אה מ ֶ ֶֽמ ָך‪:‬‬

‫פָאים ְיחֹולָ ֑לּו‬ ‫ה ָ ֶֽה ְר ָ֥‬

‫מ ַ ָ֥תחַ ת ֹ֝ ֗מַ ים‬
‫יהם‪:‬‬ ‫וְ ֶֽ ְׁשכְ נ ֶ ֶֽ‬

‫עָרֹום ְׁש ּ֣אֹול נֶגְ ֑דֹו‬ ‫ו ּ֣‬

‫וְ ָ֥אין ֹ֝ ְכ ֗סּות‬
‫ָ ֶֽלאֲ בַ ֶֽדֹון‪:‬‬

‫ל־תהּו‬
‫ז נ ֶ ּ֣טה צָ פּ֣ ֹון ַע ֑‬
‫ָ֥תלֶה ֹ֝ ֗אֶ ֶרץ‬
‫ימה‪:‬‬‫עַ ל־בְ ל ָ ֶֽ‬

‫ר־מים בְ ָע ָב֑יו‬ ‫ח ֶֽצר ַ ָ֥‬

‫וְ ֶֽלא־נבְ ַ ֖קע עָנָ ַּֽ֣ן תַ חְ ָ ֶֽתם‪:‬‬

‫ט ְמאַ חָ֥ז פְ ני־כ ֑סה‬

‫פַר ׁ֖שז ָעלָ ּ֣יו ֲענָנֶֽ ֹו‪:‬‬
‫ְ‬

‫י ּ֣חק חְָ֭ ג‬
‫י־מ֑ים‬
‫עַ ל־פְ נ ָ‬
‫ם־חׁשֶ ְך‪:‬‬
‫עַ ד־תַ כְ ל֖ית ּ֣אֹור ע ֶֽ‬

‫עַמּודי ׁשָ ַמּ֣ים יְ רֹופָ ֑פּו‬

‫ּ֣‬ ‫יא‬
‫ְֹ֝וי ְת ְמ ֗הּו‬
‫מ ַ ֶֽגע ֲָר ֶֽתֹו‪:‬‬

‫יב ְ֭ ְבכחֹו‬
 79
: ַ‫נ ָָחָׁ֥ש בָ ֶֽריח‬ 1 Job answered
And said:
‫ן־אלֶה ׀‬ ֤ ֶ‫יד ה‬
2 How did you help the powerless,
]‫ קְ ֬צֹות דְ ָר ָ֗כו [ ְד ָר ָ֗כיו‬Saved
‫ע־בֹו‬
֑ ַ‫ה־שמֶ ץ דְָ֭ בָ ר נ ְׁשמ‬ ּ֣ ַ‫ּומ‬ The strength-less arm?
]‫בּורֹותיו‬
ָ֗ ‫וְ ַ ָ֥רעַם ְֹ֝גבּור ֗ ָתו [ ְֹ֝ג‬
:‫בֹונֶַֽֽן‬
ָ ‫ּ֣מי י ְת‬ 3 How did you counsel
The wisdom-less,
And circumspection
Imparted to the many?
4 Towhom
Did you tell words,
And whose spirit
Came from you?
5 TheRephaim tremble
Below water
And its inhabitants.
6 Nakedis the Netherworld before Him,
No cover
Has perdition.
7 Who spread Safon over emptiness;
Suspends earth
Over empty space.
8 Who wraps water into His vapours,
But the clouds do not break under it.
9 Hegrabs the surface of the throne,
Spreads His cloud over it.
10 Hedraws a circle
On the face of the water
To the end of light with darkness.
11 The
pillars of heaven become weak
Confounded
By His rebuke.
12 In
His power
He quieted the Sea
And in His understanding
He dashed Rahab.

‫יג ְ֭ ְברּוחֹו‬
‫ׁשָ ַמּ֣ים ׁשפְ ָ ֑רה‬
‫ֶֽחלְ לָה ָֹ֝יד֗ ֹו‬
 80
14 Now these 13 By His wind
Are snippets of His ways, Heaven was cleared;
And like an echo what is heard from Him, His hand loosened
But the thunder of His strength The fleeing dragon.
Who could understand?

26:5 Here ‫רפאים‬ are the spirits of the Netherworld.

26:7 ‫צפון‬, the Olympus of Canaanites, here is the North Pole where the heavens are attached to the earth.
26:12 ‫ רהב‬is the deep ocean.
26:13 ‫שפרה‬, Arabic ‫“ ספרא‬to clear away the clouds.” The fleeing dragon is the zodiac.
 81

Chapter 27
1Job added ‫א ו ַּ֣יסֶ ף ְ֭איֹוב‬
To carry on his parable ‫ְש ָ֥את ְמׁשָ ֗לֹו‬
And said: :‫אמר‬
ֶֽ ַ ‫וַי‬
2God is living
‫י־אל‬
ְ֭ ַ‫ב ח‬
Who removed my right
‫ה ּ֣סיר מ ְׁש ָפ ֑טי‬
And the Almighty
‫ְֹ֝וׁשַ ֗ ַדי‬
Who embittered my soul.
:‫ה ַמָ֥ר נַפְ ֶֽׁשי‬
3For as long as my life is in me,
And God’s breath is in my nose, ‫ג ֶֽכי־כָל־עּ֣ ֹוד נ ְׁשמָ ּ֣תי ֑בי‬
:‫וְ ֖רּוחַ אֱ לּ֣ ֹוּהַ בְ אַ ֶֽפי‬
4My lips will not speak evil
And my tongue
‫ם־תדַ ב ְּ֣רנָה ְשפ ַ ָּ֣תי עַוְ לָ ֑ה‬
ְ ‫דא‬
Will not express trickery.
‫ׁשֹוני‬
֗ ְ‫ּוֹ֝ ל‬
5Far be it from me :‫אם־יֶהְ גֶ ָ֥ה ְרמ ָיֶֽה‬
To justify you.
Until I expire I will not renounce my integrity. ‫ה חָ לּ֣ילָה לי‬
‫אם־אַ צְ ֵ֢דיק ִ֫ ֶא ְתכֶ ָ֥ם ַעד־אֶ גְ וָ ֑ע‬
6Imaintain my innocence,
:‫ֶֽלא־אָ ֖סיר תֻמָ ּ֣תי מ ֶ ֶֽמני‬
I shall not relax;
Never
‫ו בְ צדְ קָ ּ֣תי הְֶ֭ ֱחזַקְ תי‬
Did my heart deviate.
ָ‫וְ ּ֣לא אַ ְרפֶ ֑ה‬
7May my enemy ‫לא־ ֶיח ַ ֱָ֥רף לְֹ֝ בָ ֗בי‬
Be like a wicked, :‫מי ָ ֶָֽמי‬
And my adversary like unjust.
‫ז יְ ּ֣הי ְ֭ ְכ ָרׁשָ ע‬
8For what is the hope of villain ‫ּ֣א ְי ֑בי‬
When he collects, :‫ֹומ ָ֥מי כְ ַע ָ ֶּֽול‬
ְ ‫ּומ ְת ֶֽק‬
For God will throw his soul away.
9Would God hear ‫ח ֤כי מַ ה־תקְ וַ ּ֣ת חְָ֭ נף‬
His cry ‫ּ֣כי יבְ ָצ֑ע‬
When trouble comes upon him? :‫֤כי יׁ֖שֶ ל ֱאלּ֣ ֹוּהַ נַפְ ֶֽׁשֹו‬

10Would he enjoy the Almighty, ‫ט ְ֭ה ַ ֶֽצעֲקָ תֹו‬

Call on God at all times? ‫י ְׁש ַ ָ֥מע ׀ ֑אל‬
I will teach you about God’s hand
11
:‫ֶֽכי־תָ ֖בֹוא ָעלָ ּ֣יו צָ ָ ֶֽרה‬
And concerning the Almighty
I shall not hold back. ‫י אם־עַ ל־ׁשַ ַדָ֥י י ְתעַנָ ֑ג‬
:‫ָל־עת‬
ֶֽ ‫יקְ ָ ֖רא ֱאלּ֣ ֹוּהַ בְ כ‬

‫ַד־אל‬
֑ ‫אֹורה אֶ ְתכֶ ּ֣ם בְ י‬ּ֣ ֶ ‫יא‬
‫ם־ׁשַ ֗ ַדי‬
ֹ֝ ‫אֲ ֶ ָׁ֥שר ע‬
:‫ּ֣לא ֲאכ ֶַֽחד‬
 ‫‪82‬‬
‫בָ ָ֥רֹוחַ יבְ ָ ֶֽרח‪:‬‬
‫יב הן־אַ ֶ ּ֣תם כֻלְ כֶ ּ֣ם‬
‫כג י ְש ּ֣פק ָעלּ֣ימֹו כַפ֑ימֹו‬ ‫יתם‬ ‫חֲז ֶ ֑‬
‫וְ י ְׁש ָ֥רק ֹ֝ ָע ָ֗ליו‬ ‫וְ לָמָ ה־ ֹ֝֗ ֶזה‬
‫מ ְמק ֶֽמֹו‪:‬‬ ‫ֶהּ֣בֶ ל תֶ הְ ָ ֶֽבלּו‪:‬‬

‫יג זֶ ֤ה ׀‬
‫ם־אל‬
‫ֶֽחלֶק־אָ ָד֖ם ָר ָ ָׁ֥שע ׀ ע ֑‬
‫יצים‬ ‫ְ ֶֽו ַ ֶֽנחֲלַ ָ֥ת ֹ֝ ָער ֗‬
‫משַ ַדָ֥י י ָ ֶֽקחּו‪:‬‬

‫מֹו־ח ֶ֑רב‬
‫יד אם־י ְר ּ֣בּו בָ נָ ּ֣יו לְ ָ‬
‫ְֹ֝וצֶ אֱצָ ֗ ָאיו‬
‫עּו־לחֶ ם‪:‬‬
‫ָ ֶֽ‬ ‫ּ֣לא י ְשבְ‬

‫טו ְ֭ ְשרידָ יו‬

‫בַ ָ ּ֣מוֶת יקָ ב֑רּו‬
‫ְֹ֝ואַ לְ ְמנ ֗ ָתיו‬
‫ּ֣לא תבְ ֶ ֶֽכינָה‪:‬‬

‫טז אם־יצְ ּ֣בר ֶכעָפָ ּ֣ר כָ ֑סֶ ף‬

‫ְֹ֝וכ ַ֗חמֶ ר‬
‫י ָָ֥כין מַ לְ ֶֽבּוׁש‪:‬‬

‫יז ְָ֭יכין‬
‫וְ צַ ּ֣דיק ילְ ָבׁ֑ש‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ֶ֗כסֶ ף‬
‫נ ָָ֥קי ַ ֶֽיחֲֹלֶֽ ק‪:‬‬

‫יתֹו‬
‫יח בָ נָ ּ֣ה כָעָ ּׁ֣ש ב ֑‬
‫ּוֹ֝ כְ ֻס ָ֗כה‬
‫עָ ָ ָ֥שה נ ֶֽצר‪:‬‬

‫יט עָ ּׁ֣שיר ְ֭י ְׁשכַב‬

‫וְ ּ֣לא יאָ ֑סף‬
‫עינָ ֖יו פָ ַ ּ֣קח וְ א ֶינֶֽנּו‪:‬‬

‫כ תַ שיגּ֣הּו ְַ֭כמַ ים‬

‫בַ ל ָ֑הֹות‬
‫סּופה‪:‬‬
‫ֹ֝ ֗ ַליְ לָה ‪:‬גְ נ ַָבָ֥תּו ָ ֶֽ‬

‫כא ישָ ּ֣אהּו קָ ּ֣דים וְ ילַ ְ֑ך‬

‫ישע ֲ֗רהּו‬‫ֶֽ ֹ֝ו ָ ֶֽ‬
‫מ ְמק ֶֽמֹו‪:‬‬

‫כב וְ י ְַׁשלְּ֣ך ְָ֭עלָיו‬

‫וְ ּ֣לא יַחְ ֑מל ֹ֝מיָד֗ ֹו‬
 83
The innocent will distribute.
Behold, all of you
12
18 Hebuilt his house, like a moth, Have seen,
And like a booth And why now
The watchman makes. Are you involved in vanity?
The rich man lies down
19
13 This
But before he dies Is the wicked’s part from God,
He opens his eyes and there is nothing. And the strong-handed’s inheritance
20Like water will reach him They take from the Almighty.
Fear; If he has many sons, for the sword,
14
Nightly And his descendants
A tempest steals him. Will not be filled with food.
21The East-wind carries him and he is gone, His escapees
15
Takes him in a hurricane Will be buried by Death
From his place. And his widows
22 He strips his leaves Will not cry.
Without mercy; 16 If he amasses money like dust,
In the wind it does flee. And like mortar
Prepares garments,
It claps its hands about him
23
And whistles about him 17 Hemay prepare
From his place. And the just will wear,
And money
 84

27:4 In an oath formula negative and positive are switched.

27:19 Translated following R. Saadya Gaon.

 ‫‪85‬‬

‫‪Chapter 28‬‬
‫יא ְ֭מבְ כי‬ ‫מֹוצ֑א‬
‫א ֤כי יּׁ֣ש לַכֶ ּ֣סֶ ף ָ‬
‫ְנהָ ּ֣רֹות ח ֑בׁש‬ ‫ּוֹ֝ מָ ֗קֹום‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ַ ֶֽת ֲעל ֗ ָֻמּה‬ ‫ַלז ָָהָ֥ב י ֶָֽזקּו‪:‬‬
‫ּ֣יצא ֶֽאֹור‪:‬‬
‫ב בְַ֭ ְרזֶל‬
‫ֶֽמעָפָ ּ֣ר י ָ ֻ֑קח‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ֗ ֶאבֶ ן‬
‫חּוׁשה‪:‬‬
‫י ָָ֥צּוק ְנ ָ ֶֽ‬

‫ג ֤קץ ׀‬
‫ָ ֤שם ל ַ֗חׁשֶ ְך‬
‫ּוֶֽ לְ כָל־תְַ֭ כְ לית‬
‫חֹוקר‬
‫ּ֣הּוא ֑‬
‫ֶ ֖אבֶ ן ּ֣א ֶפל וְ צַ לְ ָ ֶֽמוֶת‪:‬‬

‫ד פָ ַ֤רץ ַ֨ ַנחַ ל ׀ ֶֽמעם־ ֗ ָגר‬

‫י־רגֶל‬
‫הַ נ ְׁשכ ָָ֥חים מנ ָ ֑‬
‫ַ ֖דלּו מאֱנּ֣ ֹוׁש ָנֶֽעּו‪:‬‬

‫ה ֗ ֶא ֶרץ‬
‫מ ֶ ָ֥מנָה יֶֽצא־לָ ֑חֶ ם‬
‫ְֹ֝ותַ חְ ֗ ֶתיהָ‬
‫מֹו־אׁש‪:‬‬
‫ֶֽ‬ ‫נֶהְ פַ ְָ֥ך כְ‬

‫ו ְמ ֶֽקֹום־סַ ָ֥פיר ֲאבָ נֶ ֑יהָ‬

‫וְ עַפְ ֖רת ז ָָהּ֣ב לֶֽ ֹו‪:‬‬

‫ז ְָ֭נתיב‬
‫ֶֽלא־י ָ ְּ֣דעֹו עָ ֑יט‬
‫וְ ָ֥לא ֹ֝ ְׁש ָז ֗ ַפתּו‬
‫עּ֣ין אַ ָיֶֽה‪:‬‬

‫י־ׁשחַ ץ‬
‫ח ֶֽלא־הדְ ריכֻ ָ֥והּו בְ נ ָ ֑‬
‫ֶֽלא־עָ ָ ֖דה ָעלָ ּ֣יו ָ ֶֽׁש ַחל‪:‬‬

‫ט ְ֭ ַ ֶֽבחַ לָמיׁש‬
‫ׁשָ לַ ּ֣ח י ָ֑דֹו‬
‫הָ פַ ְ֖ך מ ּ֣ש ֶרׁש הָ ֶֽרים‪:‬‬

‫י בְַ֭ צּורֹות‬
‫יְא ּ֣רים ב ֑ק ַע‬
‫ָל־יקָ֗ ר‬
‫וְ כ ֹ֝ ְ‬
‫ָ ֶֽרא ָ ֲָ֥תה עינֶֽ ֹו‪:‬‬
 86
1 Certainlysilver has an origin
And there is a place
‫יב ְֶֽ֭ ְוהַ חָ כְ מָ ה‬ Where gold is refined.
‫מ ַ ּ֣אין תמָ צ֑א‬
2 Iron
‫וְ ָ֥אי ֶֹ֝זה‬
Is processed from dust
:‫ְמ ּ֣קֹום ב ָינֶֽה‬
And from stone
Brass is cast.
‫יג ֶֽלא־י ַ ָּ֣דע אֱנּ֣ ֹוׁש ע ְֶרכָ ּ֑ה‬
‫וְ ָ֥לא ֹ֝תמָ ֗צא‬ 3A limit
:‫ְב ֶ ּ֣א ֶרץ ַ ֶֽהחַ ֶֽיים‬ He set for darkness,
And everything bounded
‫יד ְת ּ֣הֹום ְ֭אָ מַ ר‬ He investigates,
‫י־היא‬
֑ ‫ּ֣לא ב‬ Opaque stone and deep shadow.
‫וְ יָ ָ֥ם אָֹ֝ ֗ ַמר‬
4A river bed broken where no people dwell,
:‫ּ֣אין עמָ ֶֽדי‬ Forgotten by feet,
Poorly inhabited they move.
ָ‫טו ֶֽלא־י ַ ֻּ֣תן ְסגּ֣ ֹור תַ ְח ֶ ֑תיה‬
‫וְ ָ֥לא ֹ֝ישָ ֗קל‬ 5 Land
:‫כֶ ּ֣סֶ ף ְמח ָ ֶֽירּה‬ From it food is produced
But below it
‫טז ּ֣לא ְ֭ ְת ֻסלֶה‬ It is turned like on fire.
‫אֹופיר‬
֑ ‫ְבכֶ ּ֣תֶ ם‬
6 The place of sapphire is in stones,
:‫בְ ׁ֖שהַ ם י ָ ָּ֣קר וְ סַ ֶֽפיר‬ It contains gold dust.
‫יז לא־ ַיע ְַרכֶ ּ֣ נָה ְ֭ ָזהָ ב‬ 7A way
‫ְכֹוכית‬
֑ ‫ּוז‬ Unknown to a bird of pray
:‫י־פז‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫ּות ֖מ ָּור ָ ּ֣תּה כְ ל‬
ְ And was not spied on
By falcon’s eye.
‫אמֹות ְ֭ ְוגָביׁש‬ ּ֣ ‫יח ָר‬
8 Nottrodden by by predators,
‫ּ֣לא יזָכ֑ר‬
Lion did not transgress on it.
‫ּומׁשֶ ְך חָֹ֝ כְ ֗ ָמה‬
ָ֥ ֶ
:‫מפְ נ ֶֽינים‬ 9 Onthe pebble
He puts His hand,
‫א־יע ְַר ֶכנָה‬
ֶֽ ַ ְ֭ ‫יט ל‬ He overturns mountain roots.
‫ת־כּוׁש‬
֑ ַ‫פ ְטד‬
‫בְ כֶ ָ֥תֶ ם טָֹ֝ ֗הֹור‬ 10 He split channels
:‫ּ֣לא ְתס ֶ ֶֻֽלה‬ In its rocks,
His eyes saw
‫כ ְֶֽ֭ ְוהַ חָ כְ מָ ה‬ All that is precious.
‫מ ַ ּ֣אין תָ ֑בֹוא‬ 11 Springs
‫וְ ָ֥אי ֹ֝֗ ֶזה‬ Of rivers he tied up
:‫ְמ ּ֣קֹום ב ָינֶֽה‬ And hidden things
He brought to light.
‫כא ְֶֽ֭ ְו ֶנ ֶעלְ מָ ה‬
‫ָל־ח֑י‬
ָ ‫ֶֽמעינּ֣י כ‬
:‫ּומע֖ ֹוף הַ שָ ַמּ֣ים נ ְס ָ ֶֽת ָרה‬
 87

‫כב אֲ בַ ּ֣דֹון ְָ֭ומָ וֶת‬

12 But
wisdom ‫ָ ֶֽא ְמ ֑רּו‬
Where can it be found? ‫בְֹ֝ אָ ז ְ֗נינּו‬
And where is :‫ׁשָ ַ ָ֥מעְ נּו ׁש ְמ ָ ֶֽעּה‬
The place of understanding?
13 Nohuman knows its value
Nor can it be found
In the land of the living.
14 The deep says:
It is not in me,
And the Sea says:
It is nlot with me.
15 Pure gold cannot be given for it;
Its price in silver
Cannot be weighted.
16 It
cannot be prized
In Ophir gold,
With expensive beryl and sapphire.
17 Its
value cannot be measured in gold
Or glass,
Or bartered for vessels of pure gold.
18 Corals
and crystal
Need not be mentioned,
And the value of wisdom:
More than pearls.
19 It
cannot be estimated
By Ethiopian topaz,
By refined gold
It cannot be prized.
20 But
wisdom
Where does it come from?
And where is
The place of understanding?
21 This
is concealed
From the eyes of all living,
And hidden from the birds of the sky.
22 Perdition and Death
Said:
With our ears
We heard its reputation.
 88
23 God
Understands its ways, ‫כג ְ֭אֱ ֹלהים‬
And He ‫ה ּ֣בין דַ ְרכָ ּ֑ה‬
Knows its place. ‫ְֹ֝ו ֗הּוא‬
:‫קֹומּה‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫ת־מ‬
ְ ֶ‫י ַ ָָ֥דע א‬
24 ForHe
Looks out to the ends of the earth, ‫י־הּוא‬
֖ ‫כד כ‬
All under Heaven He sees. ‫לקְ ֶֽצֹות־הָ ָ ּ֣א ֶרץ י ַ֑ביט‬
:‫ַ ֖תחַ ת כָל־הַ שָ ַמּ֣ים י ְר ֶ ֶֽאה‬
25 To
give weight to the wind,
And water ‫כה ַ ֶֽלע ֲּ֣שֹות ל ָּ֣רּוחַ מ ְׁש ָ ֑קל‬
He measured by volume. ‫ּוֹ֝ מַ֗ ים‬
:‫תכָ֥ן בְ מ ָ ֶֽדה‬
26 Toestablish a law for rain,
And a path
‫ֲשתֹו לַמָ ָטּ֣ר ֑חק‬ ּ֣ ‫כו ַ ֶֽבע‬
For the thundershower.
‫ְֹ֝ו ֗ ֶד ֶרְך‬
27 ThereHe saw it :‫ַ ֶֽלחֲזָ֥יז קלֶֽ ֹות‬
And counted it,
Prepared it, ‫כז ָ ּ֣אז ְָ֭ראָ ּה‬
Also investigated it. ‫ַו ְיסַ פְ ָ ֑רּה‬
‫ֹ֝ ֱהכי ָ֗נּה‬
28 And said to man: :‫וְ גַם־חֲקָ ָ ֶֽרּה‬
Look, the fear of the Master
Is wisdom ‫כח ו ַ֤יאמֶ ר ׀ ָ ֶֽלאָ ֗ ָדם‬
And avoiding evil understanding. ‫֤הן י ְר ַ ּ֣את ְ֭ ֲאדנָי‬
‫ּ֣היא חָ כְ ָ ֑מה‬
:‫וְ ֖סּור מ ָ ּ֣רע ב ָינֶֽה‬
 ‫‪89‬‬

‫‪Chapter 29‬‬
‫ו ְַתאַ ְש ֑רני‬ ‫א ו ַּ֣יסֶ ף ְ֭איֹוב‬
‫וְ עַ ָ֥ין ָֹ֝ ֶֽרא ֗ ֲָתה‬ ‫ְש ָ֥את ְמׁשָ ֗לֹו‬
‫ידני‪:‬‬
‫ו ְַתע ֶֽ‬ ‫ו ֶַֽיאמַ ר‪:‬‬

‫י־קדֶ ם‬
‫ב ֶֽמי־י ְתנָ֥ני כְ י ְַרח ֶ ֑‬
‫ימי‬
‫ֹ֝כ ֗‬
‫אֱ לּ֣ ֹוּהַ י ְׁש ְמ ֶֽרני‪:‬‬

‫ג בְ הלּ֣ ֹו ְ֭נרֹו‬
‫אׁשי‬
‫עֲלּ֣י ר ֑‬
‫לְֹ֝ אֹורֹו‬
‫ּ֣אלְֶך ֶֽחׁשֶ ְך‪:‬‬

‫ד ַ ֶֽכאֲ ֶ ּׁ֣שר הְָ֭ ייתי‬

‫ימי חָ ְר ֑פי‬ ‫ב ּ֣‬
‫בְ ָ֥סֹוד ֹ֝ ֱא ֗לֹוּהַ‬
‫עֲלּ֣י אָ ה ֳֶֽלי‪:‬‬

‫ה בְ עּ֣ ֹוד ׁשְַ֭ דַ י‬

‫עמָ ֑די‬
‫יבֹותי ְנע ָ ֶָֽרי‪:‬‬‫סְ ֖ב ַ ּ֣‬

‫ו ב ְר ּ֣חץ הֲליכַ ּ֣י בְ ח ָ ֑מה‬

‫וְ ָ֥צּור י ָָ֥צּוק ֹ֝עמָ ֗די‬
‫י־ׁשמֶ ן‪:‬‬
‫פַ לְ ג ָ ֶֽ‬

‫י־ק ֶרת‬
‫ז בְ צּ֣אתי ַ ּׁ֣שעַר עֲל ָ ֑‬
‫ֶֹֽ֝ ָב ְר ֗חֹוב‬
‫אָ ָ֥כין ֶֽמֹוׁשָ ֶֽבי‪:‬‬

‫ח ָר ּ֣אּוני ְנע ָּ֣רים וְ נֶחְ ָב֑אּו‬

‫ֶֽ ֹ֝ויׁשיׁשים‬
‫ָ ּ֣קמּו ע ָ ֶָֽמדּו‪:‬‬

‫ט שְָ֭ רים‬
‫ָ ֶֽעצְ ּ֣רּו בְ מל֑ים‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ַ֗כף‬
‫יהם‪:‬‬
‫י ָָ֥שימּו לְ פ ֶ ֶֽ‬

‫ידים נֶחְ ָב֑אּו‬

‫י ֶֽקֹול־נְ ג ָ֥‬
‫ּוֹ֝ לְ ׁשֹו ָ֗נם‬
‫לְ חכָ ָ֥ם דָ ֶֽבקָ ה‪:‬‬

‫יא ֤כי ּ֣אזֶן ְ֭ ָ ֶֽׁש ְמ ָעה‬

 90
‫ְֹ֝וי ָ֗תֹום‬ 1 Job
added
:‫ְ ֶֽולא־עזָ֥ר לֶֽ ֹו‬ Presenting his parable
And said:
‫יג ב ְרכַ ּ֣ת ְ֭אבד‬
2 Who would make me as the months of old,
‫ָעלַ ּ֣י תָ ֑בא‬
As the days
:‫וְ ל֖ב אַ לְ מָ נָ ּ֣ה אַ ְר ֶֽנן‬ When God protected me.
‫ יד ֶצּ֣דֶ ק ְָ֭לבַ ְׁשתי‬3 When His lamp shone
‫וַילְ בָ ׁ֑שני‬ Over my head,
‫ כ ְמ ָ֥עיל ְֹ֝וצָ ֗ניף‬In His light
:‫מ ְׁש ָפ ֶֽטי‬ I walked in darkness.
4 As I was
‫טו עינַ ַּֽ֣ים הְָ֭ ייתי‬
In the days of my harvest,
‫ַ ֶֽלעּו֑ר‬
When God’s protection
:‫וְ ַרגְ לַ ֖ים לַפ ּ֣סחַ ָ ֶֽאני‬ Was over my tent.
‫ טז ָ ּ֣אב ְ֭ ָ ֶֽאנ ֶֽכי‬5 When still the,
‫ָ ֶֽלאֶ בְ יֹונ֑ים‬ Almighty
:‫וְ ֖רב ֶֽלא־י ַ ָּ֣דעְ תי אֶ ְחקְ ֶֽרהּו‬ Was with me;
My servants surrounded me.
‫יז ְ֭ ָ ֶֽו ֲאׁשַ בְ ָרה‬
6 When my steps were bathed in cream
‫ְמתַ לְ עּ֣ ֹות עַּוָ ֑ל‬
The rock near me discharged
‫ּוֹ֝ מש ֗ ָניו‬
Rivers of oil.
:‫אַ ְׁשלָ֥יְך ָ ֶֽט ֶרף‬
7 When I left for city’s gate,
‫ יח ְ֭ ָ ֶֽואמַ ר‬On the plaza
‫עם־ק ּ֣ני אֶ גְ וָ ֑ע‬ I prepared my seat.
‫ְֹ֝וכ ַ֗חֹול‬
8 Youths saw me and hid,
:‫אַ ְר ֶבָ֥ה י ֶָֽמים‬
And old men
Stood with me.
‫י־מ֑ים‬
ָ ‫יט ׁשָ ְר ּׁ֣שי פ ָּ֣תּוחַ ֱאל‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ֗ ַטל‬ 9 Officials
:‫יָלָ֥ין בקְ צ ֶֽירי‬ Stopped words;
And a hand
‫כ ְ֭ ְכבֹודי‬ They put in front of their mouths.
‫חָ ָ ּ֣דׁש עמָ ֑די‬
‫ ְֹ֝וקַ ְׁש ֗תי‬10 The voices of princes were hidden
:‫בְ י ָָ֥די ַ ֶֽתח ֲֶֽליף‬ And their tongues
Stuck to their palate.
‫ כא ֶֽלי־ׁשָ ְמעָ֥ ּו וְ י ֑חלּו‬11 Truly, an ear heard
‫ְֹ֝וידְ ֗מּו‬ And declared me happy,
:‫לְ ּ֣מֹו עֲצָ ֶֽתי‬ And an eye saw
And testified it for me.
‫כב ַ ֶֽאח ֲּ֣רי ְ֭ ְדבָ רי‬
‫ּ֣לא י ְׁשנ֑ ּו‬ ‫י־אֲ מַ לט‬
ְ֭ ‫יב ֶֽכ‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ָע ֗לימֹו‬ ‫עָנּ֣י ְמׁשַ ּ֑ו ַע‬
 91
12 Certainly,
I would let escape :‫ת ָ֥טף מל ֶָֽתי‬
The supplicating poor,
And the orphan
Having no helper.
13 The
blessing of the lost
Would come to me;
The widow’s heart I made sing.
14 Sincerity
I wore
And it clothed me,
My sentence
Like mantle and turban.
15 Forthe blind
I was eyes,
And I feet for the lame.
16 I
am a father
For the destitute
And I would investigate the suit of unknowns.
17 I
would break
The jaws of evil,
From its teeth
I would throw the prey.
18 I
said,
In my nest I will expire
And like sand
I will increase days.
19 Myroot is open on water,
And dew
Will rest on my harvest,
20 Myhonor
Stays new with me,
And my bow
Will be renewed in my hand.
21 They listened to me and waited,
Kept silent
For my counsel.
22 Theywould not change
After my words;
On them
My word dropped.
 92
23 They waited for me like for rain, ‫כג וְ ֶֽיחֲלּ֣ ּו כַמָ ָטּ֣ר ל֑י‬
And their mouth ‫ּוֹ֝ פיהֶ֗ ם‬
They opened for late rain. :‫ָ ֶֽפע ֲָ֥רּו לְ מַ לְ ֶֽקֹוׁש‬
24 I
smiled on them
‫כד אֶ ְש ַחּ֣ק ְ֭ ֲאלהֶ ם‬
And they would not believe,
‫ּ֣לא ַ ֶֽיא ֲ֑מינּו‬
The light of my face
‫וְ ָ֥אֹור פָֹ֝ ֗ ַני‬
They would not let fall.
:‫ּ֣לא יַפילֶֽ ּון‬
25 I
chose their way,
Was sitting as head and throned ‫כה אֶ בְ ַחּ֣ר דַ ְרכָם‬
Like a king in his army, ‫וְ א ֵׁ֢שב ָ֥ראׁש ְ֭ ְואֶ ְׁשכֹון‬
When consoling mourners. ‫כְ ֶ ּ֣מלְֶך בַ גְ ֑דּוד‬
:‫ַ ֶֽכאֲ ֶ ׁ֖שר ֲאבלּ֣ים ְינ ֶַֽחם‬
 ‫‪93‬‬
‫‪Chapter 30‬‬
‫יא ֶֽכי־י ְת ּ֣רו [י ְת ּ֣רי] ְ֭פתַ ח‬ ‫עַתה ׀‬ ‫א וְ ָ ֤‬
‫ַו ְיעַנ֑ני‬ ‫ָ ֶֽשח ֲּ֣קּו ָעלַי‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ֶ ֗רסֶ ן‬ ‫צְ ע ָ֥ירים מ ֗ ֶמני לְ ִָ֫י ָ֥מים‬
‫מפָנַ ָ֥י ׁש ֶֽלחּו‪:‬‬ ‫בֹותם‬
‫אֲ ׁשֶ ר־מָ ַ ָ֥אסְ תי ֲא ָ ֑‬
‫ֹ֝ ָל ׁ֗שית‬
‫אני‪:‬‬‫עם־כַלְ בָ֥י צ ֶֽ‬

‫ַם־כחַ ְ֭ ְידיהֶ ם‬
‫ב ג ּ֣‬
‫לָ ּ֣מָ ה ל֑י‬
‫ֹ֝עָ ֗לימֹו‬
‫ָ ּ֣אבַ ד ָ ֶֽכלַח‪:‬‬

‫ג בְ ֶחָ֥סֶ ר ּובְ ָכ ֗ ָפן ִ֫ ַגלְ ָ֥מּוד‬

‫הָ ֶֽע ְר ָ֥קים ציָ ֑ה‬
‫ֹ֝ ֗אֶ מֶ ׁש‬
‫ּומׁש ָ ֶֽאה‪:‬‬ ‫ׁשֹואה ְ‬ ‫ָ ָ֥‬

‫י־שיחַ‬
‫ד הַ ֶֽקטְ ּ֣פים מַ לּ֣ ּוחַ עֲל ֑‬
‫וְ ׁ֖ש ֶרׁש ְרתָ ּ֣מים לַחְ ָ ֶֽמם‪:‬‬

‫ה מן־גָ֥ו ְיג ָ ֑רׁשּו‬

‫י ָָ֥ריעּו ֹ֝ ָע ֗לימֹו‬
‫ַכג ַָנֶֽב‪:‬‬

‫ו ַ ֶֽבע ֲּ֣רּוץ ְנחָ ּ֣לים ל ְׁש ֑כן‬

‫ח ֖רי עָפָ ּ֣ר וְ כ ֶֽפים‪:‬‬

‫יחים י ְנ ָה֑קּו‬‫ז ֶֽבין־ש ָ֥‬

‫ַ ֖תחַ ת חָ ּ֣רּול ְיס ָ ֶֻֽפחּו‪:‬‬

‫ח ְ ֶֽבני־ ְָ֭נבָ ל‬
‫י־ׁשם‬
‫גַם־בְ נּ֣י בְ ל ֑‬
‫ֹ֝נכְ ֗אּו‬
‫מן־הָ ָ ֶֽא ֶרץ‪:‬‬

‫ט ְ֭ ְועַתָ ה‬
‫נְ ֶֽגינ ָ ָּ֣תם הָ י֑יתי‬
‫ָוֶֽאֱ ֖הי ל ֶָהּ֣ם לְ מ ָ ֶֽלה‪:‬‬

‫י ְֶֽ֭תעֲבּוני‬
‫ָ ּ֣ ֶֽרְַ֥חֲקּו ֶמ֑ני‬
‫ּוֹ֝ מפָ ַ֗ני‬
‫א־ח ְָ֥שכּו ֶֽרק‪:‬‬
‫ל ָ‬
 94
‫פ ְר ַחֵ֢ח ִָ֫י ָ֥קּומּו‬ 1 But now
‫ ַרגְ לַ ָ֥י ׁשל֑חּו‬People younger than me in years
‫ַוי ָָ֥סלּו ֹ֝ ָע ַ֗לי‬ Make fun of me,
:‫ידם‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫אָ ְר ָ֥חֹות א‬ Whose fathers I would have rejected
To stay
‫יב ָ֥תי‬
ָ ִ֫ ‫יג ָנ ְֶֽת ֗סּו ְ ֶֽנת‬ With my flock’s dogs.
‫לְ הַ יָתי [לְ הַ ּו ֶָֽתי־] י ֑עילּו‬ 2 Alsotheir hands’ force,
:‫֖לא עזּ֣ר ָ ֶֽלמֹו‬ What for me?
For them
‫יד כְ פֶ ֶּ֣רץ ָר ָחּ֣ב ֶיא ָ ֱ֑תיּו‬ Maturity is lost.
‫ַ ָ֥תחַ ת ֹׁ֝ש ֗ ָאה‬
:‫ה ְתגַלְ ָגֶֽלּו‬ 3 With want and hunger, infertile,
Those who flee to the desert,
‫ טו הָ הְ פַ ְָ֥ך ָע ַ֗לי ַב ִָ֫ל ָ֥הֹות‬By night
‫ת ְר ּ֣דף ְָ֭כרּוחַ נ ְֶֽדבָ ֑תי‬ Catastrophe and waste.
‫ ּוֹ֝ כְ ָ֗עב‬4 Pluckers of saltwort, leaves of mugwort,
:‫ָ ֶֽעבְ ָ ָ֥רה ְי ֻ ֶֽׁשע ֶָֽתי‬ And broom root is their bread.

‫ טז וְ ע ֗ ַָתה ְָ֭עלַי‬5 From inside they are expelled,

‫ת ְׁשתַ פְּ֣ך נַפְ ׁ֑שי‬ One sounds alarm about them
:‫י־עני‬
ֶֽ ‫֖י ֶֽאחֲזּוּ֣ ני יְ מ‬ As for a thief.
6 To dwell in river channels,
‫ יז ַ֗ל ְילָה ְ֭ ֲעצָ מַ י‬Dust holes and rocks.
‫נ ַ ּ֣קר ֶֽמ ָע ָל֑י‬
‫ ְֹ֝ו ֶֽע ְר ֗ ַקי‬7 They bray among bushes,
:‫ּ֣לא י ְׁשכ ֶָֽבּון‬ They make love under peas.

ַ‫ב־כח‬֖ ‫ יח בְ ָר‬8 Contemptible people,

Also sons of the nameless,
‫בּוׁשי‬
֑ ְ‫י ְתחַ פּ֣ש ל‬
Were beaten
:‫כְ ֖פי כֻתָ נ ְּ֣תי ַיֶֽאַ ז ְֶֽרני‬ Out of the land.
‫ יט ה ַ ָ֥רני ל ַ֑חמֶ ר‬9 But now
‫ָֹ֝ ֶֽואֶ ְתמַ ֗של‬ I was their song,
:‫ֶ ֶֽכעָפָ ָ֥ר ו ֶָֽאפֶר‬ I became for them a saying.

‫ כ ֲאׁשַ ּוַ ּ֣ע ְ֭אלֶיך‬10 They abhor me,

‫וְ ּ֣לא ַ ֶֽתעֲנ֑ני‬ Keep their distance from me,
‫ ֹ֝ ָע ֗ ַמדְ תי‬And in my presence
:‫וַת ְת ָ֥בנֶן ֶֽבי‬ They do not save spittle.
11 Certainly, my chord was loosened,
‫כא ֶֽתהָ פְּ֣ך לְ אַ כְ זָ ּ֣ר ל֑י‬ And I was abased;
:‫ בְ ֖עצֶ ם יָדְ ךּ֣ ת ְש ְט ֶֽמני‬Restraint
They stripped away before me.
ַ‫ל־רּוח‬ ֖ ֶ‫כב תשָ ּ֣אני א‬
‫תַ ְרכיב֑ני‬
‫ּוֹ֝ ְתמגְ ֗גני‬
:]‫ֻתׁש ָ ֶּֽוה [ ֻתׁש ָיֶֽה‬ ‫יב עַ ל־יָמין‬
 95
12 Tothe right hand side
The contemptible arise,
The push away my feet
And on me are beating a path
For their ways of harm.
13 Theydestroyed my path,
They caused my downfall
Without benefit for them.
14 Theyare coming in a wide breach,
Under catastrophe
They welter.
15 Terrorwas turned on me,
Like wind You dispersed my nobility
And like a cloud
My help disappeared,
16 And
now on myself
My soul turned itself;
My days of deprivation seize me.
17 Duringthe night my bone
Is gnawed from me
And my pulses
Will not sleep.
18 Withmuch force
My garment envelops me,
As my shirt it girds me.
19 Leadme to mortar
And I will be compared
To dirt and dust.
20 Iam imploring You
But You will not answer.
I am standing,
Will You take notice of me?
21 You
have turned cruel towards me,
By Your own hand You pursue me.
22 You lift me into the wind,
Let me ride,
You toss me around
In noise [help].
 96

23 Certainly
I know ‫כג ֶֽכי־ ְָ֭ידַ עְ תי‬
That You will turn me to death, ‫ָ ּ֣מוֶת ְתׁשיב֑ני‬
The meeting house of all living. :‫ָל־חי‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫ּוב֖ית מֹועּ֣ד לְ כ‬
24 But
not against the ruin
‫א־בעי‬ְ ְ֭ ‫כד ַ ּ֣אְך ֶֽל‬
He should act as enemy
‫י ְׁשלַח־יָ ֑ד‬
When in dying
‫אם־בְֹ֝ פיד֗ ֹו‬
He asks for help.
:‫ל ֶָהָ֥ן ֶֽׁשּו ַע‬
25 DidI not weep
For the hapless on his day? ‫ם־לא בְָ֭ כיתי‬ ּ֣ ‫כה א‬
For the sorrow ‫לקְ ׁשה־י֑ ֹום‬
Of the downtrodden? ‫ָ ֶֽעגְ ָ ָ֥מה ַֹ֝נפְ ׁ֗ש‬
:‫ָ ֶֽלאֶ בְ יֶֽ ֹון‬
26 Iwas expecting good
But evil came,
‫כו ֤כי ּ֣טֹוב ְ֭קּויתי‬
I hoped for light
‫וַיָ ּ֣בא ָ ֑רע‬
But darkness came.
‫ֶֽאֲיחֲלָ ָ֥ה לְֹ֝ ֗אֹור‬
ֶֽ ַ ‫ַו‬
27 Myinnards are boiling, will not be quiet, :‫וַיָ ָ֥בא ֶֽא ֶפל‬
The days of want confront me.
‫א־דמּו‬
ָ ֗ ‫כז מעַ ֖י רֻ ְת ָ֥חּו וְ ל‬
28 I walked around in black mood
:‫י־עני‬
ֶֽ ‫קדְ מֻ ָ֥ני יְמ‬
Without sun,
If I stood in public, I had to cry for help.
‫כח ק ּ֣דר ְ֭הלַכְ תי‬
29 Abrother ‫בְ ּ֣לא חַ ָ ֑מה‬
I was to the jackal :‫ַ ֖ק ְמתי בַ קָ ָהּ֣ל אֲׁשַ ֶּֽו ַע‬
And a neighbor
To the ostriches. ‫כט אְָ֭ ח‬
‫הָ יּ֣יתי לְ תַ נ֑ים‬
30 Myskin ַ‫ְֹ֝ו ֗רע‬
Is black on me, :‫לבְ נָ֥ ֹות ַ ֶֽיע ֲָנֶֽה‬
And my bone is burned
By dryness. ‫ל ע֖ ֹורי‬
‫ׁשָ ַחּ֣ר ֶֽמ ָעלָ ֑י‬
31 Mylute ‫י־חָ ָרה‬
֗ ֹ֝ ‫וְ עַצְ מ‬
Was for mourning
And my organ :‫י־ח ֶרב‬ֶֽ ‫מנ‬
For wailing sounds.
‫לא וַיְ ּ֣הי ְ֭ ְלאבֶ ל‬
‫כנ ֑רי‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ֻעג ָ֗בי‬
:‫לְ ּ֣קֹול ב ֶֽכים‬
 ‫‪97‬‬

‫‪Chapter 31‬‬
‫א ְ֭ ְברית‬
‫י־הוא [ ָ֥היא] ז ָ ֑מה‬ ‫יא כ ָ֥‬ ‫כ ַ ָּ֣רתי לְ עינָ ֑י‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ֗היא [ ְֹ֝ו ֗הּוא]‬ ‫בֹונן‬
‫ּומה אֶֹ֝ ְת ֗‬
‫ָ ָ֥‬
‫ילים‪:‬‬
‫ָעֹוָ֥ ן פְ ל ֶֽ‬ ‫תּולה‪:‬‬‫עַ ל־בְ ָ ֶֽ‬

‫ב ּו ֶ ֤מה ׀‬
‫ּ֣חלֶק אֱלּ֣ ֹוּהַ מ ָ ֑מ ַעל‬
‫ְ ֶֽו ַ ֶֽנחֲלַ ָ֥ת ֹׁ֝שַ ֗ ַדי‬
‫מ ְמר ֶֽמים‪:‬‬

‫א־איד לְ ַעּוָ ֑ל‬ ‫ג הֲל ָ֥‬

‫ְֹ֝ו ֶ֗נכֶר‬
‫לְ ּ֣ ֶֽפעֲלי ָ ֶֽאוֶן‪:‬‬

‫א־הּוא‬ ‫ד הֲל ֖‬
‫י ְר ֶ ּ֣אה דְ ָרכָ ֑י‬
‫ְ ֶֽוכָל־צְ ע ַָדָ֥י יסְ פֶֽ ֹור‪:‬‬

‫ם־ׁשוְ א‬
‫ה אם־הָ לַ ָ֥כְ תי ע ָ ֑‬
‫ו ַ ַ֖תחַ ׁש עַל־מ ְר ָ ּ֣מה ַרגְ ֶֽלי‪:‬‬

‫י־צ֑דֶ ק‬
‫ו י ְׁשקְ לָ֥ני בְ ֶֽמאזְנ ֶ‬
‫וְ י ַ ָ֥דע ֹ֝אֱ ֗לֹוּהַ‬
‫תֻמָ ֶֽתי‪:‬‬

‫ז ָ֥אם ת ֶ ּ֣טה אַ שֻ רי‬

‫מנֵ֢י ִ֫ ַה ָד ֶָ֥רְך‬
‫וְ אַ ַחּ֣ר ְ֭עינַי‬
‫הָ לַ ְּ֣ך ל ֑בי‬
‫ּוֹ֝ בְ כַפַ֗ י‬
‫ָדּ֣בַ ק ֶֽמאּום‪:‬‬

‫ח אְֶ֭ ְז ְרעָ ה‬
‫וְ אַ חּ֣ר יאכ֑ל‬
‫ְ ֶֽוצֶ אֱצָ ַ ָ֥אי ְיׁש ָ ֶֽרׁשּו‪:‬‬

‫ט אם־נפְ ָ ּ֣תה ְ֭לבי‬

‫עַ ל־א ָ ֑שה‬
‫וְ עַ ל־פֶ ֖תַ ח ר ּ֣עי אָ ָ ֶֽרבְ תי‪:‬‬

‫י תטְ ַחּ֣ן לְ אַ חּ֣ר א ְׁש ֑תי‬

‫ְֹ֝ועָ ֶ֗ליהָ‬
‫יכְ ְרעָ֥ ּון ֲאח ֶֽרין‪:‬‬
 98
1A covenant
‫ יב ֤כי ּ֣אׁש ְ֭היא‬I concluded with my eyes,
‫ַעד־ ֲאבַ ּ֣דֹון תאכ֑ל‬ Why should I be attentive
:‫ָל־ת ֖בּואָ ּ֣תי ְתׁשָ ֶֽרׁש‬
ְ ‫ ּובְ כ‬About a virgin?
2 And what
‫יג אם־אֶ ְמ ֗ ַאס‬
Would be God’s part from above
‫מ ְׁשפַ ּ֣ט ְַ֭עבְ די‬
And the Almighty’s inheritance
‫ַ ֶֽואֲמָ ֑תי‬
From the heights?
‫ֹ֝ ְבר ֗ ָבם‬
:‫ עמָ ֶֽדי‬3 Is not misfortune for the evil one,
And loathing
‫ּומה ְ֭ ֶ ֶֽאעֱשֶ ה‬ ּ֣ ָ ‫ יד‬For evil doers?
‫ֶֽכי־י ָּ֣קּום ֑אל‬
ֹ֝ ‫וְ ֶֽכ‬4 Does not He
‫י־יפְ ֗קד‬
See my ways,
:‫יבנּו‬
ֶֽ ֶ ‫ָ ּ֣מה אֲׁש‬
And all my steps He will count?
‫טו ֹ֝הלא־בְַ֭ בֶ טֶ ן‬5 If I went with deceit
‫ ע ּ֣שני ָע ָ ֑שהּו‬And my foot was quick with trickery,
‫ֹ֝ ַו ְיכּו ֗ ֶננּו‬
:‫ בָ ֶ ָ֥רחֶ ם אֶ ָ ֶֽחד‬6 May He weight me on honest scales;
May God know
‫ טז אם־אְֶ֭ ְמנַע‬My innocence.
‫ מ ּ֣חפֶץ דַ ל֑ים‬7 If my steps deviated
:‫ וְ עינ֖י אַ לְ מָ נָ ּ֣ה ֲאכ ֶ ֶַֽלה‬From the Way,
And my heart went
‫ יז וְ אכַ ּ֣ל פ ּ֣תי לְ בַ ֑די‬After my eye,
:‫וְ ֶֽלא־אָ כַ ֖ל י ָּ֣תֹום מ ֶ ֶֽמנָה‬And on my palms
Anything stuck,
‫עּורי‬
ַ ‫יח ּ֣כי ְ֭מ ְנ‬
‫ גְ דלַ ּ֣ני כְ ָ ֑אב‬8 Then I shall sow
:‫ ּומ ֶב֖טֶ ן א ּ֣מי אַ ְנ ֶ ֶֽחנָה‬And another eat,
And my descendants be uprooted.
‫יט אם־אֶ ְר ֶ ּ֣אה ֖אֹובד‬9 If my heart was seduced
‫מבְ לּ֣י לְ ֑בּוׁש‬ About a woman,
‫וְ ָ֥אין ֹ֝ ְכ ֗סּות‬And I lay in ambush at my neighbor’s door,
:‫ָ ֶֽלאֶ בְ יֶֽ ֹון‬
10 Then may another grind my wife;

]‫ם־לא ֶֽב ְר ּ֣כּוני ֶֽ ֲחל ָָצ֑ו [ ֶֽ ֲחל ָָצ֑יו‬ ּ֣ ‫כ א‬On her

‫ ּומגָ֥ז ֹ֝ ְכבָ שַ י‬May others bend.
:‫י ְתחַ ָ ֶֽמם‬ 11 For that is immorality;
It is
‫ כא אם־הֲניפּ֣ ֹותי ַעל־י ָּ֣תֹום י ָ֑די‬A criminal act.
‫ֶֽכי־אֶ ְר ֶ ָ֥אה בַֹ֝ שַ֗ עַר‬
:‫ֶעז ְָר ֶֽתי‬

‫כב ְ֭ ְכתפי‬
 99
‫משכְ ָ ּ֣מה תפ֑ ֹול‬
12 Certainlyit is fire, ‫ְֹ֝ואֶ זְר ֗עי‬
Eating to perdition; :‫מקָ נָ ָ֥ה תשָ ֶֽבר‬
It would uproot all my yield
13 IfI would disregard
My slave’s right
Or my handmaid’s,
In their suit
Against me,
14 Whatcould I do
When God arises
And takes care;
What could I answer?
15 Didnot in the belly
My Creator create him
And formed him
In one womb?
16 If
I had been delinquent
In caring for the poor
And failed the widow’s expectations,
17 Eatingmy bread alone
While the orphan did not eat from it,
18 Truly,
from youth
I grew up as a father;
From my mother’s womb I would lead her.
19 If
I would see one being lost
Without garment,
Or no dress
For the needy,
20 Andhis loins not bless me
When from the shearing of my sheep
He warms himself
21 If
I waved my hand over the orphan
Because at the gate I saw
Help for me.

22 Then my shoulder
Should fall from its socket
And my arm
Be broken from its shaft.
 100

23 Certainly
my dread is ‫כג ֤כי פַ ּ֣חַ ד ְ֭אלַי‬
God’s calamity ‫ּ֣איד ֑אל‬
Which to carry ‫ּוֹ֝ מ ְשא ֗תֹו‬
Is impossible for me. :‫אּוכל‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫ּ֣לא‬
24 If
I put my hope in gold,
‫ם־ש ְמתי ז ָָהּ֣ב כסְ ל֑י‬
ּ֣ ַ ‫כד א‬
And refined gold
‫ְֹ֝ו ַל ֶ֗כתֶ ם‬
I declared my security,
:‫אָ ַמ ְָ֥רתי מבְ טַ ֶֽחי‬
25 If
I did enjoy
That I am rich, ‫כה אם־אְֶ֭ ְשמַ ח‬
For much ‫י־רב חיל֑י‬ ּ֣ ַ ‫כ‬
Came into my hand, ‫וְ ֶֽכי־ ַֹ֝כ ֗ביר‬
:‫ָ ֶֽמצְ ָ ָ֥אה י ֶָֽדי‬
26 If
I would see light
Shining
‫כו אם־אֶ ְר ֶ ּ֣אה ֖אֹור‬
And the moon
‫ּ֣כי י ָ֑הל‬
Walking in splendor,
ַ‫ְֹ֝וי ָ֗רח‬
27 And
my heart secretly enjoyed :‫י ָ ָָ֥קר ה ֶֽלְך‬
And my hand kissed my mouth,
‫כז וַיּ֣פְ ְת בַ ּ֣סתֶ ר ל ֑בי‬
28 That also would be
:‫וַת ַ ֖שק י ָּ֣די לְ ֶֽפי‬
Criminal offense,
For it would be denying God above. ‫ַם־הּוא‬
֖ ‫כח ג‬
29 If
I would enjoy ‫עָ ֹוּ֣ ן פְ ליל֑י‬
My hater’s death :‫ֶֽכי־כ ַח ְׁ֖שתי ל ָּ֣אל מ ָ ֶֽמ ַעל‬
Exulted
When evil found him, ‫כט אם־אְֶ֭ ְשמַ ח‬
‫בְ ּ֣פיד ְמשַ נ ְ֑אי‬
30 ButI did let not my palate sin ‫ְֹ֝וה ְתע ַ ֗ר ְרתי‬
To ask for his life by a curse, :‫י־מ ָצָ֥אֹו ָ ֶֽרע‬
ְ ‫כ‬
31 But my tent’s men
Never said: ‫ל וְ ֶֽלא־נ ַ ָּ֣תתי ַ ֶֽלח ֲּ֣טא ח ֑כי‬
“If only from his flesh :‫ל ְׁש ֖אל בְ אָ לָ ּ֣ה נַפְ ֶֽׁשֹו‬
We never could be filled”,
‫ם־לא ְ֭ ָ ֶֽא ְמרּו‬
ּ֣ ‫לא א‬
32 Outside ‫ְמ ּ֣תי אָ הֳל֑י‬
The stranger never had to sleep; ‫ֶֽמי־י ָ֥תן ֹ֝מבְ שָ ֗רֹו‬
I would open for the guest :‫ּ֣לא נ ְש ָ ֶֽבע‬
My doors.
‫לב בְַ֭ חּוץ‬
33 If
I covered up my sins like a common man, ‫ֶֽלא־יָלּ֣ין ג֑ר‬
To hide my transgression in my breast, ‫דְֹ֝ ל ֗ ַָתי‬
:‫ל ָָ֥א ַרח אֶ פְ ָ ֶֽתח‬

‫לג אם־כ ּ֣סיתי כְ אָ ָדּ֣ם פְ ׁשָ עָ ֑י‬

:‫לטְ ֖מֹון בְ ח ֻּ֣בי עֲֹוֶֽ ני‬
 101

34 Evenif I would tremble ‫לד ֤כי ֶ ֶֽאע ֱַ֨רֹוץ ׀‬

Before a big mob, ‫הָ ֤מֹון ַר ֗ ָבה‬
And disdain of families would make me fear, ‫ּובּוז־מ ְׁש ָפ ָ֥חֹות ְיח ֑תני‬ ֶֽ
I would be silent ‫ָֹ֝ ֶֽואֶ ֗דם‬
And not go to the door. :‫א־אצא ָ ֶֽפתַ ח‬ ָ֥ ‫ל‬
35 Who only could make
‫ן־לי ׀‬ַ֨ ֶ‫לה ֤מי ית‬
One who hears me,
‫ׁש ֤מ ַע ֗לי‬
It would be my sign
‫הֶ ן־תְָ֭ וי‬
If the Almighty answers me,
‫ׁשַ ַדּ֣י ַ ֶֽיעֲנ֑ני‬
And my opponent
‫וְ ָ֥ספֶר ָֹ֝כ ֗ ַתב‬
Wrote a book.
:‫ּ֣איׁש ר ֶֽיבי‬
36 Would I not carry
On my shoulder, ‫ל־ׁשכְ מי‬
ְ֭ ‫ם־לא ַע‬ ּ֣ ‫לו א‬
Put it on like a crown? ‫אֶ שָ ֶ ֑אנּו‬
:‫ֶ ֶֽאעֶנְ ֶד֖נּו עֲטָ ּ֣רֹות ֶֽלי‬
37 The number of my steps
I will tell him,
‫לז מסְ פַ ּ֣ר ְ֭ ְצעָדַ י‬
As a leader
‫אַ ג ֶיד֑נּו‬
I will bring him close.
‫כְ מֹו־ ָֹ֝נ ֗גיד‬
38 If
the earth should cry out :‫אֲ ָ ֶֽק ְר ֶ ֶֽבנּו‬
Against me,
And together ‫לח אם־ ְָ֭עלַי‬
Its furrows would weep; ‫אַ דְ מָ ּ֣תי תזְעָ ֑ק‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ַ֗יחַ ד‬
39 If
its yield
:‫ְתל ֶָמָ֥יהָ יבְ כָיֶֽ ּון‬
I would eat without silver
And its owner’s soul made sigh,
‫ם־כחָ ּה‬ ֖ ‫לט א‬
40 Theninstead of wheat ‫אָ כַ ּ֣לְ תי בְ לי־כָ ֑סֶ ף‬
Thistle shall grow, :‫וְ נֶ ֖פֶ ׁש בְ ָעלֶ ּ֣יהָ ה ָ ֶֽפחְ תי‬
And instead of barley stinking weed.
The saying of Job ‫מ ַ ֤תחַ ת ח ַ֨ ָטה ׀‬
Are finished. ַ‫יָ֥צא ֗חֹוח‬
‫ת־שע ָ ָ֥רה בָאְ ָ ׁ֑שה‬
ְ ַ‫וְ ַ ֶֽתח‬
‫ֹ֝ ֗תַ מּו‬
:‫דבְ ָ֥רי איֶֽ ֹוב‬

31:3 ‫ נכר‬Arabic "loathing”.

31:9 “Woman” means “married woman”.
31:10 ‫ ְטחן‬also has sexual connotations in Thr. 5:16.
31:16 ‫ כליון עימים‬are unfulfilled expectations; Deut. 28:65.
31:18 R. Saadya Gaon reads ‫ כְ אַ ב‬instead of ‫כְ אָ ב‬.
Job agrees that he had an easy life, born into a rich family. He insists that he fulfilled the obligations that come
with such an exalted position.
31:21 The gate is the place of justice and political power.
 102
31:34 ‫ ערץ‬Arabic "to tremble”.

Chapter 32

‫א וַי ְׁשבְ ִ֡תּו ְׁשל֤ ׁשֶ ת ָ ֶֽה ֲאנ ָּׁ֣שים הְָ֭ אלֶה ֶֽמעֲנּ֣ ֹות אֶ ת־אי֑ ֹוב ֤כי ֖הּוא יב וְ ָ ֶֽעדי ֶ֗כם אֶ ְת ִ֫בֹונָ ַָֽ֥ן‬
ַ‫מֹוכיח‬
֑ ‫ן־ב ַרכְ ּ֣אל ַהבּוזי וְ הנ֤ה ּ֣אין לְ איּ֣ ֹוב‬ ֶֽ ַ ֶ‫יהּוא ב‬ ּ֣ ‫ב וַי֤חַ ר ַ֨ ַאף ׀ ֱאל‬ :‫צַ ּ֣דיק בְ ע ָינֶֽיו‬
:‫ עֹונֶ ֖ה אֲמָ ָ ּ֣ריו מ ֶ ֶֽכם‬:‫ֹלהים‬ ֶֽ ‫ממ ְׁשפַ ִ֫ ֵַ֢חת ָ ָ֥רם ְ֭ ְבאיֹוב חָ ָ ּ֣רה אַ פ֑ ֹו ַעל־צַ דְ ָ֥קֹו ַֹ֝נפְ ׁ֗שֹו ֶֽמ ֱא‬
‫א־מצְ ּ֣אּו ַ ֶֽמעֲנֶ ֑ה ֹ֝ ַוי ְַר ׁ֗שיעּו‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫ֲׁשר ל‬ ּ֣ ֶ ‫ג ּוב ְׁשלּ֣ ׁשֶ ת רעָיו חָ ָ ֵ֢רה ִ֫ ַאפָ֥ ֹו עַ ֤ל א‬
‫ת־איֹוב בדְ בָ ֑רים ֤כי ְ ֶֽזקנים־ה֖מָ ה‬ ְ֭ ֶ‫יהּו חכָ ּ֣ה א‬ ֗ ‫ ד ֶ ֶֽו ֱאל‬:‫אֶ ת־איֶֽ ֹוב‬
‫יהּוא כי ֤אין ַ ֶֽמ ֲע ֗ ֶנה ְ֭ ְבפי ְׁשלָ֥ ׁשֶ ת‬ ֗ ‫ ה וַיַ ֤ ְרא ֱאל‬:‫מ ֶמּ֣נּו לְ י ֶָֽמים‬
:‫ָ ֶֽהאֲ נ ָׁ֗שים וַיָ֥חַ ר אַ פֶֽ ֹו‬

1 These three men then stopped from answering

Job, for he considered himself to be just. 2 This
angered Elihu ben Barakhel the Buzian, from the
family Ram. He was angry about Job declaring
himself just before God. 3 And he was angry
with his three friends that they found no answer ‫בּוזי‬
֗ ַ‫ן־ב ַרכְ ָ֥אל ה‬
ֶֽ ַ ֶ‫יהּוא ב‬ ֖ ‫ו וַיַ ֤עַ ן ׀ ֱאל‬
and considered Job evil. 4 Eliahu waited for Job ‫אמָ֥ר צָ ֤עיר אֲנּ֣י ְ֭ ְליָמים‬ ַ ‫ו ִַ֫י‬
before talking, for they were older than him. 5 ‫יׁשים‬ ֑ ‫וְ אַ ֶ ּ֣תם ְיׁש‬
So Elihu noticed that no answer was coming ‫ירא ׀‬ ֶׁ֓ ָ ‫עַ ל־כ֖ן ז ַָחָ֥לְ תי ָוֶֽא‬
from the mouths of these three men and he got :‫ֶֽמחַ ּ֖ות ד ּ֣עי אֶ ְת ֶ ֶֽכם‬
angry.
‫ז אְָ֭ מַ ְרתי‬
6 Elihuben Barakhel the Buzian started ‫י ָּ֣מים יְדַ ב֑רּו‬
And said: I am young in days ‫וְ ָ֥רב ֹׁ֝שָ ֗נים‬
And you are old’ :‫י ָ֥דיעּו חָ כְ ָ ֶֽמה‬
Therefore I wiggled and was in fear
To tell you my opinion. ‫ח אְָ֭ כן‬
‫־היא בֶ אֱנ֑ ֹוׁש‬
ּ֣ ַ‫ֶֽרּוח‬
7Isaid:
:‫וְ נ ְׁש ַמ֖ת ׁשַ ַדּ֣י ְתבינֶֽם‬
Days will tell
And the many years ‫א־ר ָ֥בים יֶחְ כָ ֑מּו‬
ַ ‫ט ֶֽל‬
Will inform wisdom. ‫ּוֹ֝ זְק ֗נים‬
8 However :‫י ָָ֥בינּו מ ְׁש ָ ֶֽפט‬
The spirit must be in a human
And Almighty’s breath creates insight. ‫י לָכּ֣ן אְָ֭ מַ ְרתי‬
‫ׁש ְמעָ ה־ל֑י‬
9 Notmany will become wise :‫ף־אני‬
ֶֽ ָ ַ‫אֲ חַ ּוֶ ֖ה ד ּ֣עי א‬
Nor elders
Understand right, ‫הֹוחלְ תי ְ ֶֽלדבְ רי ֶ֗כם‬
ַ ַ֨ ‫יא ֤הן‬
10 Therefore, I said ‫אְָ֭ זין‬
Listen to me; ‫בּונתיכֶ ֑ם‬
ֶֽ ‫ד־ת‬ְ ַ‫ע‬
I also will expound my opinion. :‫עַ ד־תַ חְ קְ ָ֥רּון מ ֶֽלין‬
 103
Rebut his sayings, from your side.
‫ֹ֝כ ְמ ַ֗עט‬
:‫ישָ ָ֥אני ע ֶֽשני‬
11 So I waited for your words,
I listened
For your insights,
That you would investigate words.
12 AndI paid attention to you,
But Job found nobody who would argue,
‫תאמרו‬-‫יג פן‬
‫מצאנו חכמה‬
:‫א־איׁש‬
ֶֽ ‫֖אל ידְ פֶ ּ֣נּו ל‬

‫יד וְ ֶֽלא־ע ַ ָּ֣רְך אלַ ּ֣י מל֑ין‬

‫ּוֹ֝ בְ א ְמרי ֶ֗כם‬
:‫יבנּו‬ ֶֽ ֶ ‫ּ֣לא ֲאׁש‬

‫טו חְַ֭ תּו‬

‫לא־עָ ּ֣נּו ע֑ ֹוד‬
:‫הֶ עְ ֖תיקּו מ ֶהּ֣ם מ ֶֽלים‬
13 You
should not say
‫טז ְ֭ ְוהֹוחַ לְ תי‬
“We found wisdom,
‫י־לא יְדַ ב֑רּו‬ ּ֣ ‫כ‬
God will push him; no human.”
‫ָ֥כי ֶֹֽ֝ ָע ְמד֗ ּו‬
14 Butdid not address to me his words, :‫לא־עָ ָ֥נּו עֶֽ ֹוד‬
And to your speeches
I do not have to answer. ‫יז ַ ֶֽאעֲנֶ ּ֣ה אַ ף־אֲנּ֣י חֶ לְ ֑קי‬
:‫ף־אני‬
ֶֽ ָ ַ‫אֲ חַ ּוֶ ֖ה ד ּ֣עי א‬
15 Fearing
They do not answer more,
‫יח ְ֭כי‬
Words left them.
‫מָ לּ֣תי מל֑ים‬
16 I
waited ‫ֹ֝ ֱהציקַ֗ ְתני‬
Until they did not speak again; :‫ּ֣רּוחַ בטְ ֶֽני‬
For they stopped
And did not answer anymore. ‫יט הנ ִּ֚ה בטְ ֗ני‬
ַ‫כְ יַ ַָֽ֥ין לא־יפ ָ֑תח‬
17 Ishall answer by myself; ‫כְ א ָ֥בֹות ֹ֝ ֲחדָ ׁ֗שים‬
I also will express my opinion. :‫יבָ ֶֽק ַע‬
18 Certainly
I am full of words; ‫כ אֲ דַ בְ ָ ָ֥רה וְ י ְר ַ ֶֽוח־ל֑י‬
The air in my body presses me. :‫אֶ פְ ַ ֖תח ְשפ ַ ָּ֣תי וְ ֶ ֶֽאע ֱֶנֶֽה‬
19 Behold,
my body ‫כא אַ ל־ ְָ֭נא‬
Like unopened wine; ‫י־איׁש‬
֑ ‫אֶ ָ ּ֣שא פְ נ‬
Like new wine-skins ‫וְ אֶ ל־אָֹ֝ ֗ ָדם‬
They might be split.
:‫ּ֣לא ֲאכ ֶַנֶֽה‬
20 Ihave to speak, then I will feel better;
I shall open my lips and argue. ‫כב ֤כי ּ֣לא י ַ ָּ֣דעְ תי ֲאכַנֶ ֑ה‬
104

21 I
shall not
Flatter any man
Nor give a title
To anybody.
22 Truly,
I know not to give honorifics;
Almost nothing
And my Maker will carry me away.
 ‫‪105‬‬

‫‪Chapter 33‬‬

‫ֶֽכי־י ְר ֶבָ֥ה ֹ֝ ֱא ֗לֹוּהַ‬ ‫א ְ ֶֽואּו ָ֗לם‬

‫ֶֽמאֱנֶֽ ֹוׁש‪:‬‬ ‫ְ ֶֽׁשמַ ע־נָ ּ֣א איּ֣ ֹוב מלָ ֑י‬
‫ְ ֶֽוכָל־דְ בָ ַ ָ֥רי ַ ֶֽהא ֲֶֽזינָה‪:‬‬
‫ב הנה־ ְָ֭נא‬
‫פָתחְ תי ֑פי‬ ‫ַ ּ֣‬
‫דבְ ָ ֖רה לְ ׁשֹונּ֣י בְ ח ֶֽכי‪:‬‬

‫ג ֶֽיׁשֶ ר־ל ָ֥בי אֲמָ ָ ֑רי‬

‫וְ ַ ָ֥דעַת ֹ֝ ְשפ ֗ ַָתי‬
‫בָ ָ֥רּור מ ֶֽללּו‪:‬‬

‫־אל ָע ָ ֑ש ְתני‬ ‫ד ֶֽרּוחַ ָ֥‬

‫וְ נ ְׁש ַמ֖ת ׁשַ ַדּ֣י ְתחַ יֶֽני‪:‬‬

‫ה אם־תּוכַ ָ֥ל הֲׁשיב֑ני‬

‫עֶרכָ ָ֥ה לְֹ֝ ָפ ֗ ַני‬
‫ְ‬
‫ה ְתי ָ ֶַֽצבָ ה‪:‬‬

‫ו הן־אֲ ּ֣ני כְ ּ֣פיך ל ָ֑אל‬

‫ֹ֝מ ֗חמֶ ר‬
‫ַם־אני‪:‬‬
‫ק ַ ָ֥רצְ תי ג ָ ֶֽ‬

‫ז הנּ֣ה ְ֭ ֶֽאמָ תי‬

‫ּ֣לא ְת ַ ֶֽבע ֶ ֲ֑ת ָך‬
‫ְֹ֝ואַ כְ ֗פי‬
‫עָ לֶ ָ֥יך ֶֽלא־יכְ ָ ֶֽבד‪:‬‬

‫ח אְַ֭ ְך אָ ַמ ְּ֣רתָ בְ אָ זְנָ ֑י‬

‫וְ ֖קֹול מלּ֣ין אֶ ְׁש ָ ֶֽמע‪:‬‬

‫אֲני ְ ֶֽב ִ֫לי פָ ָׁ֥שַ ע‬

‫ט זַ ְַָֽ֥ך ֗‬
‫ַחָ֥ף ָ ֶֽאנ ֑כי‬
‫וְ ֖לא עָ ֹוּ֣ ן ֶֽלי‪:‬‬

‫י ּ֣הן ְ֭ ְתנּואֹות‬
‫עָ לַ ּ֣י י ְמ ָצ֑א‬
‫יַחְ ְׁשב֖ני לְ אֹויּ֣ב לֶֽ ֹו‪:‬‬

‫יא י ָּ֣שם בַ ַסּ֣ד ַרגְ לָ ֑י‬

‫ֹ֝י ְׁש ֗מר‬
‫כָל־אָ ְרח ָ ֶֽתי‪:‬‬

‫ן־זאת ֶֽלא־צָ ַ ּ֣דקְ תָ אֶ עֱנֶ ַֽ֑ ָך‬

‫יב הֶ ּ֣‬
 106
1 However,
Please, Job, listen to my speech,
‫ יג מְַ֭ דּו ַע‬And bend your ear to my word
ָ‫יבֹות‬
֑ ‫אלָ ּ֣יו ר‬
ְ ֹ֝ ‫ ָ֥כי כ‬2 Since now
‫ָל־דבָ ָ ֗ריו‬
I opened my mouth;
:‫א־יע ֲֶנֶֽה‬
ֶֽ ַ ‫ּ֣ל‬
My tongue spoke in my palate/
‫ר־אל‬
֑ ֶ‫ יד ֶֽכי־בְ אַ ַחָ֥ת יְדַ ב‬3 My sayings are straight from my heart.
‫ ּוֹ֝ בְ ְׁש ֗ ַתים‬And knowledge? My lips
:‫ׁשּורנָה‬
ֶֽ ֶ ‫ּ֣לא ְי‬ Clearly formulated.

‫ טו ַ ֶֽבחֲל֤ ֹום ׀‬4 God’s spirit made me;

‫חֶ זְי֬ ֹון ַ֗ל ְילָה‬ The Almighty’s breath brought me to life.
‫בנ ְּ֣פל תְַ֭ ְרדמָ ה‬
5 Answer me, if you can;
‫עַל־ ֲאנ ָׁ֑שים‬
Argue before me,
‫נּומֹות‬
֗ ‫ֹ֝ב ְת‬
Arise!
:‫עֲלּ֣י מ ְׁש ָ ֶֽכב‬
6 So like you I am feeble before God,
‫ טז ָ ּ֣אז ְ֭יגְ לֶה‬Of clay
‫ּ֣אזֶן ֲאנ ָׁ֑שים‬ Also I was nipped off.
:‫ּובְ ֶֽמסָ ָ ּ֣רם יַחְ ֶֽתם‬
7 Behold, fear of me
Cannot terrify you,
‫יז ְ֭ ְלהָ סיר‬
And my pressure
‫ֲשה‬ ֑ ֶ ‫אָ ָדּ֣ם ַ ֶֽמע‬
Cannot be heavy on you.
:‫וְ גוָ ֖ה מגֶ ּ֣בֶ ר ְיכ ֶ ֶַֽסה‬
8 But you said in my ears,
‫ יח יַחְ ּ֣שְך ְַ֭נפְ ׁשֹו‬And I did hear the sound of speech.
‫י־ׁשחַ ת‬
֑ ָ ‫מנ‬
‫ ְֹ֝וחַ י ָ֗תֹו‬9 “I am pure, guiltless;
Clean I am,
:‫ֶֽמע ֲָ֥בר ַב ָ ֶֽשלַח‬
Mine is no sin.
‫ יט וְ הּוכַ ּ֣ח ְ֭ ְבמַ כְ אֹוב‬10 Behold, complaints
‫ַעל־מ ְׁשכ ָ֑בֹו‬ He does find against me;
:‫ וְ ֖ריב [וְ ֖רֹוב] עֲצָ ָמּ֣יו א ָ ֶֽתן‬He treats me as His enemy.

‫ כ וְ ֶֽזה ֲַמּ֣תּו חַ י ָּ֣תֹו ָל֑חֶ ם‬11 Puts my feet in stocks,

‫ ְֹ֝ונַפְ ׁ֗שֹו‬Watches
:‫ַ ֶֽמ ֲאכַ ָ֥ל ַ ֶֽתא ָ ֲֶֽוה‬ All my paths.”
12 I shall answer you, you are not correct,
‫ כא ּ֣יכֶל בְ שָ ּ֣רֹו מ ֑ראי‬Since God is greater
‫וְ ׁשֻ פָ֥ י [וְ ׁשֻ פָ֥ ּו] ֹ֝ ַעצְ מ ֗ ָתיו‬ Than man.
:‫ּ֣לא רֻ ֶֽאּו‬ s.

‫ַשחַ ת נַפְ ׁ֑שֹו‬

ּ֣ ַ ‫כב וַתקְ ַ ּ֣רב ל‬
‫ְֹ֝וחַ י ָ֗תֹו‬
:‫ַ ֶֽל ְממ ֶֽתים‬
 107
‫כג אם־יׁ֤ש ָע ַָ֨ליו ׀‬
13 Why ‫מַ לְ ֗ ָאְך מ ֗ליץ‬
Do you quarrel against Him? ‫י־אלֶף‬
֑ ָ ‫אֶ ָחָ֥ד מנ‬
In all matters :‫לְ הַ ג֖יד לְ אָ ָדּ֣ם י ְָׁש ֶֽרֹו‬
He will not answer.
14 ForGod will talk once
Or twice,
And it will not be noticed.
15 In a dream,
Nightly vision,
When sleep falls
On men,
In slumber
On the bed.
16 Thenmen’s eare
Will be uncovered,
And seals them in their bonds.
17 Toremove
A human from doing,’
And cover a male’s haughtiness.
18 Hewill save his soul
From perdition
And his life
From passing by a missile.
19 Hewill be warned by pain
On his couch;
And permanent the quarrel [majority] of his
bones.
20 Hislife makes him detest bread;
His soul
Desirable food.
21 His
flesh disappears from sight,
And his smooth bones [his bones’ smoothing]
Are not seen.
22 His spirits come close to extinction,
His life
To the dying.
23 If
he has
An angel advocate,
One among a thousand
To explain the man’s straightness;
 ‫‪108‬‬
‫ַ ֶֽואֲאַ לֶפְ ךָ֥ חָ כְ ָ ֶֽמה‪:‬‬
‫כד ַוֶַֽֽיְ ֻח ֶ֗ננּו ו ַ֗יאמֶ ר‬
‫ְ֭ ְפדָ עהּו‬
‫מ ֶ ָ֥רדֶ ת ׁשָ֗ חַ ת‬
‫מָ ָצָ֥אתי ֶֽכפֶר‪:‬‬
‫כה ֻ ֶֽרטֲפַ ּׁ֣ש בְ שָ ּ֣רֹו מ ֑נ ַער‬
‫ָֹ֝י ׁ֗שּוב‬
‫ֲלּומיו‪:‬‬
‫ימי ע ָ ֶֽ‬ ‫ל ָ֥‬

‫כו יֶעְ ַ ֤תר אֶ ל־ ֱא ַ֨לֹוּהַ ׀ וַי ְר ֗צהּו‬

‫וַיַ ּ֣ ְַֽרא פְָ֭ נָיו‬
‫ב ְתרּועָ ֑ה‬
‫וַיָ ָׁ֥שֶ ב ֹ֝ ֶלאֱנ֗ ֹוׁש‬
‫צדְ קָ ֶֽתֹו‪:‬‬

‫כז י ָׁ֤שר ׀‬
‫עַ ל־ ֲאנ ָׁ֗שים ו ַ֗יאמֶ ר‬
‫חְָ֭ טָ אתי‬
‫ָׁשר הֶ ע ֱ֗ויתי‬ ‫וְ י ָ ָ֥‬
‫א־ׁשוָה ֶֽלי‪:‬‬ ‫וְ ל ָ ָ֥‬

‫כח פָ ָ ּ֣דה ְַ֭נפְ ׁשי [ ְַ֭נפְ ׁשֹו]‬

‫ֶֽמע ֲּ֣בר בַ ָ ֑שחַ ת‬
‫ְֹ֝וחַ יָתי [ ְֹ֝וחַ יָתֹו]‬
‫ָָו ָ֥אֹור ת ְר ֶ ֶֽאה‪:‬‬

‫ָל־אלֶה‬ ‫כט הֶ ן־כ ְ֭‬

‫ל־אל‬
‫יפְ ַע ֑‬
‫ם־גבֶ ר‪:‬‬
‫ַ ֶֽפע ֲַמ֖ים ׁשָ לּ֣ ֹוׁש ע ָ ֶֽ‬

‫ל לְ הָ ּׁ֣שיב ְַ֭נפְ ׁשֹו‬

‫י־ׁשחַ ת‬‫מנ ָ ֑‬
‫ֹ֝ל ֗אֹור‬
‫בְ ּ֣אֹור ַ ֶֽהחַ יים‪:‬‬

‫לא הַ קְ ׁ֖שב איָ֥ ֹוב ְ ֶֽׁש ַ ֶֽמע־ל֑י‬

‫ֶֹֽ֝ ַהח ֲ֗רׁש‬
‫וְ ָ ֶֽאנ ָ֥כי אֲדַ ֶֽבר‪:‬‬

‫לב אם־יׁש־מלָ֥ין הֲׁשיב֑ני‬

‫דַֹ֝ ֗בר‬
‫ֶֽכי־חָ פַ ָ֥צְ תי צַ דְ ֶ ֶֽק ָך‪:‬‬

‫לג אם־אְַ֭ ין‬

‫אַ ָ ָ֥תה ְ ֶֽׁש ַ ֶֽמע־ל֑י‬
‫ֶֹֽ֝ ַהח ֲ֗רׁש‬
 109
His life 24 He will favor him and say,
Will be illuminated in light. Redeem him,
Not to go down to extinction;
29 Behold,all of this I found expiation.
Will God do
For a man, two or three times. 25 His flesh becomes softer than in childhood;
30 To turn his soul away It returns
From perdition, To his days of youth.
To illumination 26 Hemay pray to God Who will accept him,
In the light of Life. He see His presence
31 Be attentive, Job, listen to me; In friendship,
Be silent, And returns his integrity
And let me speak. To a human.
27 He will look
32 If
there are words, answer me,
Speak, At people, and say:
For I desire your justification. I sinned,
Straight away I acted wrongly,
33 Otherwise, I should not have done it.
Listen to me,
28 He redeemed his soul
Be silent,
And I will teach you wisdom. From being destroyed;
 110

33:6 Arabic ‫“ פה‬to be feeble”.

33:10 Arabic ‫“ נא‬to keep one’s distance”: ‫‘“ תנואה‬what creates distance”.

33:25 R. Saadya’s translation. The meaning of ‫ ֻ ֶֽרטֲפַ ּׁ֣ש‬is anybody’s guess.

 ‫‪111‬‬

‫‪Chapter 34‬‬
‫ּוכְ ָ֥א ַרח ֹ֝ ֗איׁש‬ ‫יהּוא‬
‫א וַיַ ָ֥עַ ן ֱאל ֗‬
‫י ְַמצ ֶ ֶֽאנּו‪:‬‬ ‫אמר‪:‬‬‫וַי ַ ֶֽ‬

‫ב ׁש ְמעּ֣ ּו ֲחכ ָּ֣מים מלָ ֑י‬

‫ְֹ֝ו ֶֽידְ ֗עים‬
‫ַ ֶֽהאֲזָ֥ינּו ֶֽלי‪:‬‬

‫י־אזֶן‬
‫ג כ ְ֭‬
‫מלּ֣ין תבְ ָח֑ן‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ֗חְך‬
‫יטְ עַ ָ֥ם ֶל ֱא ֶֽכל‪:‬‬

‫ד מ ְׁשפָ ָ֥ט נ ְ ֶֽבח ֲָרה־לָ ֑נּו‬

‫ה־טֹוב‪:‬‬
‫נֶַֽֽדְ עָ ֖ה בינּ֣ינּו מַ ֶֽ‬

‫ה ֶֽכי־אְָ֭ מַ ר‬
‫איּ֣ ֹוב צָ ַ ֑דקְ תי‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ֗אל‬
‫ה ָ֥סיר מ ְׁש ָפ ֶֽטי‪:‬‬

‫ו עַ ל־מ ְׁש ָפ ָ֥טי ֲאכַז֑ב‬

‫י־פׁשַ ע‪:‬‬
‫אָ נ֖ ּוׁש ח ּ֣צי בְ ל ָ ֶֽ‬

‫ז מי־גֶ ָ֥בֶ ר כְ אי֑ ֹוב‬

‫י ְׁשתֶ ה־לַ ָ֥ ַעג כ ָ ֶַֽמים‪:‬‬

‫ח וְ אָ ַ ּ֣רח ְ֭ ְלחֶ בְ ָרה‬

‫ם־פעֲלי ָ ֑אוֶן‬ ‫ע ּ֣ ֶֽ‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ָל ֶ֗לכֶת‬
‫י־רׁשַ ע‪:‬‬‫עם־אַ נְ ׁש ֶ ֶֽ‬

‫ט ֶֽכי־אְָ֭ מַ ר‬
‫ּ֣לא יסְ כָן־גָ ֑בֶ ר‬
‫ֹ֝ב ְרצ ֗תֹו‬
‫ֹלהים‪:‬‬ ‫עם־אֱ ֶֽ‬

‫י לָכ֤ן ׀‬
‫ַ ֶֽאנ ֲָׁ֥שי ל ֗ ָבב ׁש ְמ ִ֫עּו לָ֥י‬
‫חָ ֖ללָה ל ָָ֥אל מ ֶ ֗רׁשַ ע‬
‫וְ ׁשַ ַדָ֥י מ ָ ֶֽעוֶל‪:‬‬

‫יא ֤כי ּ֣פ ַעל אְָ֭ דָ ם‬

‫יְ ׁשַ לֶם־ל֑ ֹו‬
 112
‫יב אַ ף־אָ ְמ ֗ ָנם‬ 1 Elihu
continued
‫ָ֥אל ֶֽלא־י ְַר ׁ֑שי ַע‬ And said:
‫ְֹ֝וׁשַ ֗ ַדי‬
2 Wise
men,listen to my words;
:‫ֶֽלא־ ְי ַעּוָ֥ת מ ְׁש ָ ֶֽפט‬
Knowing ones,
Bend your ears to me.
‫יג ֶֽמי־ ָפ ַ ּ֣קד ָע ָלּ֣יו ָ ֑א ְרצָ ה‬
‫ּומי ֹ֝ ֗שָ ם‬ָ֥ 3 Forthe ear
:‫ת ָ֥בל כ ָ ֶֻֽלּה‬ Will discern words,
As the palate
‫יד אם־י ָּ֣שים א ָלּ֣יו ל ֑בֹו‬ Tastes food.
‫רּוחֹו ְֹ֝ונ ְׁשמָ ֗תֹו‬
ָ֥
4 Lawis chosen by us;
:‫אלָ ָ֥יו ֶי ֱא ֶֽסף‬
What is good is known among us.
‫ טו יגְ וַ ּ֣ע כָל־בָ ָ ּ֣שר יָ ֑חַ ד‬5 For Job said,
‫ְֹ֝ואָ ֗ ָדם‬ I am just;
:‫ַעל־עָפָ ָ֥ר י ֶָֽׁשּוב‬ But God
Removed my case.
‫ה־זאת‬ ֑ ‫ם־בינָה ׁש ְמ ָע‬ ָ֥ ‫טז וְ א‬
‫ ֶֹֽ֝ ַהא ֲ֗זינָה‬6 In my case I am falsely accused,
My influence was suppressed, without guilt.
:‫לְ ּ֣קֹול מ ָ ֶֽלי‬
7 Who is a man like Job,
‫ יז הַ ֬ ַאף שֹונּ֣א מ ְׁש ָפּ֣ט ַ ֶֽיח ֲ֑בֹוׁש‬Who drinks slander like water?
:‫וְ אם־צַ ֖דיק כ ַּ֣ביר תַ ְר ֶֽׁשי ַע‬
8 Who wanders for company

‫יח ַ ֶֽהא ֲּ֣מר לְ ֶ ּ֣מלְֶך ְבליָ ֑ ַעל‬ With evil doers,

‫ֹ֝ ָרׁשָ֗ ע‬ To go
With criminals.
:‫אֶ ל־נְד ֶֽיבים‬
9 Certainly, he said
‫יט ֲא ֶ ׁ֤שר ֶֽלא־נָשַָ֨ א ׀‬ No man gains anything
‫פְ נָ֥י שָ ֗רים‬ By willingly be
‫י־ד֑ל‬ָ ‫ַר־ׁשֹו ַע לפְ נ‬ ֖ ‫וְ ּ֣לא נכ‬ With God.
:‫י־מע ֲ֖שה י ָָדּ֣יו כ ָ ֶֻֽלם‬ ֶֽ ַ ‫כ‬
10 Therefore,

‫כ ֶ ֤רגַע ׀ ָימֻתּו‬ People of heart listen to me

‫ַ ֶֽוח ֲֵ֢צֹות לָ ָ֥ ְילָה ְי ֶֽגע ֲּׁ֣שּו ָעּ֣ם וְ ַ ֶֽיע ֲ֑ברּו‬ Far be it from God to act badly,
‫ וְ י ָָ֥סירּו אַֹ֝ ֗ביר‬Or that the Almighty be evil.
:‫ּ֣לא בְ ָיֶֽד‬ 11 However, for the acts of every human
He will pay him,
‫י־עינָיו‬ ְ֭ ‫ כא ֶֽכ‬And in the way of any man
‫י־איׁש‬ ֑ ‫ַעל־דַ ְרכ‬ He will find him.
:‫ְ ֶֽוכָל־צְ ע ָָד֖יו י ְר ֶ ֶֽאה‬

‫ין־חׁשֶ ְך‬֖ ‫כב ֶֽא‬

‫וְ ּ֣אין צַ לְ ָ ֑מוֶת‬
‫לְ ה ָסָ֥תֶ ר ֹ֝ ׁ֗שָ ם‬
:‫ּ֣ ֶֽפעֲלי ָ ֶֽאוֶן‬
 113
12 In
any case
God will not act criminally,
Nor will the Almighty
Bend the judgment.
13 Whomade Him care for the earth;
Who put up
The entire dry land?
14 If
He takes notice of somebody,
His spirit and soul
Will be collected to Him.
15 All
flesh would expire together,
And mankind
Return to dust.
16 But
if intelligence hears this,
Bends ear
To the sound of my voice,
17 Would a hater of law be wound dressing?
Or a proven Just one misbehave?
18 Onewho calls a king: scoundrel,
Evildoer
The noblemen?
19 Who will not pay respect
To princes,
Nor the well off before the needy,
For they all are the work of His hands.
20 In
catastrophe they will die;
At midnight they will tremble and pass,
A knight will be removed
Without a hand.
21 Certainly,His eyes
Are on man’s behavior;
All his steps He will see.
22 There is no darkness,
Nor deep shadow
That evildoers
Could hide there.
 ‫‪114‬‬
‫ּומַ ה־י ַ ָָ֥דעְ תָ דַ ֶֽבר‪:‬‬ ‫ל־איׁש‬
‫כג ֤כי ּ֣לא ַע ְ֭‬
‫י ָּ֣שים ע֑ ֹוד‬
‫ל־אל‬
‫ַ ֶֽלהֲֹלָ֥ ְך אֶ ֹ֝ ֗‬
‫בַ מ ְׁש ָ ֶֽפט‪:‬‬

‫א־חקֶ ר‬
‫כד י ָּ֣רעַ כַב ּ֣ירים ֶֽל ֑‬
‫ו ַ ֶַֽיע ֲ֖מד ֲאח ּ֣רים תַ חְ ָ ֶֽתם‪:‬‬

‫כה ל ָ֗כן ְַ֭יכיר‬

‫יה֑ם‬
‫מַ עְ ָ ֶֽבד ֶ‬
‫וְ ָהָ֥פַ ְך ֹ֝ ֗ ַל ְילָה‬
‫וְ ידַ ָ ֶֽכאּו‪:‬‬

‫ת־רׁשָ ָ֥עים סְ ָפ ֗ ָקם‬

‫כו ַ ֶֽתחַ ְ‬
‫ב ְמ ָ֥קֹום ר ֶֽאים‪:‬‬

‫ל־כן‬‫כז אֲ ֶ ּׁ֣שר ַע ְ֭‬

‫ָסּ֣רּו ֶֽמ ַ ֶֽא ֲח ָ ֑ריו‬
‫וְ כָל־דְֹ֝ ָר ָ֗כיו‬
‫ּ֣לא ה ְש ֶֽכילּו‪:‬‬

‫כח לְ הָ ּ֣ביא ְָ֭עלָיו‬

‫ת־דל‬
‫ַ ֶֽצעֲקַ ָ ֑‬
‫וְ ַ ֶֽצע ַ ֲ֖קת עֲניּ֣ים י ְׁש ָ ֶֽמע‪:‬‬

‫כט וְ ֤הּוא י ְַׁש ַ֨קט ׀‬

‫ּומי י ְַר ׁ֗ש ַע‬
‫ָ֥‬
‫וְ יַסְ ּ֣תר ְָ֭פנים‬
‫ׁשּורנּו‬
‫ּומי ְי ֶ ֑‬ ‫ּ֣‬
‫וְ עַ ל־ג֖ ֹוי וְ עַל־אָ ָדּ֣ם ָיֶֽחַ ד‪:‬‬

‫ל ְ֭מ ְמֹלְך‬
‫אָ ָדָ֥ם חָ ֗נף‬
‫מ ָ֥מקְ ׁשי ָ ֶֽעם‪:‬‬

‫ל־אל‬‫לא ּ֣כי אֶ ְ֭‬

‫ֶ ֶֽהאָ ַמָ֥ר נָשָ֗ אתי‬
‫ּ֣לא אֶ חְ ֶֽבל‪:‬‬

‫לב ב ְ ֶֽלע ֲּ֣די אְֶ֭ ֱחזֶה‬

‫אַ ָ ּ֣תה ה ֑רני‬
‫אם־עָ ָ֥ וֶל ָֹ֝פ ַ֗עלְ תי‬
‫ּ֣לא א ֶֽסיף‪:‬‬

‫לג הֲמע ְמ ֬ך ְיׁשַ לְ ַ֨ ֶמנָה ֶֽכי־מָ ֗ ַאסְ תָ‬

‫א־אני‬
‫ֶֽכי־אַ ָ ּ֣תה תבְ ַחּ֣ר וְ ל ָ ֑‬
 115
23 Certainly, not on a man
‫לד אַ ְנ ּׁ֣שי ְ֭לבָ ב‬ Is customarily put
‫אמרּו ל֑י‬ ְ ‫ּ֣י‬ To appear before God
‫וְ גֶ ָ֥בֶ ר חָֹ֝ ָ֗כם‬ In judgment.
:‫ׁש ָ֥מ ַ ֶֽע ֶֽלי‬
24 He breaks the mighty, not investigated,
And puts others in their place.
‫לה ְ֭איֹוב‬
‫לא־בְ ַ ּ֣דעַת יְדַ ב֑ר‬ 25 Therefore, He knows
‫ּוֹ֝ דְ בָ ָ ֗ריו‬ Their deeds,
:‫ּ֣לא בְ הַ ְש ֶֽכיל‬ And turns the night
And they are subdued.
‫לו אָ ֗בי‬
26 He hits them among criminals,
‫יבָ ּ֣חן איּ֣ ֹוב עַד־נֶ ֑צַ ח‬
‫ׁש ֗בת‬ ֻ ‫ל־ת‬ ְֹ֝ ‫ ַע‬On an exposed place.
:‫י־אוֶן‬ֶֽ ָ ‫בְ אַ ְנׁש‬ 27 Because
They deviated from after Him;
‫אתֹו ְ֭ ֶפׁשַ ע‬
ּ֣ ָ‫ לז ָ֥כי י ֤סיף ַעל־חַ ט‬None of His ways
‫בינּ֣ינּו יסְ פ֑ ֹוק‬ They did they understand.
:‫וְ יֶ ֖רׄב ֲאמָ ָ ּ֣ריו ל ֶָֽאל‬
28 To bring to Him
The complaint of the downtrodden.
He will hear the cry of the poor.
29 And if He keeps quiet,
Who would fault Him?
If He hides himself,
Who could spy him?
For peoples and individuals equally.
30 Tohinder a dishonest man
To rule,
As a stumbling block for the people.
31 Certainly,to God,
If He says, I forgave,
I will not destroy.
32 Him alone I will look to,
You shall teach me,
If I did evil
I shall not continue.
For from you it will be paid, since you
33
despised,
You have to chose, not I
And what do you have to say?
 116
36 If
only 34 People of heart
Would Job be tried to the limit Will tell me;
For his answering A wise man
Like evildoers. Will listen to me:
37For he added to his inadvertent sin Job
35
criminality, Did not speak with knowledge,
It is enough among us And his words
That he multiplies his words against God. Not with intelligence.

34:6 Arabic ‫ כזב‬also means “to be falsely accused”.

34:23 Arabic ‫“ עוד‬repeating”.

 ‫‪117‬‬

‫‪Chapter 35‬‬
‫יא מְַ֭ לְ פנּו‬ ‫יהּו‬
‫א וַיַ ָ֥עַ ן ֱאל ֗‬
‫מ ַ ֶֽבה ֲּ֣מֹות ָ ֑א ֶרץ‬ ‫אמר‪:‬‬‫וַי ַ ֶֽ‬
‫ּומע֖ ֹוף הַ שָ ַמּ֣ים ְיחַ כְ ֶֽמנּו‪:‬‬
‫ב ְ֭ ֲהזאת‬
‫חָ ַ ּׁ֣שבְ תָ לְ מ ְׁשפָ ֑ט‬
‫אָֹ֝ מַ֗ ְרתָ‬
‫צדְ ָ֥קי מ ֶֽאל‪:‬‬

‫י־תאמַ ר‬
‫ג ֶֽכ ֖‬
‫מַ ה־יסְ כָן־לָ ְ֑ך‬
‫ָ ָ֥מה ֹ֝א ֗עיל‬
‫אתי‪:‬‬
‫ֶֽמחַ טָ ֶֽ‬

‫ד ְ֭אֲ ני‬
‫אֲ ֶֽׁשיבְ ךּ֣ מל֑ין‬
‫ְ ֶֽואֶ ת־רעֶ ָ֥יך ע ָ ֶֽמְך‪:‬‬

‫ה הַ ּ֣בט ׁשָ ַמּ֣ים ְּור ֑אה‬

‫וְ ָׁ֥שּור ֹ֝ ְׁשחָ ֗קים‬
‫ָ ֶֽגבְ ָ֥הּו מ ֶ ֶֽמ ָך‪:‬‬

‫ו אם־חְָ֭ טָ אתָ‬
‫ל־בֹו‬
‫מַ ה־תפְ ָע ֑‬
‫וְ ַר ָ֥בּו פְֹ֝ ׁשָ ֶ֗עיך‬
‫ה־תעֲשֶ ה־לֶֽ ֹו‪:‬‬‫מַ ַ ֶֽ‬

‫ז אם־צְָ֭ דַ קְ תָ‬
‫מַ ה־תתֶ ן־ל֑ ֹו‬
‫֖אֹו מַ ה־מ ָ ֶֽיַֽדְ ךָ֥ י ָ ֶֽקח‪:‬‬

‫ח לְ ֶֽאיׁש־כ ָָ֥מֹוך ר ְׁשעֶ ֑ך‬

‫ּולְ בֶ ן־אָֹ֝ ֗ ָדם‬
‫צדְ קָ ֶ ֶֽתך‪:‬‬

‫ט ְ֭מרב‬
‫ֲׁשּוקים ַיז ְ֑עיקּו‬
‫ע ּ֣‬
‫יְ ׁשַ ּוְ ע֖ ּו מז ְּ֣רֹו ַע ַר ֶֽבים‪:‬‬

‫י ְ ֶֽו ֶֽלא־אָ ֗ ַמר‬

‫אְַ֭ יה‬
‫אֱ לּ֣ ֹוּהַ ע ָ ֑שי‬
‫נ ֖תן זְמ ּ֣רֹות בַ ָ ֶֽל ְילָה‪:‬‬
 118
1 Elihu continued
And said:
‫יב ָ ּׁ֣שם ְ֭י ְ ֶֽצעֲקּו‬
2 Did you consider this
‫וְ ּ֣לא ַ ֶֽיעֲנֶ ֑ה‬
‫ֹ֝מפְ ֗ני‬ As the rule of law:
That you are saying
:‫גְ ּ֣אֹון ָר ֶֽעים‬
My eight is from God.
‫ יג אַ ְך־ׁשְָ֭ וְ א‬3 That you say,
‫ֶֽלא־י ְׁש ַ ָ֥מע ׀ ֑אל‬ What would you profit,
‫ ְֹ֝וׁשַ ֗ ַדי‬What is the use
:‫ׁשּורנָה‬
ֶֽ ֶ ‫ּ֣לא ְי‬ That I do not sin?

‫י־תאמַ ר‬ ְ֭ ‫ יד ַ ּ֣אף כ‬4 I

‫ׁשּורנּו‬
֑ ֶ ‫ּ֣לא ְת‬ Shall answer in words to you
‫ ָ֥דין לְֹ֝ ָפ ֗ ָניו‬And to your friends with you.
:‫ֹולל לֶֽ ֹו‬ ֶֽ ‫ּות ָ֥ח‬ ְ 5 Look to heaven and see,
Gaze to the sky,
‫י־אַ ין‬ ְ֭ ‫טו וְ ע ֗ ַָתה כ‬ Higher than you.
‫ָפ ַ ּ֣קד אַ ֑פֹו‬
:‫ וְ ֶֽלא־י ַ ָ֖דע בַ פַ ּׁ֣ש ְמ ֶֽאד‬6 If you sinned,
What does it there,
‫טז ְ֭ ְואיֹוב‬ If your crimes add,
‫ה־פיהּו‬
֑ ֶ‫ֶ ּ֣ה ֶבל יפְ צ‬ What does it to it?
‫י־דַ עַת‬ ֗ ֹ֝ ‫ בבְ ל‬7 If you are just,
:‫מלָ֥ין יַכְ ֶֽבר‬ What gives to it,
What could it take from your hand?
8To a person like you, the crime is personal,
And to the human
His piety.
9 In
their masses,
The oppressed are crying;
They cry for help from the arm of the mighty.
10 Buthe did not say,
Where
In God, my creator,
Giving protection in the night.
11 Heteaches us
From the animals of the earth
And makes us wise by the birds of heaven.
 119
I do not see Him,
You are in judgment before Him,
Wait for him. 12 There, they cry,
But He does not answer,
But now, when there is nothing,
15
Because
He detailed his rage Of the pride of evil ones.
And did not know that it is spread widely.
But deceit
13
16 So
Job God will not hear,
Vainly opened his mouth; And the Almighty
Without knowledge Will not look.
He multiplies words.
14 Even if you say,

35:10 Taking ‫ זמיר‬from Arabic ‫“ ד֗ מר‬to protect one’s rights” (Pope).

 ‫‪120‬‬

‫‪Chapter 36‬‬
‫יהם‬‫ּוֹ֝ ְׁשנ ֗ ֶ‬ ‫יהּוא‬
‫א ו ַָ֥יסֶ ף ֱאל ֗‬
‫בַ ְנע ֶֽימים‪:‬‬ ‫אמר‪:‬‬‫וַי ַ ֶֽ‬

‫ב ַ ֶֽכתַ ר־לּ֣י ְ֭ ְזעיר‬

‫ַוֶֽאֲ חַ ּוֶ ַֽ֑ ָך‬
‫֤כי ע֖ ֹוד ֶל ֱאלּ֣ ֹוּהַ מ ֶֽלים‪:‬‬

‫ג אֶ ָ ּ֣שא ְ֭דעי‬
‫לְ מ ָר ֑חֹוק‬
‫ְֹ֝ולְ ֶֽפע ֲ֗לי‬
‫ן־צדֶ ק‪:‬‬
‫אֶ תֶ ֶ ֶֽ‬

‫ד ֶֽכי־אְָ֭ ְמנָם‬
‫א־ׁשקֶ ר מלָ ֑י‬
‫ל ֶ ּ֣‬
‫ְת ֖מים דעּ֣ ֹות ע ָ ֶֽמְך‪:‬‬

‫ן־אל ְַ֭כביר‬ ‫ה הֶ ּ֣‬

‫וְ ּ֣לא י ְמ ָ ֑אס‬
‫ַֹ֝כ ֗ביר‬
‫ּ֣כחַ ֶֽלב‪:‬‬

‫ו ֶֽלא־יְ חַ יֶ ָ֥ה ָר ָ ׁ֑שע‬

‫ּומ ְׁשפַ ֖ט עֲניּ֣ים י ֶֽתן‪:‬‬

‫ז ֶֽלא־יגְ ַ ָ֥רע מצַ ֗דיק‬

‫ִ֫עינָ ָ֥יו‬
‫ת־מל ָָ֥כים לַכ ֑סא‬ ‫וְ אֶ ְ‬
‫ו ֶַֽיׁשיבָ֥ם ֹ֝ ָל ֗ ֶנצַ ח‬
‫וַיגְ ָ ֶֽבהּו‪:‬‬

‫סּורים בַ ז ֑קים‬
‫ח וְ אם־ ֲא ָ֥‬
‫ֹ֝י ָ ֶֽלכְ ד֗ ּון‬
‫י־עני‪:‬‬
‫בְ חַ בְ ל ֶֽ‬

‫ט ַויַגּ֣ד ל ֶָהּ֣ם ָפעֳלָ ֑ם‬

‫יהם‬‫ּוֹ֝ פ ְׁשע ֗ ֶ‬

‫י ו ַּ֣יגֶל אְָ֭ ְזנָם‬

‫ַמּוס֑ר‬
‫ל ָ‬
‫ֹ֝ ַו ֗יאמֶ ר‬
‫ֶֽכי־ ְיׁשֻ ָ֥בּון מ ָ ֶֽאוֶן‪:‬‬
‫יא אם־י ְׁש ְמ ֗עּו ְ ֶֽו ַ ֶֽי ֲִ֫ע ָ֥בדּו‬
‫יהּ֣ם בַ ֑טֹוב‬ ‫יְ כַלּ֣ ּו יְמ ֶ‬
 121
‫ׁשלַח ַ ֶֽיע ֲ֑ברּו‬ ּ֣ ֶ ְ‫ב‬ 1 Elihu continued
‫ְֹ֝ויגְ וְ ֗עּו‬ And said:
:‫י־דעַת‬ ֶֽ ָ ‫כבְ ל‬
2 Wait me a little
And I shall inform you
‫י־לב‬ ְ֭ ‫יג ְ ֶֽוחַ נְפ‬
That still there are words for God.
‫י ָּ֣שימּו ָ ֑אף‬
‫ָ֥לא ֹ֝ ְיׁשַ ּוְ ֗עּו‬ 3Iwill lift my thoughts
:‫ּ֣כי ֲאסָ ָ ֶֽרם‬ To far away,
And to my Creator
‫יד תָ ּ֣מת בַ ּ֣נעַר נַפְ ָ ׁ֑שם‬ I shall express veracity.
‫ְֹ֝וחַ י ֗ ָָתם‬
4 Certainly
:‫ַבקְ ד ֶֽׁשים‬
My words are no lies,
Perfect in knowledge with you.
‫טו ְיחַ לּ֣ץ עָנּ֣י ְב ָענְי֑ ֹו‬
:‫וְ ֖יגֶל בַ לַ ּ֣חַ ץ אָ ז ְָנֶֽם‬ 5 Behold,God is mighty
And will not despise
‫יתך ׀‬ ְ ‫טז וְ ַ ֤אף ה ֲֶֽס‬ The mightiness
‫י־צר ְַ֭רחַ ב‬ ָ֗ ‫פ‬ Of the heart’s power.
ָ‫א־מּוצּ֣ק תַ ְח ֶ ֑תיה‬
ָ ‫ֶֽל‬
‫ וְ נַ ָ֥חַ ת ֹׁ֝שֻ לְ חָ ְנ ֗ך‬6 He will not resurrect the criminal,
But will give justice to the poor.
:‫ָ ּ֣מלא ָ ֶֽדׁשֶ ן‬
7 He will not withdraw from the just
ָ‫ין־ר ָ ָׁ֥שע מָ ל֑את‬ ָ ‫ יז וְ ֶֽד‬His eyes,
:‫֖דין ּומ ְׁשפָ ּ֣ט י ְת ֶֽמכּו‬ But on a throne with kings
Will set them permanently,
‫י־חמָ ה‬ ְ֭ ‫יח כ‬ And raise them.
‫יתךּ֣ ְב ָ ֑ספֶק‬ ְ ‫ֶפן־ ְי ֶֽס‬
‫ב־כפֶר‬ ֗ ֹ֝ ‫ וְ ָר‬8 And if they are bound in fetters,
Or caught
:‫אַ ל־י ֶ ֶַֽט ָך‬
In ropes of poverty,
‫ יט ה ַ ֲֶֽיע ֲּ֣רְך ׁ֖שּוֶֽ עֲך‬9 He will tell them their deeds,
‫ּ֣לא בְ ָצ֑ר‬ And their crimes,
‫ְֹ֝ו ֗כל‬ How overbearing!
: ַ‫י־כח‬
ֶֽ ‫ַ ֶֽמאֲמַ צ‬
10 And opens their ears

‫כ אַ ל־ת ְׁש ַ ָ֥אף הַ ָ ֑ל ְילָה‬ To discipline,

:‫ַ ֶֽלעֲל֖ ֹות ע ַּ֣מים תַ ְח ָ ֶֽתם‬ And commands them
To turn back from evil.
‫ כא ְ֭ה ָ ֶֽשמֶ ר‬11If they will listen and worship
‫ל־אוֶן‬
֑ ָ ֶ‫ל־ת ֶפן א‬
ּ֣ ַ‫א‬ They will fnish their days in well-being
‫ ָ֥כי־ ַעל־ ֹ֝֗ ֶזה‬And their years
:‫בָ ַח ְָ֥רתָ מ ֶֽעני‬ Pleasantly.
‫ן־אל‬
ְ֭ ֶ‫כב ה‬
‫י ְַשגּ֣יב ְבכ ֑חֹו‬
:‫מֹורה‬
ֶֽ ֶ ‫֖מי כ ָּ֣מהּו‬ ‫ם־לא ְ֭י ְׁש ְמעּו‬
ּ֣ ‫יב וְ א‬
 122

But if they do not listen,

12
They will pass in weapons
And expire
Without knowing.
13So the impious of heart,
Create anger;
They do not implore
When He binds them.
14Their soul will die young,
Their lives
With the hierodules.
15 Hewill extricate the poor from his poverty
And opens their ear by pressure.
16 Healso lured you
From straights to wideness,
No distress under it;
But what descends on your table
Is full of fat.
17 But
you helped the way of the criminal,
Judgment and law will be supported.
18 Truly,
rage
Should not lure you in abundance,
And great bribe
Should not seduce you.
19 Will your opulence help?
Not in trouble,
Nor all
Powers of force.
20 Donot pant in the night,
To substitute peoples instead.
21 Watchout,
Do not turn to evil,
Because of all of this
You chose not to be poor.
22 Behold,God
Is supreme in His power;
Who is like Him as a teacher?
 123

23 Whoprescribed for Him the way, ‫כג ֶֽמי־פָ ַ ּ֣קד ָעלָ ּ֣יו דַ ְרכ֑ ֹו‬
Or who could say, ‫ֶּֽומי־אָֹ֝ מַ֗ ר‬
You did evil? :‫פָ עַ ָ֥לְ תָ עַוְ ָ ֶֽלה‬
24 Remember,
‫כד ְ֭ ְזכר‬
How great is His work
‫ֶֽכי־תַ ְשגּ֣יא ָפעֳל֑ ֹו‬
Which men observe.
:‫אֲ ֶ ׁ֖שר ֶֽׁש ְר ּ֣רּו ֲאנ ֶָֽׁשים‬
25 All
men are seeing it,
A human ‫זּו־בֹו‬
֑ ‫כה כָל־אָ ָדָ֥ם ָ ֶֽח‬
Gazes from far. ‫ֹ֝אֱ נ֗ ֹוׁש‬
:‫י ַָ֥ביט ֶֽמ ָר ֶֽחֹוק‬
26 Behold,
God is great,
More than we know;
‫ן־אל שְַ֭ גיא‬ ּ֣ ֶ‫כו ה‬
The number of His years is beyond research.
‫וְ ּ֣לא נ ָ ֑דע‬
27 Certainly :‫א־חקֶ ר‬
ֶֽ ‫מסְ פַ ֖ר ׁשָ נָ ּ֣יו וְ ל‬
He diminished water drops,
Refines rain from its steam. ‫כז ְ֭כי‬
‫י־מ֑ים‬
ָ ‫יְ ג ַ ָּ֣רע נטְ פ‬
28 When sky drips,
:‫י ָ֖זקּו מָ ָטּ֣ר לְ א ֶֽדֹו‬
Rain
On large mankind. ‫כח אֲ ֶ ֶֽׁשר־י ְזלָ֥ ּו ְׁשחָ ֑קים‬
29 Also,
if one could understand ‫ֹ֝י ְ ֶֽרעֲפ֗ ּו‬
The spreading clouds, :‫עֲל֤י ׀ אָ ֬ ָדם ָ ֶֽרב‬
The thunder
Of His cover. ‫כט ַ ּ֣אף אם־ ְָ֭יבין‬
‫מפְ ְרשי־עָ ֑ב‬
30 Behold,
He spread over it His light, ‫ְֹ֝תׁשֻ ֗אֹות‬
And covered the roots of the sea.
:‫ֻסכ ֶָֽתֹו‬
31 Truly,
thereby
He judges nations, ‫אֹורֹו‬
֑ ‫ן־פָרש ָעלָ ּ֣יו‬ ּ֣ ַ ‫ל ֶֽה‬
Provides food in quantity. :‫וְ ׁשָ ְר ׁ֖שי הַ יָ ּ֣ם כ ָ ֶֽסה‬

32 Light
covered on hands, ‫לא כי־בְָ֭ ם‬
He commanded it to hurt. ‫י ָּ֣דין ע ַ֑מים‬
33 Its
noise does announce it; :‫ן־אכֶל לְ מַ כְ ֶֽביר‬ ָ֥ ֶ‫ֶֽית‬
When livestock
Has to be cared for. ‫ה־אֹור‬
֑ ָ‫לב עַ ל־כַפַ ָ֥ים כס‬
:‫ַיְצ֖ו עָ לֶ ּ֣יהָ בְ מַ פְ ֶֽגי ַע‬
ַ ‫ו‬

‫לג יַגּ֣יד ָעלָ ּ֣יו רע֑ ֹו‬

‫ֹ֝מקְ ֶ֗נה‬
:‫ל־עֹולה‬
ֶֽ ֶ ‫ַ ּ֣אף ַע‬
 ‫‪124‬‬

‫‪Chapter 37‬‬

‫מּוצק‪:‬‬
‫וְ ֖רחַ ב ַמּ֣ים ְב ָ ֶֽ‬ ‫ף־לזאת‬‫א אַ ְ֭ ְ‬
‫ֶיח ַ ֱּ֣רד ל ֑בי‬
‫ְֹ֝וי ֗ ַתר‬
‫קֹומֹו‪:‬‬‫מ ְמ ֶֽ‬

‫ב ׁש ְמע֤ ּו ׁשָ ּ֣מֹו ַע בְ ּ֣רגֶז קל֑ ֹו‬

‫ְֹ֝והֶ֗ גֶה‬
‫מ ָ֥פיו י ֶֽצא‪:‬‬

‫ג ַ ֶֽתחַ ת־כָל־ ַהשָ ַמָ֥ים‬

‫י ְׁש ֑רהּו‬
‫אֹורֹו‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ֗‬
‫עַ ל־כַנְפָ֥ ֹות הָ ָ ֶֽא ֶרץ‪:‬‬

‫ג־קֹול‬
‫ד ַ ֶֽאח ָ ֲ֤ריו ׀ י ְׁשאַ ֗‬
‫ְַ֭י ְרעם‬
‫בְ ּ֣קֹול גְ אֹונ֑ ֹו‬
‫וְ ָ֥לא ֹ֝ ְיעַ קְ ֗בם‬
‫ֶֽכי־ישָ ַ ָ֥מע קֹולֶֽ ֹו‪:‬‬

‫ה י ְַרע֤ם ּ֣אל ְ֭ ְבקֹולֹו‬

‫נפְ ל ָ֑אֹות ע ֶ ָ֥שה‬
‫ְֹ֝גד ֗לֹות‬
‫וְ ּ֣לא נ ָ ֶֽדע‪:‬‬

‫ו ֤כי לַשֶַ֨ לֶג ׀‬

‫יאמַ֗ ר ה ֱִ֫וא ָ ָ֥א ֶרץ‬
‫וְ גֶ ָׁ֥שֶ ם מָ ָט֑ר‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ֗ ֶגׁשֶ ם‬
‫מטְ ָ֥רֹות עֻזֶֽ ֹו‪:‬‬

‫ז בְ יַד־כָל־אָ ָדָ֥ם יַחְ ֑תֹום‬

‫ֹ֝ ָל ֗ ַדעַת‬
‫כָל־אַ נְ ָׁ֥שי ַ ֶֽמע ֲֶֽשהּו‪:‬‬

‫מֹו־א ֶרב‬
‫ָ֑‬ ‫ח וַתָ ּ֣בֹוא חַ יָ ּ֣ה בְ‬
‫ֹונֹותיהָ ת ְׁש ֶֽכן‪:‬‬ ‫ּוב ְמעֶֽ ֶ ּ֣‬

‫ט מן־הְַ֭ חֶ דֶ ר‬
‫תָ ּ֣בֹוא סּופָ ֑ה‬
‫ּומ ְמז ָָ֥רים קָ ָ ֶֽרה‪:‬‬

‫ן־ק ַרח‬
‫ת־אל יתֶ ָ ֑‬
‫י מנ ְׁשמַ ָ֥‬
 125
‫ף־ברי‬ְ ְ֭ ַ‫ יא א‬1 Also this
‫יַטְ ּ֣ריחַ עָ ֑ב‬ Makes my heart tremble,
‫ ָֹ֝י ֗פיץ‬Has it jump
:‫אֹורֹו‬
ֶֽ ‫עֲנַ ַּֽ֣ן‬ From its place.

‫ יב וְ ֤הּוא ְמסבַ֨ ֹות ׀‬2 Do closely listen to His thunder’s voice,

ֶֽ ָ ]‫בּוֹלתיו‬
‫לְפע ֳָל֑ם‬ ּ֣ ָ ְ‫בּוֹלתו [ ְבתַ ח‬
ּ֣ ָ ‫ מ ְתהַ פְּ֣ך בְ תַ ְח‬The instruction
‫֖כל ֲא ֶ ָׁ֥שר יְצַ ֶּׁ֓ום ׀‬ Which leaves His mouth.
:‫ַעל־פְ נ֖י ת ּ֣בל ָ ֶֽא ְרצָ ה‬
3 Under all the sky
He makes it seen;
‫יג אם־לְ ָׁ֥שבֶ ט אם־לְ אַ ְר ֑צֹו‬
And His light
‫אם־לְֹ֝ ֗ ֶחסֶ ד‬
On the ends of the earth.
:‫י ְַמצ ֶֽאהּו‬
4 After Him a vice roars,
‫ יד ַ ֶֽהאֲזּ֣ינָה ּ֣זאת אי֑ ֹוב‬It thunders
‫ֹ֝ ֲע ֗מד‬ In His mighty voice;
:‫בֹונַֽן ׀ נפְ לְ ֬אֹות ֶֽאל‬ ֤ ‫ וְ ה ְת‬He does not restrain,
To make sure that His voice is heard.
‫טו ְ֭ ֲהתדַ ע‬
‫יה֑ם‬
ֶ ‫ בְ ֶֽשּום־ ֱאלּ֣ ֹוּהַ עֲל‬5 God thunders in His voice,
‫הֹופי ַע‬
֗ ‫ְֹ֝ו‬ He does wonders,
:‫ ּ֣אֹור ֲענָנֶֽ ֹו‬Great things
And unknown ones.
‫טז ְ֭ ֲהתדַ ע‬
‫י־ע֑ב‬
ָ ‫ ַעל־מפְ ְלש‬6 For to snow
‫ֹ֝מפְ לְ ֗אֹות‬ He says: be on land,
:‫ ְת ּ֣מים ד ֶֽעים‬And flowing rain;
Showers,
‫יז ֲאׁשֶ ר־בְ ג ֶָדָ֥יך חַ ֑מים‬ His mighty downpours.
‫בְ הַ ְׁש ָ֥קט ֹ֝ ֗אֶ ֶרץ‬
:‫ מדָ ֶֽרֹום‬7 One every human’s want he seals,
To know
‫יח תַ ְר ּ֣קי ַע ְ֭עמֹו‬ Everybody’s work.
‫ל ְׁשחָ ֑קים‬
‫ ֹ֝ ֲחז ָ֗קים‬8 A wild animal comes like in ambush;
:‫מּוצק‬ֶֽ ָ ‫ כ ְר ָ֥אי‬It dwells in its residences.

‫ יט ֖הֶֹֽודיענּו‬9 From the Chamber

‫ה־נאמַ ר ל֑ ֹו‬ ּ֣ ַ‫מ‬ Comes storm
‫א־נע ֲ֗רְך‬ ֶֽ ַ ֹ֝ ‫ ָ֥ל‬And from energetics freezing.
:‫י־חׁשֶ ְך‬ ֶֽ ‫ מפְ נ‬10 From God’s blowing He gives ice,
The width of waters congealed.
‫כ ַ ֶֽה ְי ֻספַר־ל֖ ֹו‬
‫ּ֣כי אֲדַ ב֑ר‬
‫ם־אמַ ר ֹ֝ ֗איׁש‬ ָ֥ ָ ‫א‬
:‫ּ֣כי ְיב ָ ֶֻֽלע‬
 126
11 Alsoclearing
He removes darkness;
The cloud will spread
His light.

12 It
changes directions,
Turns for its actions by His intent,
All as He commanded
Over the dry earth’s land.

13 Iffor the rod, if for its land,

If for grace,
It will find it.

14 Listen
to this, Job,
Stand
And contemplate God’s wonders.

15 Doyou know
When God charged them
And His cloud’s light
Did appear?

16 Doyou know
About suspension of cloud banks,
The wonders
Of the Perfectly Knowing.

17 Whenyour clothing is hot,

When the land becomes quiet
From the South.

18 Can you spread with Him

The sky,
Strong
Like a molten mirror.

19 Informme
What would you say to Him?
We could not argue
In darkness.

20 Should
He be told
What I am saying;
Would a man speak
To be devoured?
 127
21 But now they could not see light. ‫עַתה ׀ לא ָ ֤ראּו ֗אֹור‬ ֤ ָ ְ‫כא ו‬
Clearing is ‫בָ ּ֣היר ְ֭הּוא‬
The sky; ‫בַ ְש ָח ֑קים‬
Wind passed by ‫וְ ָ֥רּוחַ ֶֹֽ֝ ָעבְ ָ ֗רה‬
And cleansed it. :‫ו ְַת ַ ֶֽטה ֲֶֽרם‬
22 From the North
‫כב ְ֭מצָ פֹון‬
Gold is brought,37
‫ז ָָהּ֣ב ֶ ֶֽיא ֶ ֱ֑תה‬
On God
ַ‫ל־אֱ ֗לֹוּה‬
ֹ֝ ַ‫ע‬
Is awful majesty.
:‫נּ֣ ָֹורא ֶֽהֹוד‬
23 Did
we not find the Almighty
In an abundance of power; ‫א־מצָ אנֻהּו‬ ְ ְ֭ ‫כג ׁשַ ַדּ֣י ֶֽל‬
Would He not answer ‫יא־כ ַח‬
֑ ‫שַ ג‬
Judgment and perfect equity? ‫ּומ ְׁשפָ ָ֥ט וְ רב־צְֹ֝ דָ ֗ ָקה‬
:‫ּ֣לא ְיע ֶַנֶֽה‬
23 Therefore
Mankind has to fear Him.
‫כד ְָ֭לכן‬
Should not all wise in their hearts
‫יְר ּ֣אּוהּו ֲאנ ָׁ֑שים‬
Fear him?
‫א־י ְר ֗ ֶאה‬
ֹ֝ ‫ל‬
:‫י־לב‬
ֶֽ ‫כָל־ ַחכְ מ‬

37:2 Arabic ‫“ רגז‬to thunder”.

37::6 ‫ גשם‬ïs that which flows (Canaanite); ‫ מטר‬is rain (Accadic).

37:9 Arabic ‫“ מזר‬to be energetic”.

37:11 ‫“ ברי‬cleansing”. ‫ טרח‬Arabic “to cleanse,to eliminate

”.
 ‫‪128‬‬

‫‪Chapter 38‬‬

‫יא וָא ֗ ַמר‬ ‫ת־איֹוב‬

‫ַד־פה תְָ֭ בֹוא‬ ‫ע ּ֣‬
‫וְ ּ֣לא ת ֑סיף‬
‫ּופא ָֹ֝י ׁ֗שית‬
‫ָ֥‬
‫בגְ ָ֥אֹון ג ֶ ֶַֽליך‪:‬‬
‫א ו ַַיֶֽעַ ן־יהוּ֣ ה אֶ ְ֭‬
‫ָ֥מנ׀הַ סְ ע ָ ָ֗רה [ ָ֥מן ׀ ַהסְ ע ָ ָ֗רה]‬
‫אמר‪:‬‬‫וַי ַ ֶֽ‬
‫ב ֤מי ֶַ֨זה ׀‬
‫מַ חְ ׁ֖שיְך עצָ ָ֥ה בְ מ ֗לין‬
‫י־דעַת‪:‬‬‫ְ ֶֽבל ָ ֶֽ‬

‫ג אֱ זָר־נָ ּ֣א כְ גֶ ּ֣בֶ ר ֲחל ֶָצ֑יך‬

‫ְֹ֝ואֶ ְׁשאָ לְ ֗ך‬
‫יעני‪:‬‬ ‫וְ הֹוד ֶֽ‬

‫יפה הְָ֭ ייתָ‬

‫ד א ּ֣‬
‫י־א ֶרץ‬ ‫בְ יָסְ ד ָ ֑‬
‫הַֹ֝ ֗גד‬
‫אם־י ַ ָָ֥דעְ תָ ב ָינֶֽה‪:‬‬
‫י־שם ְ֭ ְממַ דֶ יהָ‬
‫ה מ ָ ּ֣‬
‫ּ֣כי ת ָ ֑דע‬
‫֤אֹו ֶֽמי־נ ָ ָ֖טה ָעלֶ ּ֣יהָ ָ ֶֽקו‪:‬‬

‫ו עַ ל־מְָ֭ ה‬
‫אֲ דָ נֶ ּ֣יהָ הָ טְ בָ ֑עּו‬
‫י־י ָ ֗רה‬
‫ָ֥אֹו ֶֽמ ָֹ֝ ֶֽ‬
‫ֶ ּ֣אבֶ ן פנ ָ ֶָֽתּה‪:‬‬

‫ז בְ ָרן־ ְַ֭יחַ ד‬
‫כּ֣ ֹוכְ בי ֑בקֶ ר‬
‫ֹ֝ ַוי ָ֗ריעּו‬
‫ֹלהים‪:‬‬
‫כָל־בְ נָ֥י ֱא ֶֽ‬

‫ח וַיָ ּ֣סֶ ְך בדְ ל ַ ָּ֣תים יָ ֑ם‬

‫יחֹו‬
‫בְֹ֝ ג ֗‬
‫מ ֶ ָ֥רחֶ ם י ֶֽצא‪:‬‬

‫שּומי עָנָ ַּֽ֣ן לְ ב ֻׁ֑שֹו‬

‫ט בְ ּ֣‬
‫ַֹ֝ ֶֽוע ֲָרפֶ֗ ל‬
‫חֲתֻ ל ֶָֽתֹו‪:‬‬

‫י ָוֶֽאֶ ְׁש ּ֣בר ָעלָ ּ֣יו ח ֻ֑קי‬

‫ָֹ֝ ֶֽואָ ֗שים‬
‫בְ ּ֣ריחַ ּודְ ל ָ ֶָֽתים‪:‬‬
 129
‫ יב ְ֭ ֲהמיָמֶ יך‬1 The Eternal answered Job
‫צּוּ֣יתָ ֑בקֶ ר‬ Out of the storm
:‫י ַ ֖דעְ תָ הַ ַ ּ֣שחַ ר [י ַ ֖דעְ תָ ה הַ ַ ּ֣שחַ ר] ְמק ֶֽמֹו‬ And said:
2 Who is this,
‫יג ְֶ֭ל ֱאחז‬
Who darkens counsel by words
‫בְ ַכנְפּ֣ ֹות הָ ָ ֑א ֶרץ‬
Without meaning?
:‫וְ י ָ ֶֽנע ֲ֖רּו ְרׁשָ ּ֣עים מ ֶ ֶֽמנָה‬
3 Please, gird your loins like a man;
‫ יד ְ֭ת ְתהַ פְך‬I shall ask you
‫חֹותם‬
֑ ָ ‫כְ ּ֣חמֶ ר‬ And you shall inform Me.
‫ְֹ֝ו ֶֽי ְתיַצְ ב֗ ּו‬
4 Where were you
:‫כְ ּ֣מֹו לְ ֶֽבּוׁש‬
When I founded earth;
Tell
‫אֹורם‬
֑ ָ ‫טו וְ ימָ נַ ּ֣ע מ ְרׁשָ ּ֣עים‬
If you know insight
‫ּוז ְָ֥רֹו ַע ֹ֝ ָר ֗ ָמה‬
:‫תשָ ֶֽבר‬ 5 Who determined its dimensions,
What do you know?
ָ‫ טז ְ֭ ֲהבָ את‬Or who put a measuring line over it?
‫עַד־נבְ כי־יָ ֑ם‬
‫ ּובְ ָ֥חקֶ ר ְֹ֝ת ֗הֹום‬6 On what
: ָ‫ה ְת ַה ָ ֶֽלכְ ת‬ Are its sockets sunk,
Or who threw
‫יז הֲנגְ לּ֣ ּו ְ֭ ְלך‬ Its corner stone?
‫י־מוֶת‬ ֑ ָ ‫ַ ֶֽׁשעֲר‬
9 When the morning stars
‫וְ ַ ֶֽׁשע ֲ֖רי צַ לְ ָ ּ֣מוֶת‬
Sang together
:‫ת ְר ֶ ֶֽאה‬ And all God’s creation
Jubilated.
ָ‫יח ְ֭ה ְתב ַננְת‬
‫י־א ֶרץ‬
֑ ָ ‫ַד־רחֲב‬ ֶֽ ַ ‫ע‬ 8 And fenced in the sea in doors,
‫ הַֹ֝ ֗גד‬When it broke out
:‫אם־י ַ ָָ֥דעְ תָ כ ָ ֶֻֽלּה‬ Coming from the womb.

‫ יט אי־זֶ ּ֣ה הְַ֭ דֶ ֶרְך‬9 When I gave it cloud as its garment

And dark mist
‫ָן־אֹור‬
֑ ‫י ְׁשכ‬
Its diapers.
‫ְֹ֝ו ֗חׁשֶ ְך‬
:‫אי־זֶ ָ֥ה ְמק ֶֽמֹו‬ 10 And I broke my rule over it,
Put down
‫כ ּ֣כי ְ֭תקָ חֶ נּו‬ Bar and doors.
‫אֶ ל־גְ בּול֑ ֹו‬
‫ וְ ָ֥כי תָֹ֝ בין‬11 And said,
:‫יתֹו‬
ֶֽ ‫יבֹות ב‬ ָ֥ ‫נְת‬ Up to here you come
But not farther,
ָ‫ כא ְָ֭ידַ עְ ת‬And here is border
‫י־אז תּוָל֑ד‬ ּ֣ ָ ‫כ‬ For your mighty waves.
:‫ּומסְ פַ ֖ר י ֶָמּ֣יך ַר ֶֽבים‬

ָ‫כב ְ֭ ֲהבָ את‬

 130
12 Haveyou ever ‫ל־אצְ ּ֣רֹות ָ ׁ֑שלֶג‬ ֶֽ ֶ‫א‬
Commanded morning? :‫וְ אֹוצְ ֖רֹות בָ ָ ּ֣רד ת ְר ֶ ֶֽאה‬
Do you know dawns place?
13 Toget hold
Of the ends of the earth
And shake criminals out from it,
14 Turning itself around
Like seal’s clay,
They will stand
Like garment.
15 And
deny criminals their light.
Any mighty arm
Will be broken.
16 Didyou come
To the springs of the sea,
Or walk
In exploring the depth?
17 Were the gates of Death
Revealed to you,
Or did you see
The gates of deepest shadow?
18 Did you meditate
About the width of earth,
Tell it,
If you know everything.
19 Onwhich way
Does light dwell,
Or darkness,
Where is its place?
20 That
you may take it
To its domain,
And certainly understand
The ways to its house.
21 Youare knowing this
Since then you were born,
The number of your days are so many.
22 Didyou come
To the stores of snow,
Or did you see the stores of hailstones,
 ‫‪131‬‬
‫אם־תָ ֖שים מ ְׁשטָ ּ֣רֹו בָ ָ ֶֽא ֶרץ‪:‬‬

‫ֶת־צ֑ר‬
‫כג אֲ ׁשֶ ר־חָ ַ ָ֥שכְ תי לְ ע ָ‬
‫לְ יָ֥ ֹום קְֹ֝ ָ ֗רב‬
‫ּומלְ חָ ָ ֶֽמה‪:‬‬

‫כד אי־זֶ ּ֣ה הְַ֭ דֶ ֶרְך‬

‫י ָ ּ֣חלֶק ֑אֹור‬
‫י־א ֶרץ‪:‬‬
‫יָפ֖ץ קָ ּ֣דים עֲל ָ ֶֽ‬

‫ַשטֶ ף ְתעָלָ ֑ה‬

‫כה ֶֽמי־פלַ ּ֣ג ל ֶ ּ֣‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ֗ ֶד ֶרְך‬
‫ַ ֶֽלחֲזָ֥יז קלֶֽ ֹות‪:‬‬

‫כו ְ֭ ְלהַ ְמטיר‬

‫א־איׁש‬
‫ל־א ֶרץ ֶֽל ֑‬ ‫עַ ֶ ּ֣‬
‫ֹ֝מדְ ֗ ָבר‬
‫ֶֽלא־אָ ָדָ֥ם ֶֽבֹו‪:‬‬
‫ּומׁש ָ ֑אה‬
‫כז לְ הַ ְש ּ֣בי ַע ׁ֖שאָ ה ְ‬
‫ּוֹ֝ לְ הַ צְ ֗מיחַ‬
‫ּ֣מצָ א ֶ ֶֽדׁשֶ א‪:‬‬

‫כח הֲיׁש־לַמָ ָטָ֥ר ָ ֑אב‬

‫י־ה ֹ֗וליד‬ ‫ָ֥אֹו מ ֹ֝‬
‫י־טל‪:‬‬ ‫אֶ גְ ל ָ ֶֽ‬

‫כט מ ֶבּ֣טֶ ן ְ֭מי‬

‫י ָָצּ֣א הַ ָ ֑ק ַרח‬
‫ּוכְ ָ֥פר ֹׁ֝שָ ֗ ַמים‬
‫ּ֣מי יְ ל ֶָֽדֹו‪:‬‬

‫ל ְָ֭כאֶ בֶ ן‬
‫ַמּ֣ים י ְתחַ ָב֑אּו‬
‫ּופְ נָ֥י ְֹ֝ת ֗הֹום‬
‫י ְתל ָ ֶַֽכדּו‪:‬‬

‫לא הְַ֭ ְתקַ שר‬

‫ימה‬
‫ַ ֶֽמעֲדַ נּ֣ ֹות כ ָ ֑‬
‫ֹו־מ ְׁשכ֖ ֹות כְ ּ֣סיל ְתפ ֶַֽתחַ ‪:‬‬ ‫ֶֽא ֶֽ‬

‫לב הֲת ּ֣ציא מַ ז ָּ֣רֹות בְ ע ֑תֹו‬

‫ְֹ֝ועַ֗ יׁש‬
‫עַ ל־בָ נֶ ָ֥יהָ תַ ְנ ֶֽחם‪:‬‬

‫לג ְ֭ ֲהיָדַ עְ תָ‬

‫ח ֻּ֣קֹות ׁשָ ָמ֑ים‬
132

23 Which I saved for times of need,

For the day of fight
And war?
24 Inwhich way
Is light being split,
Is East [dawn] distributed on earth?
25 Who cleft a channel for the downpour,
Or a way
For the thundershower?
26Tomake rain
On a people-less land,
A desert
Without humans in it.
27 To satisfy emptiness
And wilderness,
To let sprout
The seeds of meadows.
28 Doesthe rain have a father,
Or who gave birth
To the moisture of dew?
29 From whose womb
Came the ice;
Sky’s frost
Who gave birth to?
30 Likea stone
Water congealed;
Before an abyss
It congealed.
31 Mayyou bind
The Pleiades’s blinking
Or unbind Orion’s ropes?
32 Mayyou bring of stars on time,
And the North Star
Lead together with its satellites?
33 Doyou know
The laws of heaven,
And enforce their writ on earth?
 133

34 Areyou able to lift your voice to the cloud ‫לד הֲתָ ּ֣רים לָעָ ּ֣ ב קולך‬
So that abundant water covers you? :‫עַת־מָ֥ים ְתכ ֶ ֶַֽס ָך‬
ַ ְ‫ְ ֶֽוׁשפ‬
35 May you send lighting and it goes,
‫לה ַ ֶֽה ְתׁשַ לַ ּ֣ח בְ ָר ּ֣קים וְ יל֑כּו‬
Saying to you, here we are.
:‫אמ ֖רּו לְ ךּ֣ הנֶֽנּו‬ ְ ‫וְ ֶֽי‬
36 Whoput
Wisdom into kidneys, ‫לו מי־ׁשְָ֭ ת‬
Or Who gave insight to the heart? ‫בַ ט ֻּ֣חֹות ָחכְ ָ ֑מה‬
:‫ַשכְ וי ב ָינֶֽה‬ּ֣ ֶ ‫֤אֹו ֶֽמי־נ ַ ָ֖תן ל‬
37 Whocould count the sky in wisdom;
Who could pour out
‫לז ֶֽמי־יְ סַ פּ֣ר ְׁשחָ ּ֣קים בְ חָ כְ ָ ֑מה‬
Heaven’s water skeins?
‫וְ נבְ לָ֥י ֹׁ֝שָ ֗ ַמים‬
38 When dust is being poured :‫ּ֣מי י ְַׁש ֶֽכיב‬
Into bars
And lumps of earth cling together? ‫לח בְ ֶצּ֣קֶ ת ְָ֭עפָר‬
‫ַמּוצ֑ק‬ ָ ‫ל‬
39 Are you able to catch the lioness’s pray
:‫ְּורג ָָ֥בים ְיד ָ ֶֻֽבקּו‬
Fill the appetite of her cubs,
‫לט הֲתָ ּ֣צּוד לְ ל ָּ֣ביא ָט ֶ֑רף‬
40 For
they are lying down in the dens,
They stay in the hiding place as in ambush. :‫וְ חַ יַ ֖ת כְ פ ּ֣ירים ְתמַ ֶֽלא‬

41 Who prepared the raven’s meal? ‫מ כי־י ָָׁ֥שחּו בַ ְמעֹונ֑ ֹות‬

For its child [children] :‫מֹו־א ֶרב‬
ֶֽ ָ ְ‫י ְֶֽׁש ֖בּו בַ סֻכָ ּ֣ה ל‬
Are praying to God;
They would be clueless ‫מא ֤מי י ָָ֥כין לָע ֗רב ִ֫צ ָ֥ידֹו‬
Without food. ]‫י־ילָדָ ו [ ְ֭ ְילָדָ יו‬
ְ ְ֭ ‫ֶֽכ‬
‫ל־אל יְׁשַ ּו֑עּו‬
ּ֣ ֶ‫א‬
‫ֹ֝י ְת ֗עּו‬
:‫י־אכֶל‬ ֶֽ ‫לבְ ל‬
38:30 Translated following R. Saadya Gaon: ‫“ יתחבאו‬congeal”.

38:31 Arabic ‫“ עדן‬to smoke”, this root’s meaning in standard Hebrew is found in Arabic as ‫“ ע֗ דן‬delicacies”.

38:32 ‫ מזרות‬is read as ‫מזלות‬.

38:36 ‫ טוחות‬as kidneys follows the Targum.

 ‫‪134‬‬

‫‪Chapter 39‬‬

‫א ֲהי ֗ ַָדעְ תָ ְ֭עת‬

‫י־סלַע‬
‫לֶ ּ֣דֶ ת ַ ֶֽיעֲל ָ ֑‬
‫חל֖ל אַ יָלּ֣ ֹות ת ְׁש ֶֽמר‪:‬‬

‫ב תסְ ּ֣פר יְ ָר ּ֣חים ְתמַ לֶ ֑אנָה‬

‫ְֹ֝וי ֗ ַָדעְ תָ‬
‫עּ֣ת לדְ ָ ֶֽתנָה‪:‬‬

‫ג ְ֭תכְ ַרעְ נָה‬

‫יהּ֣ן ְת ַפלַ ֑חְ נָה‬
‫יַלְ ד ֶ‬
‫יהָ֥ם ְתׁשַ ַ ֶֽלחְ נָה‪:‬‬ ‫חֶ בְ ל ֶ‬

‫ד יַחְ לְ ּ֣מּו ְ֭ ְבניהֶ ם‬

‫י ְר ּ֣בּו בַ ָב֑ר‬
‫ָֹ֝ ֶֽיצְ ֗אּו‬
‫א־ׁשבּו ָ ֶֽלמֹו‪:‬‬
‫וְ ל ָ ָ֥‬

‫ה ֶֽמי־ׁשלַ ּ֣ח פֶ ֶּ֣רא חָ פְ ׁ֑שי‬

‫ּומסְ ָ֥רֹות ֹ֝ ָע ֗רֹוד‬
‫ֶֽ‬
‫ּ֣מי פ ֶֽתחַ ‪:‬‬

‫יתֹו‬
‫ר־ש ְמתי ע ֲָר ָבּ֣ה ב ֑‬
‫ו אֲ ׁשֶ ַ ּ֣‬
‫נֹותיו ְמ ֶֽלחָ ה‪:‬‬‫ּוֶֽ מ ְׁשכְ ָ ָ֥‬

‫ז ְ֭י ְשחַ ק‬
‫ַ ֶֽלה ֲּ֣מֹון ק ְריָ ֑ה‬
‫ְתׁשֻ ָ֥אֹות נֹ֝ ֹ֗וגש‬
‫ּ֣לא י ְׁש ָ ֶֽמע‪:‬‬

‫יְתּור הָ ּ֣רים מ ְרע֑הּו‬ ‫ח ּ֣‬

‫וְ אַ ַח֖ר כָל־י ָּ֣רֹוק ידְ ֶֽרֹוׁש‪:‬‬

‫ט ה ֲּ֣יאבֶ ה ּ֣רים ָעבְ ֶ ֑דך‬

‫אם־ ָֹ֝י ֗לין‬
‫ֲבּוסך‪:‬‬
‫עַ ל־א ֶ ֶֽ‬

‫ר־רים‬
‫י הֲתקְ ׁשָ ְ֭‬
‫בְ ֶ ּ֣תלֶם עֲב ֑תֹו‬
‫אם־יְ שַ ֖דד עֲמָ ּ֣קים ַ ֶֽאח ֶ ֲֶֽריך‪:‬‬

‫ח־בֹו‬
‫יא הֲתבְ טַ ֖‬
‫י־רב כ ֑חֹו‬‫כ ַ ּ֣‬
‫יעך‪:‬‬
‫וְ ַ ֶֽתע ֲ֖זב אלָ ּ֣יו ְיג ֶ ֶֽ‬
 135
1 Do you know the time
‫ַף־רנָנָ֥ים ֶנע ֱָל֑סָ ה‬ ְ ‫יג כְ נ‬ Of birthing of rock’s ibex,
‫אם־אֶֹ֝ בְ ָ ֗רה‬ Can you supervise the calving of the hind?
:‫ידה וְ נ ָ ֶֽצה‬ ָ֥ ָ ‫חֲס‬
2 Do you count the months they fulfill;
Then you would know
ָ‫י־תע ֲּ֣זב ל ָ ָּ֣א ֶרץ ב ֶצ֑יה‬ ֶֽ ַ ‫יד כ‬
The time of their birth.
:‫ְ ֶֽו ַעל־עָפָ ָ֥ר ְתחַ ֶֽמם‬
3 They kniel down,
‫טו ְַ֭ות ְׁשכַח‬ Their young split,
ָ‫זּורה‬֑ ֶ ‫י־רגֶל ְת‬ ּ֣ ֶ ‫כ‬ They expel their pregnancies.
: ָ‫דּוׁשה‬ֶֽ ֶ ‫וְ חַ יַ ֖ת הַ שָ ֶ ּ֣דה ְת‬
4 Their offspring become healthy,
They grow in the wild,
‫א־לּ֑ה‬
ָ ‫טז הקְ ּׁ֣שיחַ בָ נֶ ּ֣יהָ לְ ל‬
They leave,
:‫י־פחַ ד‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫לְ ֖ריק ְיגיעָ ּּ֣ה ְבל‬ Not to return.
‫ יז ֶֽכי־ה ָ ּ֣שּה ֱאלּ֣ ֹוּהַ חָ כְ ָ ֑מה‬5 Who set free the onager?
‫א־חלַק ֹ֝ ֗ ָלּה‬
ָ֥ ָ ‫ וְ ל‬Who opened
:‫בַ ב ָינֶֽה‬ The fetters of the arod,

‫ יח ְָ֭כעת‬6 For whom I gave the prairie as its house,

And as its dwelling place the salt-flats.
‫בַ מָ ּ֣רֹום תַ ְמ ֑ריא‬
‫ת ְש ַחָ֥ק ֹ֝ ַל ֗סּוס‬
7 It laughs
:‫ּולְ ֶֽרכְ ֶֽבֹו‬ At the throngs in a city;
It will not hear
‫בּורה‬ ֑ ָ ְ‫יט הֲת ּ֣תן ל ַּ֣סּוס ג‬ A driver’s shout.
:‫ָארֹו ַרעְ ָ ֶֽמה‬ ּ֣ ‫הֲתַ לְ ֖ביׁש צַ ּו‬
8 It desires its pasture on mountains
‫ כ ְ֭ ֲהתַ ְרעיׁשֶ נּו‬And will pick out any greenery.
‫ָ ֶֽכאַ ְר ֶב֑ה‬
9 Would the bison agree to serve you,
:‫ימה‬ ֶֽ ָ ‫ ֖הֹוד נַחְ ּ֣רֹו א‬And stay
By your feeding-trough?
‫כא יַחְ פְ ּ֣רּו בְָ֭ עמֶ ק‬
ַ‫וְ י ָּ֣שיש ְב ּ֣כח‬ 10 Are you able to tie the bison
‫ֹ֝י ֗צא‬ By ropes to the furrow?
:‫את־נֶֽׁשֶ ק‬
ָ ‫לקְ ַר‬ Would it straighten out depressions after you?

‫ כב י ְש ַחּ֣ק ְ֭ ְל ַפחַ ד‬11 Could you rely on it,

‫וְ ּ֣לא י ָח֑ת‬ For its force certainly is great,
‫וְ ָ֥לא ָֹ֝י ׁ֗שּוב‬ And abandon to him your efforts?
:‫י־ח ֶרב‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫מפְ נ‬

‫כג ְָ֭עלָיו‬
‫ת ְרנֶ ּ֣ה אַ ְׁשפָ ֑ה‬
:‫לַ ֖הַ ב חֲנּ֣ית וְ כ ֶֽידֹון‬ ‫אֲמין ֖בֹו‬ ּ֣ ‫יב ה ַ ֲֶֽת‬
‫כי־י ָּׁ֣שוב [י ָּׁ֣שיב] ז ְַרעֶ ֑ך‬
:‫ְ ֶֽוג ְָרנְ ךָ֥ ֶי ֱא ֶֽסף‬
136

12 Canyou trust it,

That it returns [will return] your seed
And gather in your threshing?
13 The wing of the she-ostrich is spread out,
As if her pinions were
Of stork or falcon.
14 Really
she leaves its eggs on the ground
To be heated on the dust.
15 It
forgets
That a leg will crush them
And a wild animal trample on them.
16 She
is hard to its offspring as not hers,
Without fear labors for nothing.
17 ForGod made her forget wisdom
And did not give her part
In insight.
18 In
the time
That she lifts herself up
She makes fun of horse
And its rider.
19 Areyou giving strength to the horse,
Can you clothe its neck with fear.
20 Canyou make it make noise
Like a locust?
His majestic snort: fear.
21 They paw forcefully;
It enjoys force,
Goes out
Towards weapons.
22 It
laughs at fear,
Will not be afraid,
And will not turn
In front of a sword.
23 Onit
The quiver sounds,
Flaming lance and javelin.
 137
With noise and anger
24 ‫כד בְ ַ ּ֣רעַ ש ְ֭ ְורגֶז‬
It faces the ground, ‫א־א ֶרץ‬
֑ ָ ֶ‫יְ גַמ‬
Does not believe ‫אֲמין‬֗ ‫א־י‬
ֶֽ ַֹ֝ ‫וְ ֶֽל‬
Even the sound of the horn. :‫ׁשֹופר‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫י־קֹול‬ ָ֥ ‫כ‬
25 Forthe horn
It will say “hey”; ‫כה בְ ֤די ׁש ַ֨ ָפר ׀‬
From far away ‫אמ֤ר הֶ ֗ ָאח‬ ַ ‫י‬
It smells war, ‫ּוְ֭ מ ָרחֹוק‬
The noised of commanders ‫י ָּ֣ריחַ מלְ חָ ָ ֑מה‬
And shouting. ‫ַ ָ֥רעַם ֹ֝שָ רים‬
:‫רּועה‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫ּות‬
ְ
26 Maybe because of your insight
Does the falcon soar,
‫כו ְ֭ ֲהמבינָ ְּ֣תך‬
Spreads its wing [wings] towards South? ‫ַיֶֽאֲ בֶ ר־נ֑ץ‬
27 Or by your orders :‫ימן‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫יפְ ֖רש כְ נָפָ ּ֣ו [כְ נָפָ ּ֣יו] לְ ת‬
Does the eagle fly high
Or ‫ל־פיך‬ ְ֭ ‫כז אם־ ַע‬
Build its nest high up? ‫יַגְ ּ֣ביּהַ נָ ׁ֑שֶ ר‬
‫ְֹ֝ו ֗כי‬
28 It
dwells on a rock,
And lodges, :‫י ָָ֥רים קנֶֽ ֹו‬
On a rocky crag
As fortress. ‫כח ֶ ּ֣סלַע ְ֭י ְׁשכן‬
‫וְ י ְתֹלנָ ַֽ֑ן‬
29From there ‫ן־סֶ לַע‬ ֗ ֹ֝ ֶ‫ַ ֶֽעל־ׁש‬
It spies food; :‫צּודה‬ֶֽ ָ ‫ּומ‬ ְ
Far away
Its eyes will gaze. ‫כט ְ֭משָ ם‬
‫ָחּ֣פַר ֑אכֶל‬
30 Andits young one[s] suck up blood,
‫לְֹ֝ מ ָר ֗חֹוק‬
Where there are corpses
There it is. :‫עינָ ָ֥יו י ֶַֽביטּו‬

ָ ְ‫ל וְ אֶ פְ ר ָחָ֥ו [וְ אֶ פְ ר ָחָ֥יו] ְי ַעל‬

‫עּו־ד֑ם‬
‫ּובאֲ ֶ ָׁ֥שר ֹ֝ ֲחל ָ֗לים‬
ֶֽ ַ
:‫ָ ּׁ֣שם ֶֽהּוא‬

39:3 Arabic ‫“ פלח‬to split”; ‫“ חבל‬to conceive”.

39:5 ‫ ערוד‬either is the onager or a poisonous snake.

39:9 This ‫ רים‬is not the Arabic oryx but the Accadic wild ox.

39:10 ‫ שדד שד‬Arabic “to straighten out” (= to harrow the ground”).

39:18 An ostrich can outrun a horse.

39:19 Translated following R. Saadya Gaon.

 138
39:21 ‫ עמק‬in Ugarit (Canaanite) is not only “valley” but “force”.
 ‫‪139‬‬

‫‪Chapter 40‬‬

‫אמר‪:‬‬
‫א וַיַ ֖עַ ן יהוָ֥ ה אֶ ת־אי֗ ֹוב וַי ַ ֶֽ‬

‫ב ְ֭ ֲהרב‬
‫עם־ׁשַ ַדּ֣י י ֑סֹור‬
‫מֹוכיחַ ֱאלּ֣ ֹוּהַ ַ ֶֽיע ֶ ֲֶֽננָה‪:‬‬
‫֖‬

‫ג וַיַ ֖עַ ן איָ֥ ֹוב אֶ ת־ ְיה ֗ ָוה‬

‫אמר‪:‬‬ ‫וַי ַ ֶֽ‬

‫ד ּ֣הן קְַ֭ ֹּלתי‬

‫יב ָך‬
‫מָ ה ֲאׁש ֶ ֑‬
‫ָֹ֝י ֗די‬
‫מֹו־פי‪:‬‬
‫ַ ּ֣ש ְמתי לְ ֶֽ‬

‫ה אַ ַחּ֣ת ְ֭דבַ ְרתי‬

‫וְ ּ֣לא ֶ ֶֽאעֱנֶ ֑ה‬
‫ּוֹ֝ ְׁש ֗ ַתים‬
‫אֹוסיף‪:‬‬‫וְ ּ֣לא ֶֽ‬

‫ת־איֹוב‬
‫ו ו ַַיֶֽעַ ן־יְ הוָ ּ֣ה אֶ ְ֭‬
‫ָ֥מנסְ ע ָ ָ֗רה‬
‫אמר‪:‬‬‫וַי ַ ֶֽ‬

‫ז אֲ זָר־נָ ּ֣א כְ גֶ ּ֣בֶ ר ֲחל ֶָצ֑יך‬

‫אֶֹ֝ ְׁש ָ ֶֽאלְ ֗ך‬
‫יעני‪:‬‬ ‫וְ הֹוד ֶֽ‬

‫ח הְַ֭ אַ ף‬
‫תָ פּ֣ר מ ְׁש ָפ ֑טי‬
‫יעני‬ ‫תַֹ֝ ְרׁש ֗‬
‫לְ ַ ּ֣מ ַען תצְ ָ ֶֽדק‪:‬‬
‫ט וְ אם־ז ְ֖רֹו ַע כ ָָ֥אל ׀ לָ ְ֑ך‬
‫ּוֹ֝ בְ ֗קֹול‬
‫כ ָָ֥מהּו תַ ְר ֶֽעם‪:‬‬

‫י ע ֲָ֥דה נָ ּ֣א ג ָּ֣אֹון ו ָ֑ג ַבּה‬

‫וְ ֖הֹוד וְ הָ ָדּ֣ר תלְ ָ ֶֽבׁש‪:‬‬

‫יא הְָ֭ פץ‬

‫עֶ בְ ּ֣רֹות אַ פֶ ֑ך‬
‫ָל־ג ֗ ֶאה‬
‫ְּור ָ֥אה כ ֹ֝‬
‫ילהּו‪:‬‬ ‫וְ הַ ְׁשפ ֶֽ‬
 140
‫ָל־גאֶ ה‬
ְ֭ ‫יב ְר ּ֣אה כ‬ 1 The Eternal answered Job, saying:
‫הַ כְ ניע֑הּו‬
2 Is
it appropriate
:‫ַ ֶֽוה ֲ֖דְך ְרׁשָ ּ֣עים תַ ְח ָ ֶֽתם‬
To quarrel with the Almighty?
He who argues with God should answer.
‫יג טָ ְמנּ֣ם ֶ ֶֽבע ָָפּ֣ר יָ ֑חַ ד‬
‫יהם‬ ֶ ֗ ‫פְֹ֝ נ‬ 3 And Job answered the Eternal
:‫ח ֲּ֣בׁש בַ טָ ֶֽמּון‬ And said:
4 Behold, I am lightweight,
‫אֹוד ָך‬
֑ ֶ ‫יד וְ גַם־אֲנָ֥י‬
How can I respond to You,
:‫י־תֹוׁש ַע ְלךּ֣ יְמ ֶינֶַֽֽך‬
֖ ‫ֶֽכ‬
My hand
I put on my mouth.
‫טו הנה־נָ ּ֣א ְ֭ ְבהמֹות‬
‫ֲאׁשֶ ר־ ָע ּ֣שיתי ע ָ ֑מְך‬
5 I spoke once
‫חָֹ֝ ֗ציר‬
But will not answer,
:‫אכל‬
ֶֽ ‫כַבָ ָ ָ֥קר י‬ And twice
But will not add.
‫טז הנה־נָ ּ֣א כ ּ֣חֹו ְבמָ ְתנָ ֑יו‬
‫ְֹ֝ואנ֗ ֹו‬ 6 Then the Eternal answered Job
:‫ירי בטְ נֶֽ ֹו‬ ָ֥ ‫ב ְׁשר‬ In the storm
And said:
‫מֹו־א ֶרז‬
֑ ָ ְ‫יז יַחְ ּ֣פץ ְזנ ָּ֣בֹו כ‬
7 Please, gird your loins like a man;
:‫שרגּו‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫ידי ַ ֶֽפח ֲָדּ֣ו [ ַ ֶֽפח ֲָדּ֣יו] ְי‬
֖ ‫ ג‬I shall ask you
And you shall inform Me.
‫יח ְ֭ ֲעצָ מָ יו‬
‫חּוׁשה‬
֑ ָ ‫יקי ְנ‬ ּ֣ ‫אֲפ‬ 8 How do you
‫ְֹ֝ג ָר ֗ ָמיו‬ Want to annul my judgment,
:‫כ ְמ ָ֥טיל בַ ְר ֶזֶֽל‬ Declare me guilty
So you will be justified?
‫יט ֖הּוא‬
9 Is your arm like God’s
‫י־אל‬֑ ‫אׁשית דַ ְרכ‬ ּ֣ ‫ר‬
‫ הָֹ֝ עשֹו‬And do you thunder like Him
In sound?
:‫יַגָׁ֥ש חַ ְר ֶֽבֹו‬
10 Adorn yourself with majesty and height,
‫י־בּול‬ ְ֭ ‫ כ כ‬Also clothe yourself in glory and splendor.
‫הָ ּ֣רים י ְשאּו־ל֑ ֹו‬
‫ ְ ֶֽוכָל־חַ יַ ָ֥ת ַֹ֝השָ ֗ ֶדה‬11 Spread
:‫ֲקּו־ׁשם‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫ְי ַ ֶֽשח‬ The anger of your fury,
And when you see any haughty one,
‫ת־צ ֱאלָ֥ים י ְׁשכָ ֑ב‬ ֶֽ ֶ ַ‫כא ַ ֶֽתח‬ Humble him.
:‫בְ ֖סתֶ ר קָ נֶ ּ֣ה ּוב ָ ֶֽצה‬

‫כב ְיסֻכֻ ּ֣הּו צֶ ֱאלּ֣ים צלְ ל֑ ֹו‬

‫ֹ֝ ְיסֻב֗ ּוהּו‬
:‫י־נֶֽחַ ל‬
ָ ‫ע ְַרב‬

‫כג הן יעשק נהר‬

 141
12 When you see any haughty one, ‫ולּ֣ א יַחְ פ֑ ֹוז‬
Subdue him, ‫יבְ ֶׁ֓ ַטח ׀‬
And crush evildoers on the spot. :‫ל־פיהּו‬
ֶֽ ֶ‫ֶֽכי־יָג֖יחַ י ְַר ּ֣דן א‬
13 Cover them together in dust;
Their faces
Imprison in hiding.
14 ThenI also will praise you,
That your right arm will save you.

15 Please,behold Behemoth
Which I created with you;
Greenery
It eats like cattle.
16 Please,behold its force in its hips
And its power
In its belly’s muscles.
17 Hisswollen tail is like cedar;
The sinews of his testicle [testicles] intertwine.
18 Itsbones
Are tubes of brass,
Its skeleton
Like iron bars.
19 It
Was the start of God’s way,
Who made it
To present His sword.
20 For
animals
Of hills will lift for him
And all wild beasts
Will play there.
21 It
lies under lotus bushes
Hidden under reed and fen.
22 Lotus
bushes given it shade;
Brook willows
Surround it.
23 Behold, if the wadi is full of water
It will not fear,
He feels safe
When the Jordan reaches his mouth.
 142

24 Can one grab it by its eyes?

Can its nose be pierced ‫כד בְ עינָ ָ֥יו יקָ ֶח֑נּו‬
With barbs? ‫בְֹ֝ ֶֽמֹוקְ ׁ֗שים‬
:‫ב־אף‬ ֶֽ ָ ָ‫ינְ ק‬
25 Canyou draw Leviathan with a hook,
Or with a rope ‫כה ת ְמ ּׁ֣שְך לוְ י ָ ָּ֣תן בְ חַ כָ ֑ה‬
Hold down its tongue? ‫ּוֹ֝ בְ חֶ֗ בֶ ל‬
26 Can you put bulrush in his nose, :‫תַ ְׁש ָ֥קי ַע לְ ׁשנֶֽ ֹו‬
Or pierce his jaws
With a thorn? ‫כו הֲתָ ּ֣שים אַ גְ ּ֣מן בְ אַ פ֑ ֹו‬
ַ‫ּוֹ֝ בְ ֗חֹוח‬
27 Will
he plead with you :‫ת ָ֥קב ֶ ֶֽלחֱיֹו‬
Very much,,
Or speak to you softly? ‫כז ֲהי ְַר ֶבּ֣ה ְ֭אלֶיך‬
‫ַ ֶֽתחֲנּונ֑ים‬
28 Wouldhe conclude a covenant with you;
Could you take him :‫אם־יְ דַ ב֖ר אלֶ ּ֣יך ַרכֶֽ ֹות‬
As permanent slave?
‫כח הֲיכְ ּ֣רת בְ ּ֣רית ע ָ ֑מְך‬
29 Canyou play with him ‫ֹ֝תקָ חֶ֗ נּו‬
As with a bird? :‫עֹולם‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫לְ עֶ ּ֣ בֶד‬
Can you tie him down
For your girls? ‫ק־בֹו‬
֖ ֶ‫כט ַ ֶֽה ְתשַ ח‬
‫כַצפ֑ ֹור‬
30 Shall
companions
‫ְֹ֝ותקְ ְׁש ֶ ֗רנּו‬
Make a feast of him?
Could he be split :‫ֲרֹותיך‬
ֶֽ ֶ ‫לְ ַ ֶֽנע‬
Among traders?
‫ל יכְ ּ֣רּו ְָ֭עלָיו‬
31 Could you fill his skin with pins? ‫חַ בָ ֑רים‬
Or its head with shadow giving fish? ‫ֶֹ֝יח ֱ֗צּוהּו‬
:‫בּ֣ין כְ ַ ֶֽנע ֲֶֽנים‬
32 Put
your hand on him;
Remember war, ‫עֹורֹו‬
֑ ‫לא ַ ֶֽה ְתמַ לּ֣א בְ שֻ כּ֣ ֹות‬
Do not try again.
:‫אׁשֹו‬
ֶֽ ‫ּובְ צלְ ַצ֖ל דָ גּ֣ים ר‬

‫לב ֶֽשים־ ָעלָ ָ֥יו כַפֶ ֑ך‬

‫ז ְָ֥כר ֹ֝מלְ חָ ֗ ָמה‬
:‫ל־תֹוסף‬
ֶֽ ַ ַ‫א‬
40:12 ‫ הדך‬is translated following R. Saadia Gaon.
40:13 ‫ חבש‬ïs translated following Arabic ‫“ חבס‬to imprison”/
40:17 ‫חבץ‬, Accadic ‫“ ֗חבץ‬to be swollen”. The swollen tail is the penis, comparable to Oedipus’s swollen foot.
40:18 ‫ גרם‬is the Aramaic equivalent of Hebrew ‫עצם‬.
40:20 ‫בול‬: Accadic “animals” (both wild and domestic.)
40:23 ‫ עשק‬translated as Arabic ‫“ עטק‬attaches, forces, mixes with water”.
The Jordan in spring is full to its rim, Jos. 3:15.
 ‫‪143‬‬

‫‪Chapter 41‬‬

‫י־ׁשחַ ר‪:‬‬
‫כְ עַפְ עַפ ָ ֶֽ‬ ‫א הן־תחַ לְ ָ֥תֹו נכְ זָ ֑ ָבה‬
‫הֲגַ ֖ם אֶ ל־מַ ְר ָ ּ֣איו י ָ ֶֻֽטל‪:‬‬
‫יא ְ֭מפיו‬
‫ידים ַ ֶֽיהֲֹל֑ כּו‬ ‫לַפ ּ֣‬ ‫ב ֶֽלא־אְַ֭ כְ זָר‬
‫כ ָ֥ידֹודי ֹ֝ ֗אׁש‬ ‫עּורנּו‬ ‫ּ֣כי ְי ֶ ֑‬
‫י ְתמַ ָ ֶֽלטּו‪:‬‬ ‫ּומי ֹ֝ ֗הּוא‬
‫ָ֥‬
‫לְ פָנַ ָ֥י י ְתי ָ ֶַֽצב‪:‬‬

‫ג ּ֣מי ְ֭הקְ דימַ ני‬

‫ַוֶֽאֲׁשַ ל֑ם‬
‫י־הּוא‪:‬‬
‫ַ ֖תחַ ת כָל־הַ שָ ַמּ֣ים ל ֶֽ‬

‫־אח ֲָ֥ריׁש בַ ָד֑יו‬ ‫ד לא [לֹו] ַ ֶֽ‬

‫בּורֹות‬ ‫ר־ג ֗‬
‫ּודְ בַ ְֹ֝‬
‫וְ ּ֣חין ע ְֶרכֶֽ ֹו‪:‬‬

‫י־גלָה‬
‫ה ֶֽמ ְ֭‬
‫בּוׁשֹו‬
‫פְ נּ֣י לְ ֑‬
‫בְ כֶ ָ֥פֶ ל ֹ֝רסְ נ֗ ֹו‬
‫ּ֣מי י ֶָֽבֹוא‪:‬‬

‫ו דַ לְ ּ֣תי ְָ֭פנָיו‬
‫ּ֣מי פ ֑תחַ‬
‫ימה‪:‬‬
‫יבֹות ׁשנָ ּ֣יו א ָ ֶֽ‬ ‫סְ ב ֖‬

‫ז ְ֭ ַ ֶֽגאֲ וָה‬
‫יקי ָ ֶֽמגנ֑ים‬
‫אֲפ ּ֣‬
‫סָֹ֝ ג֗ ּור‬
‫חֹותם ָ ֶֽצר‪:‬‬
‫ָ ָ֥‬

‫ח אֶ ָחּ֣ד בְ אֶ ָחּ֣ד יגַ ׁ֑שּו‬

‫ְֹ֝ו ֗רּוחַ‬
‫יהם‪:‬‬
‫ֶֽלא־י ָָ֥בֹוא ֶֽבינ ֶ ֶֽ‬

‫ט ֶֽאיׁש־בְ אָ ָ֥חיהּו ְיד ָֻב֑קּו‬

‫ֹ֝י ְתלַכְ ד֗ ּו‬
‫וְ ּ֣לא י ְתפ ָ ֶָֽרדּו‪:‬‬
‫י ְ֭ ֲעטיׁשתָ יו‬
‫ָ ּ֣תהֶ ל ֑אֹור‬
‫ְֹ֝ועי ָ֗ניו‬
 144
‫יב ְ֭מ ְנח ָיריו‬ 1 So his expectation is disappointed,
‫יצּ֣א ָע ָ ׁ֑שן‬ When on his looks is gazed.
:‫כְ ֖דּוד נָפּ֣ ּוחַ וְ אַ גְ ֶֽמן‬
2 Would one not be heroic

‫יג ְַ֭נפְ ׁשֹו‬ To awake him,

‫גֶחָ לּ֣ים ְתלַה֑ט‬ Who is the one
‫ְֹ֝ו ַ֗להַ ב‬ Who would stand before him?
:‫מ ָ֥פיו י ֶֽצא‬
3 Who did precede Me

‫יד ְֶֽ֭ ְבצַ ּוָארֹו‬ That I should pay him

‫יָלּ֣ין ֑עז‬ Under the entire sky which is Mine?
‫ּוֹ֝ לְ ָפ ֗ ָניו‬
4 I shall not tear his armour into pieces,
:‫תָ ָ֥דּוץ דְ אָ ָ ֶֽבה‬
A matter of strength
And the value of its equipment.
‫טו מַ פְ לּ֣י בְ שָ ּ֣רֹו דָ ֑בקּו‬
‫י ָָ֥צּוק ֹ֝ ָע ָ֗ליו‬
5 Who could uncover
:‫בַ ל־י ֶֽמֹוט‬ His garment;
Who would come
‫טז ְ֭לבֹו‬ Into the fold of his halter?
‫מֹו־אבֶ ן‬
֑ ָ ְ‫י ָּ֣צּוק כ‬
‫ְֹ֝וי ָ֗צּוק‬ 6 Whoopened
:‫כְ פֶ ּ֣ לַח תַ ְח ֶֽתית‬ The doors of his face,
Around his teeth is fear.
‫יז ְ֭משתֹו‬
‫יָגּ֣ ּורּו אל֑ים‬ 7 Haughtiness
‫ֹ֝מ ְשבָ ֗רים‬ The flutes of shields,
:‫י ְתחַ ָ ֶֽטאּו‬ Closed
By tight seal.
‫יח מַ שיגּ֣הּו חְֶ֭ ֶרב‬
‫ בְ לּ֣י תָ ֑קּום‬8 They touch one another,
:‫ חֲנ֖ית מַ ָ ּ֣סע וְ ׁש ְר ָיֶֽה‬No wind
Will come between them.
‫יט יַחְ ּׁ֣שב לְ ֶ ּ֣תבֶ ן בַ ְרזֶ ֑ל‬
:‫חּוׁשה‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫ לְ ע֖ץ רקָ ּ֣בֹון ְנ‬9 One sticks to its brother,
They close ranks,
‫ן־קׁשֶ ת‬
֑ ָ ֶ‫יחָ֥נּו ב‬ ֶ ‫כ ֶֽלא־יַבְ ר‬ Would not be separated.
‫ לְֹ֝ ֗ ַקׁש‬10 His sneezing
:‫י־קלַע‬ ֶֽ ָ ‫נֶהְ פְ כּו־לָ֥ ֹו אַ ְבנ‬ Illuminates light
‫כא ְ֭ ְכקַ ׁש‬ And his eyes
‫תֹותח‬ ֑ ָ ‫נֶחְ ְׁש ּ֣בּו‬ Are like morning glow.
‫ְֹ֝וי ְש ֗ ַחק‬ 11 From his mouth
:‫לְ ַ ּ֣ר ַעׁש כ ֶֽידֹון‬ Spreads lightning
Like sparks of fire
‫כב תְַ֭ חְ תָ יו‬ They escape.
‫חַ ּ֣דּודי ָח ֶ֑רש‬
:‫י־טיט‬
ֶֽ ‫י ְרפַ ֖ד חָ ּ֣רּוץ עֲל‬
 145
12 From his nostrils
Issues smoke,
‫צּול֑ה‬
ָ ‫כג י ְַר ּ֣תיחַ כ ַּ֣סיר ְמ‬ Like bellows or pot.
‫ֹ֝֗ ָים‬
:‫י ָָ֥שים כַמֶ ְרקָ ָ ֶֽחה‬ 13 Hisbreathing
Fires coals,
‫כד ְ֭ ַ ֶֽאח ֲָריו‬ And flame
‫י ָּ֣איר נ ָ֑תיב‬ Pours out of his mouth.
:‫יבה‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫יַחְ ׁ֖שב ְת ּ֣הֹום ְלש‬ 14 In his neck
Strength is deposited
‫ כה ֶֽאין־ ַעל־ע ָָפָ֥ר מָ ְׁשל֑ ֹו‬And before him
‫ֶֹֽ֝ ֶה ָע ֗שּו‬ Dances perseverance.
:‫י־חת‬ ֶֽ ָ ‫לבְ ל‬
15 The folds of his flesh are tight,
‫ כו ֶֽאת־כָל־ג ָָ֥בּהַ י ְר ֶ ֑אה‬Poured on him,
‫ֹ֝ ֗הּוא‬ Immovable.
:‫י־ׁשחַ ץ‬
ֶֽ ָ ‫ָל־בנ‬ְ ‫ֶ ּ֣מלְֶך ַעל־כ‬ 16 His heart
Is poured like stone,
And poured
Like a lower millstone.
17 Powerfulones
Are afraid of his rage,
By probes
They go down.
18 Asword touches him,
Without consequence,
Lance, dart, and javelin.
19 Ironhe considers like straw,
Brass like rotten wood.
20 Thebow’s son will not make him flee;
For him slingstones
Are turned into chaff.
21 Like chaff
Is a bat considered by him;
He laughs at
The noise of a javelin.
22 Under him
Clay shards
He is padding, threshing in the mire.
 146

25 His dominion is not over dust,

It is established 23 Heheats the deep as in a cauldron,
Unbreakable. The ocean
26 He sees all that is high; He treats as ointment pot.
He is 24 Behindhim
King over all predators. The path is lucent;
He considers the abyss white haired.

41.1 Accadic ‫“ נטל‬to gaze”.

41.2 ‫“ אבזר‬strong, heroic" (Saadia).
41.4 Arabic ‫“ ח֗ רש‬to tear into pieces”. The Qere is “Would I tear . . .”.
41:5 The translation follows Saadia.
41:14 Arabic ‫“ דאב‬perseverance”.
41:16 The lower millstone is immovable.
41:17 Arabic ‫“ חט‬to go down”, ‫“ סבר‬to probe, examine”.
147
 148

Chapter 42

:‫אמר‬
ֶֽ ַ ‫א וַיַ ֖עַ ן איָ֥ ֹוב אֶ ת־יה֗ו֗ה וַי‬

]‫ב ְָ֭ידַ עְ ת [ ְָ֭ידַ עְ תי‬

‫י־כל תּוכָ ֑ל‬ ּ֣ ‫כ‬
1 Then Job answered the Eternal and said:
:‫וְ לא־יבָ צ֖ר מ ְמךּ֣ ְמז ָ ֶֽמה‬
2[I know]
That You are almighty, ‫ג ֤מי ֶַ֨זה ׀‬
No intent is impossible for You. ‫מַ עְ לָ֥ים ע ֗ ָצה ְ ֶֽב ִ֫לי ָ ָ֥דעַת‬
‫לָכּ֣ן ְ֭הגַדְ תי‬
3 “Who is this, ‫וְ ּ֣לא אָ ֑בין‬
Who hides counsel thinking?” ‫נפְ ל ָָ֥אֹות ֹ֝מ ֗ ֶמני‬
Therefore I declare :‫וְ ּ֣לא א ָ ֶֽדע‬
That I do not understand;
Wonders beyond me ‫ד ְ ֶֽׁש ַ ֶֽמע־ ְָ֭נא‬
Which I do not know. ‫וְ ָ ֶֽאנ ּ֣כי אֲדַ ב֑ר‬
‫אֶֹ֝ ְׁשאָ לְ ֗ך‬
4 “Listen please
And I will speak; :‫יעני‬ֶֽ ‫וְ הֹוד‬
I shall ask you
And you will tell me”. ‫ע־אזֶן ְׁשמַ עְ ֑תיך‬ ָ֥ ַ‫ה לְ ֶֽׁשמ‬
‫עַתה‬
ָ ֗ ‫ְֹ֝ו‬
5Iheard you by hearsay, :‫עינָ֥י ָר ָ ֶֽא ְתך‬
But now
My eye saw you. ‫ל־כן‬ְ֭ ַ‫ו ע‬
‫אֶ ְמ ַ ּ֣אס וְ נ ַח ְ֑מתי‬
6 Therefore
I will repent and be sorry :‫עַ ל־עָפָ ָ֥ר ו ֶָֽאפֶר‬
About dust and ashes.
 149

And it was after the Eternal said all these things
to Job that the Eternal said to Eliphas from
Teman: I am angry about you and your two
friends, for you did not speak as correctly about
Me as did My servant Job. So now take seven
bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job and
offer as elevation offering for yourselves. My
servant Job may pray for you since I will
consider him not to treat you ghastly, for you did
not speak as correctly about Me as My servant
Job. So Eliphas from Teman, Bildad from
Shuah, and Sofar from Naamah went and did
what the Eternal told them, and the Eternal did
consider Job. The Eternal changed Job’s fortune
because he prayed for his neighbor, and the
Eternal added everything that Job had in double.
Then all his male and female relatives and all his
former acquaintances came and ate with him in
his house, consoled and comforted him about all
the evil that the Eternal brought over him. Each
one gave him a Qesita and one gold ring. Then
the Eternal blessed the future of Job over what
he had earlier; so he had 14’000 sheep, 6’000
camels, 1’000 couples of bovines and 1’000 she-
donkeys. He had seven sons and three
daughters. He called the name of the first
Yemima, the second Cassia, and the third Horn
of Kohl. In the entire land there were no women
as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and he gave
them property together with their brothers.
After that Job lived 140 years; he saw his
children and grand-children, four generations.
Then Job died, old and satisfied with life.
‫ז וַיְ ֗הי אַ ַ֨ ַחר ד ֶבָּ֧ר ְיהוָ ִ֛ה אֶ ת־הַ דְ בָ ָ֥רים הָ ֖אלֶה אֶ ל־אי֑ ֹוב ו ַַ֨יאמֶ ר‬
‫יְ ה ֹ֝ ָוה אֶ ל־אֱליפַ ּ֣ז הַ ֶֽתימָ ֗ני חָ ָ ַ֨רה אַ ֤פי בְ ך ּוב ְׁשנּ֣י ר ֶ֗עיך ִ֠כי ּ֣לא‬
‫ ח וְ ע ִ֡ ַָתה קְ ֶֽחּו־לָכֶ ּ֣ ם ׁשבְ ָ ֶֽעה־‬:‫דבַ ְר ֶ ָ֥תם אלַ ִ֛י ְנכֹונָ ֖ה כְ ַעבְ ָ֥די איֶֽ ֹוב‬
‫יתם עֹולָה‬ ֤ ֶ ‫פָרים וְ ׁשבְ ַָ֨עה א ֹ֝ילים ּולְ כּ֣ ּו ׀ אֶ ל־ ַעבְ ּ֣די אי֗ ֹוב וְ ַ ֶֽהעֲל‬
‫ַ ֶֽבעַ דְ ֶ֔כם וְ איּ֣ ֹוב ַעבְ ֔די י ְת ַפל֖ל עֲליכֶ ֑ם ָּ֧כי אם־פָנָ ּ֣יו אֶ שָ֗ א לְ בלְ ִּ֞תי‬
:‫ע ֲ֤שֹות עמָ כֶם ְנבָ ָ֔לה ִ֠כי ּ֣לא דבַ ְר ֶ ָ֥תם אלַ ִ֛י ְנכֹונָ ֖ה כְ ַעבְ ָ֥די איֶֽ ֹוב‬
‫שּוחי צפַר הַ נַ ּ֣עֲמָ ֔תי ַו ַ ֶֶַֽֽֽיע ֲ֔שּו‬ ֗ ַ‫ט וַיֶֽלְ כּו ֱאלי ַ֨ ַפז הַ ֶֽתימָ ֹ֝ני ּובלְ ַדּ֣ד ה‬
‫ י ַוֶֽיה ֗ ָוה‬:‫יה֖ם ְיהוָ ֑ה וַי ָ ָ֥שא ְיהוָ ֖ה אֶ ת־פְ נָ֥י איֶֽ ֹוב‬ ֶ ‫ַ ֶֽכאֲ ֶ ִׁ֛שר ד ֶבָ֥ר ֲאל‬
‫ת־ׁש ּ֣בית [ ְׁש ּ֣בּות] אי֔ ֹוב בְ ֶֽה ְתפַלְ ל֖ ֹו בְ עַ ּ֣ד רע֑הּו ו ַָּ֧יסֶ ף ְיהוָ ִ֛ה‬ ְ ֶ‫ׁשִָּ֚ ב א‬
‫ יא ַוי ָּ֣באּו ִ֠אלָיו כָל־אֶ ַ֨ ָחיו וְ כָל־‬:‫ֲׁשר לְ אי֖ ֹוב לְ מ ְׁש ֶנֶֽה‬ ָ֥ ֶ ‫אֶ ת־כָל־א‬
‫ָל־ידְ עָ ּ֣יו לְ פ ָ֗נים וַיאכְ ַ֨לּו ע ּ֣מֹו לֶחֶ ם בְ ביתֹו‬ ֶֽ ‫אַ חְ יתָֹ֝ יו [אַ חְ יֹותָֹ֝ יו] וְ כ‬
‫ָל־ה ָּ֣ר ָ֔עה ֲאׁשֶ ר־ה ָ֥ביא ְיהוָ ֖ה ָעלָ ֑יו‬ ָ ‫ַו ָי ֻנ ֤דּו לֹו ַוי ַ ְֶֽנח ֲּ֣מּו א ֔תֹו ִַּ֚על כ‬
‫ יב ַוֶֽיה ֗ ָוה‬:‫יטה אֶ ֔ ָחת וְ ִ֕איׁש נֶ ַָֽ֥זֶם ז ָָה֖ב אֶ ָ ֶֽחד‬ ּ֣ ָ ‫נּו־לֹו ִּ֚איׁש קְ ש‬ ֗ ‫וַי ְת‬
‫י־לֹו אַ ְרבָ עָה ָעשַָ֨ ר אֶֹ֝ לֶף‬ ִ֡ ‫ת־אח ֲָ֥רית אי֖ ֹוב מ ֶֽראׁש ֑תֹו ַוֶַֽֽ ְיה‬ ֶֽ ַ ֶ‫ב ַ ִ֛רְך א‬
:‫ֶף־צָ֥מֶ ד בָ ָ ֖קר וְ ֶ ָ֥אלֶף אֲתֹונֶֽ ֹות‬ ֶ ‫֗צאן וְ ׁ֤שׁשֶ ת ֲאלָפים גְ מַ ֔לים וְ ֶ ֶֽאל‬
‫ם־האַ חַ ת‬ ֶֽ ָ ‫ יד וַיקְ ָ ֤רא ֶֽׁש‬:‫יג ַוֶַֽֽיְ הי־לִ֛ ֹו ׁשבְ עָ ָ֥ נָה בָ נ֖ים וְ ׁשָ לָ֥ ֹוׁש בָ נֶֽ ֹות‬
‫ טו וְ ַ֨לא‬:‫יׁשית ֶ ָ֥ק ֶרן הַ פֶֽ ּוְך‬ ֖ ‫יְמימָ֔ ה וְ ָׁ֥שם הַ שנ֖ית קְ ציעָ ֑ה וְ ָׁ֥שם הַ ְשל‬
‫יהִ֛ם‬ ֶ ‫נ ְמצָֹ֝ א נ ָָׁ֥שים יָפִ֛ ֹות כבְ נָ֥ ֹות אי֖ ֹוב בְ כָל־הָ ָ ֑א ֶרץ וַי ַ֨תן ל ֶָהָּ֧ם ֲאב‬
‫י־זאת מ ָ ָ֥אה‬ ֔ ‫טז ַו ְי ֤חי איֹוב ַ ֶֽאחֲר‬ :‫יהם‬ ֶֽ ֶ ‫ַ ֶֽנחֲלָ ֖ה בְ ָ֥תֹוְך ֲאח‬
‫וְ אַ ְרבָ ֖עים ׁשָ נָ ֑ה וַי ְראִֶּ֚ [וַי ְראִֶּ֚ ה] אֶ ת־בָ נָיו וְ אֶ ת־בְ נּ֣י בָ ֔ ָניו אַ ְרבָ עָ ֖ה‬
:‫ּוש ַבָ֥ע י ֶָֽמים‬ ְ ‫ יז וַיָ ּ֣מָ ת אי֔ ֹוב ז ָ֖קן‬:‫ד ֶֽרֹות‬

11 ‫ קשיטה‬cannot be “a coin”, but before the invention of coins there was ‫“ قش اط‬a chip” of precious metal.
15 Women get a dowry, not inheritance, since they produce children for their new family and so become part of the
new family. Therefore they have to receive their part before the marriage. By implication this is asserted here as rule
for Gentile families also.
but