1Then Iyov answered and said,
2“Oh that my vexation were only weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances altogether!
3For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore are my words broken.
4For the arrows of Shadai are within me, the poison whereof my spirit drinks up; the terrors of Eloha do set themselves in array against me.
5Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass, or does the ox low over his fodder?
6Can that which has no savor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the juice of mallows?
7My soul refuses to touch them; they are as the sickness of my flesh.
8Oh that I might have my request, and that Eloha would grant me the thing that I long for!
9Even that it would please Eloha to crush me; that He would let loose His hand, and cut me off!
10Then should I yet have comfort; yes, I would exult in pain, though He spares not; for I have not denied the consecrated words.
11What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should be patient?
12Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass?
13Is it that I have no help in me, and that sound wisdom is driven quite from me?
14To him who witholds compassion from his friend, he has surely forsaken the fear of Shadai.
15My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that overflow,
16Which are dark by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow hides itself;
17At the time that they warm, they vanish, when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18The paths of their way do wind, they go up into the waste and are lost.
19The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheva waited for them.
20They were ashamed because they had hoped; they came there, and were confounded.
21For now you are become His; you see a terror, and are afraid.
22Did I say, ‘Give unto me’? or, ‘Offer a present for me of your substance’?
23Or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary’s hand’? Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors’?
24Teach me, and I will hold my peace; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25How sickening are words of uprightness! And what does your arguing win from them?
26Do you hold words to be an argument, but the speeches of one that is desperate to be wind?
27Yes, you would cast lots upon the fatherless, and dig a pit for your friend.
28Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; for surely I shall not lie to your face.
29Return, I pray, let there be no injustice; yes, return again, my cause is righteous.
30Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern crafty devices?”
אוַיַּעַן אִיּוֹב וַיֹּאמַר,
בלוּ שָׁקוֹל יִשָּׁקֵל כַּעְשִׂי; והיתי (וְהַוָּתִי) בְּמֹאזְנַיִם יִשְׂאוּ יָחַד.
גכִּי עַתָּה מֵחוֹל יַמִּים יִכְבָּד; עַל כֵּן דְּבָרַי לָעוּ.
דכִּי חִצֵּי שַׁדַּי עִמָּדִי אֲשֶׁר חֲמָתָם שֹׁתָה רוּחִי; בִּעוּתֵי אֱלוֹהַּ יַעַרְכוּנִי.
ההֲיִנְהַק פֶּרֶא עֲלֵי דֶשֶׁא; אִם יִגְעֶה שּׁוֹר עַל בְּלִילוֹ.
והֲיֵאָכֵל תָּפֵל מִבְּלִי מֶלַח; אִם יֶשׁ טַעַם בְּרִיר חַלָּמוּת.
זמֵאֲנָה לִנְגּוֹעַ נַפְשִׁי; הֵמָּה כִּדְוֵי לַחְמִי.
חמִי יִתֵּן תָּבוֹא שֶׁאֱלָתִי; וְתִקְוָתִי יִתֵּן אֱלוֹהַּ.
טוְיֹאֵל אֱלוֹהַּ וִידַכְּאֵנִי; יַתֵּר יָדוֹ וִיבַצְּעֵנִי.
יוּתְהִי עוֹד נֶחָמָתִי וַאֲסַלְּדָה בְחִילָה לֹא יַחְמוֹל: כִּי לֹא כִחַדְתִּי אִמְרֵי קָדוֹשׁ.
יאמַה כֹּחִי כִי אֲיַחֵל; וּמַה קִּצִּי כִּי אַאֲרִיךְ נַפְשִׁי.
יבאִם כֹּחַ אֲבָנִים כֹּחִי; אִם בְּשָׂרִי נָחוּשׁ.
יגהַאִם אֵין עֶזְרָתִי בִי; וְתֻשִׁיָּה נִדְּחָה מִמֶּנִּי.
ידלַמָּס מֵרֵעֵהוּ חָסֶד; וְיִרְאַת שַׁדַּי יַעֲזוֹב.
טואַחַי בָּגְדוּ כְמוֹ נָחַל; כַּאֲפִיק נְחָלִים יַעֲבֹרוּ.
טזהַקֹּדְרִים מִנִּי קָרַח; עָלֵימוֹ יִתְעַלֶּם שָׁלֶג.
יזבְּעֵת יְזֹרְבוּ נִצְמָתוּ; בְּחֻמּוֹ נִדְעֲכוּ מִמְּקוֹמָם.
יחיִלָּפְתוּ אָרְחוֹת דַּרְכָּם; יַעֲלוּ בַתֹּהוּ וְיֹאבֵדוּ.
יטהִבִּיטוּ אָרְחוֹת תֵּמָא; הֲלִיכֹת שְׁבָא קִוּוּ לָמוֹ.
כבֹּשׁוּ כִּי בָטָח; בָּאוּ עָדֶיהָ וַיֶּחְפָּרוּ.
כאכִּי עַתָּה הֱיִיתֶם לֹא; תִּרְאוּ חֲתַת וַתִּירָאוּ.
כבהֲכִי אָמַרְתִּי הָבוּ לִי; וּמִכֹּחֲכֶם שִׁחֲדוּ בַעֲדִי.
כגוּמַלְּטוּנִי מִיַּד צָר; וּמִיַּד עָרִיצִים תִּפְדּוּנִי.
כדהוֹרוּנִי וַאֲנִי אַחֲרִישׁ; וּמַה שָּׁגִיתִי הָבִינוּ לִי.
כהמַה נִּמְרְצוּ אִמְרֵי יֹשֶׁר; וּמַה יּוֹכִיחַ הוֹכֵחַ מִכֶּם.
כוהַלְהוֹכַח מִלִּים תַּחְשֹׁבוּ; וּלְרוּחַ אִמְרֵי נֹאָשׁ.
כזאַף עַל יָתוֹם תַּפִּילוּ; וְתִכְרוּ עַל רֵיעֲכֶם.
כחוְעַתָּה הוֹאִילוּ פְנוּ בִי; וְעַל פְּנֵיכֶם אִם אֲכַזֵּב.
כטשׁוּבוּ נָא אַל תְּהִי עַוְלָה; ושבי (וְשֻׁבוּ) עוֹד צִדְקִי בָהּ.
להֲיֵשׁ בִּלְשׁוֹנִי עַוְלָה; אִם חִכִּי לֹא יָבִין הַוּוֹת.
D'var יהוה , The Word of יהוה 