Job 23 אִיּוֹב פרק כ״ג

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Job 23 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   וַיַּעַןand he answeredאִיּוֹבJobוַיֹּאמַר׃and said

   Then Job answered and said,

2. 2

   גַּם־הַיּוֹםalso the dayמְרִיis bitterשִׂחִיmy complaintיָדִיmy strokeכָּבְדָהis heavierעַל־אַנְחָתִי׃upon my groaning

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

3. 3

   מִי־יִתֵּןoh thatיָדַעְתִּיI knowוְאֶמְצָאֵהוּand I will find himאָבוֹאI will comeעַד־תְּכוּנָתוֹ׃even to his seat

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

4. 4

   אֶעֶרְכָהI would orderלְפָנָיוbefore himמִשְׁפָּטjudgmentוּפִיand my mouthאֲמַלֵּאI shall fulfillתוֹכָחוֹת׃arguments

   I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

5. 5

   אֵדְעָהI would knowמִלִּיםthe wordsיַעֲנֵנִיit answers meוְאָבִינָהand I want to understandמַה־יֹּאמַרwhat will he sayלִי׃to me

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

6. 6

   הַבְּרׇב־כֹּחַwill he plead with his great powerיָרִיבwho pleads the cause ofעִמָּדִיwith meלֹאnotאַךְ־הוּאbut he wouldיָשִׂםput strengthבִּי׃in me

   Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.

7. 7

   שָׁםthereיָשָׁרthe righteousנוֹכָחmight disputeעִמּוֹwith himוַאֲפַלְּטָהso should I be deliveredלָנֶצַחforeverמִשֹּׁפְטִי׃from my judge

   There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

8. 8

   הֵןbeholdקֶדֶםforwardאֶהֱלֹךְI will goוְאֵינֶנּוּand it is notוְאָחוֹרand backwardוְלֹא־אָבִיןand not I will perceiveלוֹ׃to him

   Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

9. 9

   שְׂמֹאולthe left side ofבַּעֲשֹׂתוֹwhere he does workוְלֹא־אָחַזbut I cannot behold himיַעְטֹףhe hides himselfיָמִיןright handוְלֹאand notאֶרְאֶה׃I shall see

   On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

10. 10

    כִּי־יָדַעbecause he knewדֶּרֶךְthe way ofעִמָּדִיwith meבְּחָנַנִיhe has tested meכַּזָּהָבas the goldאֵצֵא׃I go forth

    But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

11. 11

    בַּאֲשֻׁרוֹon his stepאָחֲזָהhas heldרַגְלִיmy footדַּרְכּוֹhis wayשָׁמַרְתִּיI have preservedוְלֹא־אָט׃and not I have turned aside

    My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

12. 12

    מִצְוַתthe commandments ofשְׂפָתָיוhis lipsוְלֹאand notאָמִישׁhave I gone backמֵחֻקִּיmore than my necessary foodצָפַנְתִּיI have esteemedאִמְרֵי־פִיו׃words of his mouth

    Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

13. 13

    וְהוּאand heבְאֶחָדis in one mindוּמִיand whosoיְשִׁיבֶנּוּwill he turn back himוְנַפְשׁוֹand his soulאִוְּתָהit has desiredוַיָּעַשׂ׃and he has done

    But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

14. 14

    כִּיbecauseיַשְׁלִיםhe performsחֻקִּיthe thing appointed for meוְכָהֵנָּהand such thingsרַבּוֹתmanyעִמּוֹ׃with him

    For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

15. 15

    עַל־כֵּןthereforeמִפָּנָיוfrom before himאֶבָּהֵלI am terrifiedאֶתְבּוֹנֵןI considerוְאֶפְחַדand I may be in dreadמִמֶּנּוּ׃from him

    Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

16. 16

    וְאֵלand Godהֵרַךְhe has made faintלִבִּיmy heartוְשַׁדַּיand the Almightyהִבְהִילָנִי׃he has terrified me

    For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:

17. 17

    כִּי־לֹאthat notנִצְמַתִּיI was not cut offמִפְּנֵי־חֹשֶׁךְbecause of darknessוּמִפָּנַיneither from my faceכִּסָּה־אֹפֶל׃has he covered the darkness

    Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.