Job 23

1 And Job answered and said,

١ أَيُّوبُ:

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

٢ «إِنَّ شَكْوَايَ الْيَوْمَ مُرَّةٌ، وَلَكِنَّ الْيَدَ الَّتِي عَلَيَّ أَثْقَلُ مِنْ أَنِينِي.

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

٣ أَيْنَ لِي أَنْ أَجِدَهُ فَأَمْثُلَ أَمَامَ كُرْسِيِّهِ،

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

٤ وَأَعْرِضَ عَلَيْهِ قَضِيَّتِي وَأَمْلأَ فَمِي حُجَجاً،

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

٥ فَأَطَّلِعَ عَلَى جَوَابِهِ وَأَفْهَمَ مَا يَقُولُهُ لِي؟

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

٦ أَيُخَاصِمُنِي بِعَظَمَةِ قُوَّتِهِ؟ لا! بَلْ يَلْتَفِتُ مُتَرَئِّفاً عَلَيَّ.

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

٧ هُنَاكَ يُمْكِنُ لِلْمُسْتَقِيمِ أَنْ يُحَاجَّهُ، وَأُبْرِئُ سَاحَتِي إِلَى الأَبَدِ مِنْ قَاضِيَّ.

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

٨ وَلَكِنْ هَا أَنَا أَتَّجِهُ شَرْقاً فَلا أَجِدُهُ، وَإِنْ قَصَدْتُ غَرْباً لَا أَشْعُرُ بِهِ،

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

٩ أَطْلُبُهُ عَنْ شِمَالِي فَلا أَرَاهُ وَأَلْتَفِتُ إِلَى يَمِينِي فَلا أُبْصِرُهُ.

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

١٠ وَلَكِنَّهُ يَعْرِفُ الطَّرِيقَ الَّتِي أَسْلُكُهَا، وَإذَا امْتَحَنَنِي أَخْرُجُ كَالذَّهَبِ

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

١١ اقْتَفَتْ قَدَمَايَ إِثْرَ خُطَاهُ، وَسَلَكْتُ بِحِرْصٍ فِي سُبُلِهِ وَلَمْ أَحِدْ.

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

١٢ لَمْ أَتَعَدَّ عَلَى وَصَايَاهُ، وَذَخَرْتُ فِي قَلْبِي كَلِمَاتِهِ.

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

١٣ وَلَكِنَّهُ مُتَفَرِّدٌ وَحْدَهُ فَمَنْ يَرُدُّهُ؟ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاءُ،

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

١٤ لأَنَّهُ يُتَمِّمُ مَا رَسَمَهُ لِي، وَمَازَالَ لَدَيْهِ وَفْرَةٌ مِنْهَا.

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

١٥ لِذَلِكَ أَرْتَعِبُ فِي حَضْرَتِهِ، وَعِنْدَمَا أَتَأَمَّلُ، يُخَامِرُنِي الْخَوْفُ مِنْهُ.

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

١٦ فَقَدْ أَضْعَفَ اللهُ قَلْبِي، وَرَوَّعَنِي الْقَدِيرُ.

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

١٧ وَمَعَ ذَلِكَ لَمْ تَسْكُنْنِي الظُّلْمَةُ، وَلا الدُّجَى غَشَّى وَجْهِي.