Hebrew Parallel Text: Literary Translation of the Book of Job (12)

Hebrew Parallel Text: Literary Translation of the Book of Job (12)

v1.2

1. Translation Policy

This translation is an attempt to reconstruct the fundamental agony of the soul and the cry to God found in the Book of Job, using the dignity and rhythm of classical Japanese literary style. Going beyond the framework of a literal translation, it aims to sublimate the intensity of human appeal to God into a solemn and profound artistic literary expression.

The main principles of this translation are as follows:

Purification and Power of Style: Decorative expressions and modern particles have been stripped away as much as possible to reproduce the sense of rhythm inherent in ancient poetry. I have endeavored to ensure that Job's intense outpouring of emotion and his doubts regarding absurdity are highlighted by this pared-down language.

Stylistic Beauty of Archaic Prose: Based on the profound expressions found in classical Japanese literature, care has been taken to allow the reader to touch upon a deep spirituality. Commonplace phrasing has been excluded to maintain a style accompanied by high tension.

Expression of Absolute Confrontation with God: By minimizing the use of honorifics and humble language, the figure of a human being in the depths of suffering, approaching the absolute existence of God in a naked manner, is depicted vividly and majestically.

[Regarding the Production Background]

This translation is a unique literary version generated and compiled through collaboration with AI under a clear artistic intent. While based on the public domain original text of the Bible, it aims to breathe new literary value into it. I welcome it to be widely cited and shared within non-profit scopes such as research, education, and personal contemplation. However, intentional alteration of the human editing, composition, and stylistic design portions of this translation, or unauthorized use for commercial purposes, is strictly prohibited.

2. Commentary

This translation highlights the multi-layered meaning of the Book of Job by transposing the poetic structure and theological inquiries of the original Hebrew text into the style of classical Japanese literary prose.

My hand is heavy upon my groaning (23:2):
Translated as 'my hand' based on the Masoretic Text. It expresses a situation where, even if one tries to suppress one's own groaning, it cannot be contained due to a pressure so great it suggests the weight of God, or it expresses extreme pain so intense that one's own hand hangs heavy.

Oh that I might reach His throne (23:3):
An expression showing Job's intense thirst to confront God directly and argue in a court of law to prove his own righteousness. His conviction that his suffering is not due to sin culminates here.

God is one and does not change (23:13):
A contrast between God's absolute sovereignty and consistency, and human helplessness. Job knows that God's decisions are irreversible and that He will not change His mind, and he harbors a fear that his appeal might be in vain before such absolute power.

Those who rebel against the light (24:13):
A metaphor for those who commit evil deeds. It depicts the ecology of those who reject the light, which is God's order, and prefer the darkness. They commit theft, adultery, and murder under the cover of night.

Shadow of death (24:17):
The original word is 'tsalmavet'. It symbolizes extreme darkness or terror. For the wicked, the morning light, which reveals their evil deeds, is spoken of with the logic of reversal as being as terrifying as the shadow of death.

Sheol (24:19):
The original word is 'Sheol'. The realm of the dead in ancient Hebrew. It is suggested that just as snowmelt water quickly disappears due to heat, the sinful are also suddenly swallowed into Sheol.

He draws away the mighty by His power (24:22):
This is a difficult passage where, in a situation where the wicked exert power, it can be read as God being the subject who prolongs them, or as the wicked themselves dragging others down. In this translation, I have kept the subject somewhat ambiguous to utilize the lingering tone of the literary style, while forming it to make the reader conscious of the underlying sovereignty of God.

3. Hebrew Parallel Literary Translation

Job Chapter 23

23:1 Then Job answered and said,
וַיַּעַן אִיּוֹב וַיֹּאמַר׃
Vayyaan Iyyov vayyomar.
Job answered and said.

23:2 Even today my complaint is considered rebellion. My hand is heavy upon my groaning.
גַּם־הַיּוֹם מְרִי שִׂחִי יָדִי כָּבְדָה עַל־אַנְחָתִי׃
Gam hayyom meri sihi yadi kavdah al-anhati.
Even today is rebellion; my complaint, my hand is heavy upon my groaning.

23:3 Oh that I knew where I might find God, that I might come even to His seat!
מִי־יִתֵּן יָדַעְתִּי וְאֶמְצָאֵהוּ אָבוֹא עַד־תְּכוּנָתוֹ׃
Mi-yitten yada'ti ve'emtsa'ehu avo ad-techunato.
Who would grant that I might know and find Him? I would go even to His seat.

23:4 I would set my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.
אֶעֶרְכָה לְפָנָיו מִשְׁפָּט וּפִי אֲמַלֵּא תּוֹכָחוֹת׃
E'erchah lefanav mishpat ufi amalle tochachot.
I would set in order before Him a case, and my mouth I would fill with arguments.

23:5 I would know the words which He would answer me, and understand what He would say to me.
אֵדְעָה מִלִּים יַעֲנֵנִי וְאָבִינָה מַה־יֹּאמַר לִי׃
Ede'ah millim ya'aneni ve'avinah mah-yomar li.
I would know the words He would answer me, and I would understand what He would say to me.

23:6 Would He contend with me by His great power? No, He would pay attention to me.
הַבְּרָב־כֹּחַ יָרִיב עִמָּדִי לֹא אַךְ־הוּא יָשִׂם בִּי׃
Habberov-koach yariv immadi lo ach-hu yasim bi.
With great power would He contend with me? No, rather He would pay attention to me.

23:7 There the upright could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge.
שָׁם יָשָׁר נוֹכָח עִמּוֹ וַאֲפַלְּטָה לָנֶצַח מִשֹּׁפְטִי׃
Sham yashar nochach immo va'afalletah lanetsach misshofeti.
There the upright could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

23:8 Behold, I go forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I do not perceive Him.
הֵן קֶדֶם אֶהֱלֹךְ וְאֵינֶנּוּ וְאָחוֹר וְלֹא־אָבִין לוֹ׃
Hen kedem eheloch ve'einennu ve'achor velo-avin lo.
Behold, forward I go, but He is not there; and backward, but I do not perceive Him.

23:9 On the left where He works, I do not see Him; He hides Himself on the right, and I do not behold Him.
שְׂמֹאול בַּעֲשֹׂתוֹ וְלֹא־אָחַז יַעְטֹף יָמִין וְלֹא אֶרְאֶה׃
Semol ba'asoto velo-achaz ya'tof yamin velo er'eh.
On the left when He works, but I cannot grasp; He hides on the right, but I do not see.

23:10 But He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
כִּי־יָדַע דֶּרֶךְ עִמָּדִי בְּחָנַנִי כַּזָּהָב אֵצֵא׃
Ki-yada derech immadi bechanani kazzahav etse.
For He knows the way that is with me; when He has tried me, like gold I shall come forth.

23:11 My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside.
בַּאֲשֻׁרוֹ אָחֲזָה רַגְלִי דַּרְכּוֹ שָׁמַרְתִּי וְלֹא־אַט׃
Ba'ashuro achazah ragli darko shamarti velo-at.
To His steps my foot has held fast; His way I have kept and not turned aside.

23:12 I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
מִצְוַת שְׂפָתָיו וְלֹא אָמִישׁ מֵחֻקִּי צָפַנְתִּי אִמְרֵי־פִיו׃
Mitsvat sefatav velo amish mechuki tsafanti imre-fiv.
From the commandment of His lips I have not departed; more than my portion I have treasured the words of His mouth.

23:13 But He is unique, and who can turn Him? And what His soul desires, that He does.
וְהוּא בְאֶחָד וּמִי יְשִׁיבֶנּוּ וְנַפְשׁוֹ אִוְּתָה וַיָּעַשׂ׃
Vehu be'echad umi yeshivennu venafsho ivvetah vayya'as.
But He is one, and who can turn Him? And His soul desired, and He did.

23:14 For He will perform what is appointed for me, and many such things are with Him.
כִּי יַשְׁלִים חֻקִּי וְכָהֵנָּה רַבּוֹת עִמּוֹ׃
Ki yashlim chuki vehahennah rabbot immo.
For He will complete my portion, and many such things are with Him.

23:15 Therefore I am terrified at His presence; when I consider, I am afraid of Him.
עַל־כֵּן מִפָּנָיו אֶבָּהֵל אֶתְבּוֹנֵן וְאֶפְחַד מִמֶּנּוּ׃
Al-ken mippanav ebbahel etbonen ve'efchad mimmennu.
Therefore at His presence I am terrified; I consider, and I am afraid of Him.

23:16 For God has made my heart faint, and the Almighty has terrified me.
וְאֵל הֵרַךְ לִבִּי וְשַׁדַּי הִבְהִילָנִי׃
Ve'el herach libbi veshaddai hivhilarani.
For God has made my heart faint, and the Almighty has terrified me.

23:17 For I have not been cut off by the darkness, nor has He covered the thick darkness from my face.
כִּי־לֹא נִצְמַתִּי מִפְּנֵי־חֹשֶׁךְ וּמִפָּנַי כִּסָּה־אֹפֶל׃
Ki-lo nitsmatti mippene-choshech umippanai kissah-ofel.
For I was not cut off before the darkness, and from my face He did not cover the thick darkness.

Job Chapter 24

24:1 Why are times not hidden by the Almighty, and why do those who know Him not see His days?
מַדּוּעַ מִשַּׁדַּי לֹא־נִצְפְּנוּ עִתִּים וְיֹדְעָיו לֹא־חָזוּ יָמָיו׃
Maddu'a misshaddai lo-nitspenu ittim veyode'av lo-hazu yamav.
Why are times not hidden by the Almighty, and those who know Him do not see His days?

24:2 Men remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof.
גְּבֻלוֹת יַשִּׂיגוּ עֵדֶר גָּזְלוּ וַיִּרְעוּ׃
Gevulot yassigu eder gazlu vayiru.
Landmarks / they remove / flocks / they steal / and feed.

24:3 They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge.
חֲמוֹר יְתוֹמִים יִנְהָגוּ יַחְבְּלוּ שׁוֹר אַלְמָנָה׃
Hamor yetomim yinhagu yahbelu shor almanah.
Donkey / of orphans / they drive away / they take as pledge / ox / of a widow.

24:4 They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.
יַטּוּ אֶבְיוֹנִים מִדָּרֶךְ יַחַד חֻבְּאוּ עֲנִיֵּי אָרֶץ׃
Yattu evyonim midderech yahad hubbeu aniyye arets.
They push aside / the needy / from the way / together / hide / the poor / of the earth.

24:5 Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children.
הֵן פְּרָאִים בַּמִּדְבָּר יָצְאוּ בְּפָעֳלָם מְשַׁחֲרֵי לַטָּרֶף עֲרָבָה לוֹ לֶחֶם לַנְּעָרִים׃
Hen pera'im bammidbar yatseu befo'alam meshahare latteref aravah lo lehem lanne'arim.
Behold / like wild donkeys / in the wilderness / they go out / to their work / seeking / prey / the desert / for him / food / for the children.

24:6 They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked.
בַּשָּׂדֶה בְּלִילוֹ יִקְצֹרוּ וְכֶרֶם רָשָׁע יְלַקֵּשׁוּ׃
Bassadeh belilo yiqtsoru vecherem rasha yelaqqeshu.
In the field / their fodder / they reap / and in the vineyard / of the wicked / they glean.

24:7 They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.
עָרוֹם יָלִינוּ מִבְּלִי לְבוּשׁ וְאֵין כְּסוּת בַּקָּרָה׃
Arom yalinu mibli levush ve'ein kesut baqqarah.
Naked / they spend the night / without clothing / and there is no covering / in the cold.

24:8 They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.
מִזֶּרֶם הָרִים יִרְטָבוּ וּמִבְּלִי מַחְסֶה חִבְּקוּ־צוּר׃
Mizzerem harim yirtavu umibli mahseh hibbequ-tsur.
By the downpour / of the mountains / they are wet / and because there is no shelter / they embrace / the rock.

24:9 They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor.
יִגְזְלוּ מִשֹּׁד יָתוֹם וְעַל־עָנִי יַחְבֹּלוּ׃
Yigzelu misshod yatom ve'al-ani yahbolu.
They pluck / from the breast / the orphan / and against the poor / they take a pledge.

24:10 They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry;
עָרוֹם הִלְּכוּ בְּלִי לְבוּשׁ וּרְעֵבִים נָשְׂאוּ עֹמֶר׃
Arom hillechu beli levush ure'evim nas'u omer.
Naked / they walk / without clothing / and hungry / they carry / the sheaf.

24:11 Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.
בֵּין־שׁוּרֹתָם יַצְהִירוּ יְקָבִים דָּרְכוּ וַיִּצְמָאוּ׃
Bein-shurotam yats-hiru yeqavim darechu vayyitsma'u.
Between their walls / they press oil / winepresses / they tread / and they thirst.

24:12 Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them.
מֵעִיר מְתִים יִנְאָקוּ וְנֶפֶשׁ־חֲלָלִים תְּשַׁוֵּעַ וֶאֱלוֹהַּ לֹא־יָשִׂים תִּפְלָה׃
Me'ir metim yinaqu venefesh-chalalim teshavvea ve'eloah lo-yasim tiflah.
From the city / men / groan / and the soul / of the wounded / cries out / yet God / does not / regard / as folly.

24:13 They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.
הֵמָּה הָיוּ בְּמֹרְדֵי־אוֹר לֹא־הִכִּירוּ דְרָכָיו וְלֹא יָשְׁבוּ בִּנְתִיבֹתָיו׃
Hemma hayu bemorde-or lo-hikkiru derachav velo yashevu bintivotav.
They / are / among those who rebel against the light / they do not know / its ways / and do not stay / in its paths.

24:14 The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.
לָאוֹר יָקוּם רוֹצֵחַ יִקְטָל־עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן וּבַלַּיְלָה יְהִי כַגַּנָּב׃
La'or yaqum rotseah yiqtol-ani ve'evyon uvallaylah yehi chaggannav.
At light / rises / the murderer / he kills / the poor / and the needy / and in the night / he becomes / like a thief.

24:15 The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face.
וְעֵין נֹאֵף שָׁמְרָה נֶשֶׁף לֵאמֹר לֹא־תְשׁוּרֵנִי עָיִן וְסֵתֶר פָּנִים יָשִׂים׃
Ve'ein no'ef shamrah neshef le'mor lo-teshureni ayin veseter panim yasim.
And the eye / of the adulterer / waits for / twilight / saying / will not see me / an eye / and a covering / on his face / he puts.

24:16 In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.
חָתַר בַּחֹשֶׁךְ בָּתִּים יוֹמָם חִתְּמוּ־לָמוֹ לֹא־יָדְעוּ אוֹר׃
Chatar bachoshech battim yomam chittemu-lamo lo-yade'u or.
He digs / in the dark / houses / by day / they shut themselves in / they do not know / the light.

24:17 For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.
כִּי יַחְדָּו בֹּקֶר לָמוֹ צַלְמָוֶת כִּי־יַכִּיר בַּלְהוֹת צַלְמָוֶת׃
Ki yahdav boqer lamo tsalmavet ki-yakkir balhot tsalmavet.
For / together / morning / is to them / the shadow of death / for / they know / the terrors / of the shadow of death.

24:18 He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.
קַל־הוּא עַל־פְּנֵי־מַיִם תְּקֻלַּל חֶלְקָתָם בָּאָרֶץ לֹא־יִפְנֶה דֶּרֶךְ כְּרָמִים׃
Qal-hu al-pene-mayim tequllal chelqatam ba'arets lo-yifneh derech keramim.
Swift / he is / on the face of the waters / cursed / is their portion / in the earth / he does not turn / to the way / of the vineyards.

24:19 Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned.
צִיָּה גַם־חֹם יִגְזְלוּ מֵימֵי־שֶׁלֶג שְׁאוֹל חָטָאוּ׃
Tsiyyah gam-chom yigzelu meime-sheleg she'ol chata'u.
Drought / and heat / consume / the waters of snow / the grave / those who have sinned.

24:20 The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree.
יִשְׁכָּחֵהוּ רֶחֶם מְתָקוֹ רִמָּה עוֹד לֹא־יִזָּכֵר וַתִּשָּׁבֵר כָּעֵץ עַוְלָה׃
Yishkahehu rechem metaqo rimmah od lo-yizzacher vattissaver ka'ets avlah.
Shall forget him / the womb / sweetly feeds / the worm / no more / shall be remembered / and shall be broken / like a tree / wickedness.

24:21 He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.
רֹעֶה עֲקָרָה לֹא תֵלֵד וְאַלְמָנָה לֹא יְיֵיטִיב׃
Ro'eh aqarah lo teled ve'almanah lo yeyetiv.
He mistreats / the barren / who does not bear / and to the widow / he does not do good.

24:22 Yet He draws away the mighty by His power; they rise up, but have no assurance of life.
וּמָשַׁךְ אַבִּירִים בְּכֹחוֹ יָקוּם וְלֹא־יַאֲמִין בַּחַיִּים׃
U-mashakh abbirim bekhocho yakum velo-ya'amin bakhayyim.
And draws away / the mighty ones / by His power / they rise up / but cannot believe / in life.

24:23 He gives them security, and they rely on it; yet His eyes are upon their ways.
יִתֶּן־לוֹ לָבֶטַח וְיִשָּׁעֵן וְעֵינֵיהוּ עַל־דַּרְכֵיהֶם׃
Yitten-lo lavetakh veyissa'en ve'einehu 'al-darkheihem.
He gives / to him / security / and he relies / but His eyes / are upon their ways.

24:24 They are exalted for a little while, then they are gone; they are brought low, gathered up like all others, and cut off like the heads of grain.
רוֹמּוּ מְּעַט וְאֵינֶנּוּ וְהֻמְּכוּ כַּכֹּל יִקָּפְצוּן וּכְרֹאשׁ שִׁבֹּלֶת יִמָּלוּ׃
Rommu me'at ve'einennu vehummekhu kakkol yikkaphetsun ukherosh shibbolet yimmallu.
They are exalted / for a little while / and are gone / and are brought low / like all others / they are gathered / and like the head / of grain they are cut off.

24:25 If it is not so, who will prove me a liar, and make my speech worth nothing?
וְאִם־לֹא אֵפוֹ מִי יַכְזִיבֵנִי וְיָשֵׂם לְאַל מִלָּתִי׃
Ve'im-lo efo mi yakhziveni veyasem le'al millati.
And if / not so / who / will prove me a liar / and make / to nothing / my speech.

4. Hebrew Vocabulary List

Below is a comprehensive list of frequently appearing vocabulary in Job chapters 23 and 24, as well as important keywords such as "shadow of death" and "Sheol."

צַלְמָוֶת (Tsalmavet): Shadow of death, deep darkness. (Important keyword)

שְׁאוֹל (Sheol): Sheol, the realm of the dead. (Important keyword)

אֱלוֹהַּ (Eloah) / אֵל (El): God.

שַׁדַּי (Shaddai): The Almighty.

אִיּוֹב (Iyyov): Job. (Important keyword)

דֶּרֶךְ (Derekh): Way, path.

אוֹר (Or): Light.

חֹשֶׁךְ (Khoshekh): Darkness.

בֹּקֶר (Boker): Morning.

לַיְלָה (Laylah): Night.

פָּנִים (Panim): Face, presence.

דָּבָר (Davar) / מִלָּה (Millah): Word.

רָאָה (Ra'ah): To see.

עָשָׂה (Asah): To do, to make.

רָשָׁע (Rasha): Wicked person.

עָנִי (Ani): Poor person.

אֶבְיוֹן (Evyon): Needy person.

יָתוֹם (Yatom): Orphan.

אַלְמָנָה (Almanah): Widow.

יָדַע (Yada): To know.

שָׂם (Sam): To place, to consider.

קוּם (Kum): To rise, to stand up.

מַיִם (Mayim): Water.

אָרֶץ (Aretz): Earth, land.

עַיִן (Ayin): Eye.

אָבַד (Avad) / כָּלָה (Kalah): To perish, to vanish.

#Bible
#OldTestament
#BookOfJob
#Hebrew
#HebrewLanguage
#LiteraryTranslation
#BibleTranslation
#Christianity
#Judaism
#Theology
#ClassicalLiterature
#Religion
#BiblicalStudies
#Suffering
#God