1 I ov a luat cuvîntul şi a zis:

¶ Then Job answered and said,

2 a cum plîngerea mea este tot o răzvrătire. Dar suferinţa îmi înăduşe suspinurile.

Today I will also speak with bitterness; my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

3 O h! dacă aş şti unde să -L găsesc, dacă aş putea să ajung pînă la scaunul Lui de domnie,

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

4 m i-aş apăra pricina înaintea Lui, mi-aş umplea gura cu dovezi.

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

5 A ş şti ce poate să răspundă, aş vedea ce are să-mi spună.

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

6 Ş i-ar întrebuinţa El toată puterea ca să lupte împotriva mea? Nu; ci m'ar asculta negreşit.

Will he plead against me with his great power? No, but rather he would put it in me.

7 D oar un om fără prihană ar vorbi cu El, şi aş fi iertat pentru totdeauna de Judecătorul meu.

There the righteous might dispute with him; and should I escape for ever from the one who condemns me.

8 D ar, dacă mă duc la răsărit, nu este acolo; dacă mă duc la apus, nu -L găsesc:

¶ Behold, I shall go to the east and not find him; and to the west, but I cannot perceive him;

9 d acă are treabă la miazănoapte, nu -L pot vedea; dacă se ascunde la miazăzi, nu -L pot descoperi.

if he is working to the north, I shall not see him; to the south, he hides himself, that I shall not see him.

10 D ar El ştie ce cale am urmat; şi, dacă m'ar încerca, aş ieşi curat ca aurul.

But he has known the way that I take; he has tried me, and I have come forth as gold.

11 P iciorul meu s'a ţinut de paşii Lui; am ţinut calea Lui, şi nu m'am abătut dela ea.

My feet have held to his steps, I have kept his way, and have not departed.

12 N 'am părăsit poruncile buzelor Lui; mi-am plecat voia la cuvintele gurii Lui.

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

13 D ar hotărîrea Lui este luată, cine i se va împotrivi? Ce -I doreşte sufletul, aceea face.

¶ But if he determines something, who can turn him? His soul desired it, and he did it.

14 E l Îşi va împlini dar planurile faţă de mine, şi va mai face şi multe altele.

Therefore, he will finish that which is necessary for me; and there are many such things in him.

15 D e aceea tremur înaintea Lui, şi cînd mă gîndesc la lucrul acesta, mă tem de El.

Therefore, I shall fear before his face; I shall consider, and I shall fear him.

16 D umnezeu mi -a tăiat inima, Cel Atotputernic m'a umplut de groază.

For God has made my heart tender, and the Almighty has frightened me.

17 C ăci nu întunerecul durerii mele mă nimiceşte, nici negura în care sînt înfăşurat.

Why was I not cut off before the darkness, neither has he covered my face with the darkness.