Job’s Character and Greatness

¹ There was a man in the land of Uz whose¹ name was Job. That² man was blameless and upright and God-fearing and turning away from evil.

1. Hebrew “his”
2. Hebrew “And that”

² And seven sons and three daughters were born to him.

³ Then¹ his livestock came to be seven thousand sheep and goats and three thousand camels and five hundred pairs² of oxen and five hundred female donkeys, and he had very many slaves, and that man was greater than all the people of the east.

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Hebrew “pair”

⁴ And his sons used to go and hold a feast ⌞at each other’s house⌟¹ on his day, and they would send, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

1. Literally “at the house of a man,” or “at the house of each”

⁵ ⌞Then when⌟¹ the days of the feast had run their course, ⌞Job would send⌟,² and he would sanctify them. Thus³ he would arise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of all of them, because Job thought,⁴ “Perhaps my children have sinned and ⌞cursed⌟⁵ God in their heart.” This is what Job used to do ⌞all the time⌟.⁶

1. Literally “And it would happen that,” or “And it would happen when”
2. Literally “and Job would send”
3. Hebrew “And”
4. Or “said”
5. Literally “blessed”— negative meaning by context
6. Or “always”; literally “all the days”

⁶ And it happened ⌞one day⌟¹ ⌞that⌟² the sons of God³ came to present themselves before Yahweh, and Satan⁴ also came into their midst.

1. Literally “the day”
2. Literally “and”
3. Or “the heavenly beings,” or “the angels”
4. Hebrew “the accuser,” or “the adversary”

⁷ So¹ Yahweh said to Satan,² “From where have you come?” Then³ Satan⁴ answered Yahweh and said, “From roaming on the earth and from walking about in it.”

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Hebrew “the accuser,” or “the adversary”
3. Hebrew “And”
4. Hebrew “the accuser,” or “the adversary”

⁸ So¹ Yahweh said to Satan,² “Have you ⌞considered⌟³ my servant Job? Indeed,⁴ there is no one like him on the earth—a blameless man and upright and God-fearing and turning away from evil.”

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Hebrew “the accuser,” or “the adversary”
3. Literally “set your heart”
4. Or “For,” or “Because”

⁹ Then¹ Satan² answered Yahweh and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Hebrew “the accuser,” or “the adversary”

¹⁰ Have you¹ not put a fence around him and his household and around ⌞all that belongs to him⌟² ⌞on every side⌟?³ You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock⁴ has increased in the land.

1. Emphatic personal pronoun could be translated “you yourself”
2. Literally “all that is his”
3. Literally “from around”
4. Or “possessions”

¹¹ But,¹ on the other hand, stretch out² your hand and touch ⌞all that belongs to him⌟³ and see ⌞whether⌟⁴ he will ⌞curse⌟⁵ you to your face.”

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Or “please”
3. Literally “all that is his”
4. Literally “if not”
5. Literally “bless”— negative meaning by context

¹² So¹ Yahweh said to Satan,² “Look, ⌞all that belongs to him⌟³ is in your ⌞power⌟.⁴ Only do not stretch out your hand ⌞against⌟⁵ him.” So⁶ Satan⁷ went out from Yahweh’s ⌞presence⌟.⁸

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Hebrew “the accuser,” or “the adversary”
3. Literally “all that is his”
4. Literally “hand”
5. Literally “to,” or “unto”
6. Hebrew “And”
7. Hebrew “the accuser,” or “the adversary”
8. Literally “faces of”

The Adversary’s Attack on Job’s Possessions

¹³ And then there was one day when¹ his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their firstborn brother’s house.

1. Hebrew “and”

¹⁴ And a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing, and the female donkeys were feeding ⌞beside them⌟.¹

1. Literally “on their hands”

¹⁵ Then¹ the Sabeans ⌞attacked⌟,² and they took them, and they slew the servants ⌞by the edge of the sword⌟.³ But⁴ I escaped, even I alone, to tell you.”

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Literally “fell upon them”
3. Literally “with the mouth of the sword”
4. Hebrew “And”

¹⁶ While this one was still speaking, ⌞another⌟¹ came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens, and it blazed up against the sheep and goats and against the servants, and it consumed them. But I escaped, even I alone, to tell you.”

1. Literally “this”

¹⁷ While this one was still speaking, ⌞another⌟¹ came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three divisions, and they made a raid on the camels, and they carried them away, and they struck your servants ⌞by the edge of the sword⌟,² but I escaped, even I alone, to tell you.”

1. Literally “this”
2. Literally “with the mouth of the sword”

¹⁸ At the time¹ this one was speaking, ⌞another⌟² came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their firstborn brother’s house.

1. Hebrew “Until”
2. Literally “this”

¹⁹ And behold,¹ a great wind came from across the desert, and it struck the four corners of the house ⌞so that⌟² it fell upon the young people, and they died. But I escaped, even I alone, to tell you.”

1. Or “Look”
2. Literally “and”

²⁰ Then¹ Job arose and tore his outer garment² and shaved his head; ⌞then⌟³ he fell upon the ground and he worshiped.

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Or “robe”
3. Hebrew “and”

²¹ Then¹ he said, “Naked I came out from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. Yahweh gives, and Yahweh takes. Let Yahweh’s name be blessed.”

1. Hebrew “And”

²² In all this, Job did not sin and did not ⌞charge God with wrongdoing⌟.¹

1. Literally “give unseemliness to God”

The Adversary’s Attack on Job’s Person

¹ ⌞And then⌟¹ one day the sons of God² came to present themselves before Yahweh, and Satan³ also came into their midst to present himself before Yahweh.

1. Literally “And it came to be,” or “and it happened”
2. Or “the heavenly beings,” or “the angels”
3. Hebrew “the accuser,” or “the adversary”

² So¹ Yahweh ⌞asked⌟² Satan,³ “From where have you come?” And Satan⁴ answered Yahweh and said, “From roaming on the earth and from walking about in it.”

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Literally “said to”
3. Hebrew “the accuser,” or “the adversary”
4. Hebrew “the accuser,” or “the adversary”

³ So¹ Yahweh ⌞asked⌟² Satan,³ “Have you ⌞considered⌟⁴ my servant Job? Indeed,⁵ there is no one like him on the earth—a blameless man and upright and God-fearing and turning away from evil. And still he persists in his blamelessness ⌞even though⌟⁶ you incited me against him to destroy him for nothing.”

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Literally “said to”
3. Hebrew “the accuser,” or “the adversary”
4. Literally “set your heart”
5. Or “For” or “Because”
6. Hebrew “and”

⁴ Then¹ Satan² answered him and said, “Skin for skin! All that ⌞that⌟³ man has he will give for his life.

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Hebrew “the accuser,” or “the adversary”
3. Literally “the”

⁵ But stretch out¹ your hand and touch his bones and his flesh, and see ⌞whether⌟² he will ⌞curse⌟³ you to your face.”⁴

1. Or “please”
2. Literally “if not”
3. Literally “bless”—negative meaning by context
4. Hebrew “your faces”

⁶ So¹ Yahweh said to Satan,² “⌞All right⌟,³ he is in your ⌞power⌟.⁴ Only spare his life.”

1. Literally “And it happened the/one day”
2. Hebrew “the accuser,” or “the adversary”
3. Literally “Look”
4. Literally “hand”

Job’s Blameless Behavior

⁷ So¹ Satan² went out from ⌞Yahweh’s presence⌟,³ and he inflicted Job with loathsome skin sores from the sole of his foot up to the crown of his head.

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Hebrew “the accuser,” or “the adversary”
3. Literally “the faces of Yahweh”

⁸ ⌞So⌟¹ he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself, and he sat in the midst of the ashes.

1. Hebrew “And”

⁹ Then¹ his wife said to him, “Are you still persisting in your blamelessness? ⌞Curse⌟² God and die.”

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Literally “Bless”—negative meaning by context

¹⁰ So¹ he said to her, “You speak like one of the foolish women speaks. Indeed, should we receive the good from God, but² not receive the evil?” In all this, Job did not sin with his lips.

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Or “and”

¹¹ Thus¹ Job’s three friends heard of this calamity that had come upon him. So² each set out from his own place: Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite. And they met³ together to come to console him and to comfort him.

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Hebrew “And”
3. Or “they agreed”

¹² Thus¹ they lifted up their eyes² from afar, but³ they did not recognize him, so⁴ they raised their voice, and they wept, and each man tore his outer garment⁵ and threw dust on their heads ⌞toward the sky⌟.⁶

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Or “they gazed”
3. Hebrew “and”
4. Hebrew “and”
5. Or “robe”
6. Or “in the air”; literally “to the heavens”

¹³ Then¹ they sat with him on the ground for seven days and seven nights, but² no one spoke³ a word to him because they saw that ⌞his⌟⁴ suffering was very great.

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Hebrew “and”
3. Or “there was no speaking”
4. Literally “the”

Job Regrets His Birth

¹ ⌞Afterward⌟¹ Job opened his mouth and cursed² his day.

1. Literally “After thus”
2. A different term than that employed in 1:5, 11; 2:5, 9

² Thus¹ Job ⌞spoke up⌟² and said,

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Literally “answered”

³ “Let the day perish on which I was born, and the night that said, ‘A man-child is conceived.’

⁴ Let that day become¹ darkness; may God not seek it from above, nor may daylight shine on it.

1. Or “be”

⁵ Let darkness and deep shadow claim it; let clouds¹ settle on it; let them² terrify it with the blackness³ of day.

1. Literally “cloud”
2. Masculine plural referring to all three entities mentioned in this verse
3. Literally “blacknesses”

⁶ Let darkness seize that night;¹ let it not rejoice among the days of the year; let it not enter among the number of the months.

1. Literally “That night, let darkness seize it”

⁷ Look, let that night become¹ barren; let a joyful song not enter it.

1. Or “be”

⁸ Let those who curse the day curse it, those who are skilled at rousing Leviathan.

⁹ Let the stars of its dawn be dark; let it hope for light but¹ there be none, and let it not see the eyelids of dawn

1. Hebrew “and”

Job Wishes He Had Died

¹⁰ because it did not shut the doors of my mother’s womb, nor¹ did it hide trouble from my eyes.

1. Hebrew “And”

¹¹ “Why did I not die at¹ birth? Why did I not come forth from the womb and expire?

1. Literally “from”

¹² Why did the knees receive me and the breasts, that I could suck?

¹³ For now I would lie down, and I would be at peace; I would be asleep; then ⌞I would be at rest⌟¹

1. Literally “it would be at rest for me”

¹⁴ with kings and counselors of the earth, who ⌞rebuild⌟¹ ruins for themselves,

1. Literally “build”

¹⁵ or with high officials ⌞who have gold⌟,¹ who fill up their houses with silver.

1. Literally “gold is for them”

¹⁶ Or why was I not hidden like a miscarriage, like infants who did not see the light?

¹⁷ There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the ⌞weary⌟¹ are at rest;

1. Literally “weary of strength”

¹⁸ the prisoners are at ease together; they do not hear the oppressor’s voice.

Job Wishes He Might Die

¹⁹ The small and the great are there, and the slave is free from his masters.¹

1. Or “master”

²⁰ “Why does he¹ give light to one in misery and life to those bitter of soul,

1. Most likely God

²¹ who wait for death, but¹ ⌞it does not come⌟,² and search³ for it more than for treasures,

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Literally “it is not”
3. Or “dig”

²² who rejoice ⌞exceedingly⌟,¹ and they are glad when they find the grave?

1. Literally “unto rejoicing”

²³ Why does he¹ give light to a man whose way is hidden, and God has fenced him in all around?

1. Most likely God

²⁴ For¹ my sighing comes ⌞before⌟² my bread,³ and my groanings gush forth like water

1. Or perhaps emphatic, “Indeed”
2. Or “in place of” (NET); literally “to the faces of”
3. Or “food”

²⁵ because the dread that I ⌞feel⌟¹ has come upon me, and what I feared befalls me.

1. Literally “dread”

²⁶ I am not at ease, and I am not at peace, and I do not have rest, thus¹ turmoil has come.”

1. Hebrew “and”

Eliphaz’s First Response to Job

¹ Then¹ Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

1. Hebrew “And”

² “If someone would test a word with you, would you be offended? But¹ who can refrain from speaking?

1. Hebrew “And”

³ Look, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened weak hands.

⁴ Your words have raised up the one who stumbles, and you have strengthened knees giving way.

⁵ But now it has come to you, and you are worn out; it touches you, and you are horrified.

⁶ Is not your fear in God your confidence? Is not your hope even¹ the integrity of your ways?

1. Hebrew “and”

⁷ “⌞Think⌟¹ now, who has perished who is innocent? Or² where are the upright destroyed?

1. Literally “Remember”
2. Hebrew “And”

⁸ Just as I have seen, plowers of mischief and sowers of trouble will reap it.

⁹ By¹ the breath of God they perish, and by² the blast of his anger they come to an end.

1. Or “From”
2. Or “from”

¹⁰ The roar of the lion and the voice of a lion in its prime, and the teeth of the young lions are broken.

¹¹ The lion is perishing without¹ prey, and the lion’s whelps are scattered.

1. Or “from lack of”

¹² “And a word came stealing to me, and my ear received the whisper from it.

¹³ Amid troubling thoughts from night visions, at the falling of deep sleep on men,

¹⁴ dread met me, and trembling, and it made many of my bones shake.

¹⁵ And a spirit glided before my face; the hair of my flesh¹ bristled.

1. Or “body”

¹⁶ It stood still, but¹ I could not recognize its appearance; a form was ⌞before⌟² my eyes; there was a hush, and I heard a voice:

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Literally “to before”

¹⁷ ‘Can a human being be more righteous than God, or can a man be more pure than his Maker?

¹⁸ Look, he does not trust in his servants and he charges his angels with error.

¹⁹ How much more dwellers in clay houses, whose foundation is in the dust? They are crushed like a moth.

²⁰ ⌞Between morning and evening⌟¹ they are destroyed; without anyone regarding it they perish forever.

1. Literally “from morning to the evening”

²¹ Is not their tent cord pulled up within them? They die, but¹ not in² wisdom.’

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Or “with”

Eliphaz’s Response Continues

¹ “Call now, is there anyone answering you? And to which of the holy ones will you turn?

² For vexation will slay the fool, and jealousy will kill the simple.

³ I have seen a fool taking root, but¹ suddenly I cursed his dwelling.

1. Hebrew “And”

⁴ His children are far from deliverance, and they are crushed in the gate, and there is no deliverer—

⁵ whose harvest the hungry eats, and he takes it ⌞from behind⌟¹ the thorns; and the thirsty pants after their wealth.

1. Literally “to from”

⁶ Indeed,¹ mischief does not come from the dust, and trouble does not sprout from the earth.

1. Or “For”

⁷ But a human being is born to trouble, and ⌞they soar aloft⌟¹ like ⌞sparks⌟.²

1. Literally “they make high to fly”
2. Literally “children of flame”

⁸ “But I myself¹ will seek God, and to God I would commit my cause.

1. Emphatic personal pronoun

⁹ He is doing great and ⌞unsearchable⌟¹ things, marvelous things ⌞without number⌟²—

1. Literally “there is no searching”
2. Literally “until there is no number”

¹⁰ the one who is giving rain on the ⌞surface of⌟¹ the earth and is sending water on the ⌞surface of⌟² the fields,

1. Literally “faces of”
2. Literally “faces of”

¹¹ to set the lowly on high, and those mourning are lifted to safety.

¹² He is frustrating the devices of the crafty, and their hands do not achieve success.

¹³ He is capturing the wise in their craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are rushed.

¹⁴ In the daytime they meet with darkness, and they grope at noon¹ as in the night.

1. Or “the noon”

¹⁵ And¹ he saves from the sword of² their mouth, ⌞even⌟³ the poor from the hand of the strong.

1. Or “Thus,” or “So”
2. Literally “from”
3. Literally “and”; the entire verse could be translated “So he saves the poor from the sword of their mouth and from the hand of the strong”

¹⁶ So¹ there is hope² for the powerless, and wickedness shuts its mouth.

1. Or “And”
2. Or “hope exists”

¹⁷ “Look, happy is the human being whom God reproves; and you must not despise the discipline of Shaddai,

¹⁸ for he himself¹ wounds, but² he binds up; he strikes, but³ his hands heal.

1. Emphatic personal pronoun
2. Hebrew “and”
3. Hebrew “and”

¹⁹ ⌞From⌟¹ six troubles he will deliver you, and in seven evil shall not touch you.

1. Literally “In,” or “By”

²⁰ In famine he will redeem you from death, and in war from the ⌞power of⌟¹ the sword.

1. Literally “hand of”

²¹ From the scourge of the tongue you shall be hidden, and you shall not be afraid of¹ destruction when it comes.

1. Hebrew “from”

²² At destruction and famine¹ you shall laugh, and you shall not fear the wild animals of the earth.

1. Hebrew “at famine”

²³ For your covenant will be with the stones of the field, and the wild animals¹ of the field will be at peace with you.

1. Collective singular

²⁴ And you shall know that your tent is safe, and you will inspect your fold, and you shall not be missing anything.

²⁵ And you shall know that your offspring are many, and your descendants like the vegetation of the earth.

²⁶ You shall come in maturity to the grave, as the raising up of a stack of sheaves in its season.

²⁷ “Look, we have searched this out—it is true; hear it and know it ⌞yourself⌟.”¹

1. Literally “you for yourself”

Job’s Second Speech: A Response to Eliphaz

¹  Then¹ Job answered and said,

1. Hebrew “And”

² “If only my vexation could be well weighed, and my calamity could be lifted up together with it in the balances,

³ for then it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore my words have been rash,

⁴ for the arrows of Shaddai are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.

⁵ Does the wild ass bray over grass, or the ox bellow over its fodder?

⁶ Can tasteless food be eaten without¹ salt, or is there taste in the white of a marshmallow plant?

1. Hebrew “from without”

⁷ ⌞I refused⌟¹ to touch them; they are like ⌞food that will make me ill⌟.²

1. Literally “My soul/throat refuses”
2. Literally “the illness of my bread/food”

⁸ “⌞O that⌟¹ my request may come, and that God may grant my hope,

1. Literally “Who would give”

⁹ that¹ God would decide that² he would crush me, that he would let loose his hand and ⌞kill me⌟.³

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Hebrew “and”
3. Literally “he would cut me off”

¹⁰ But¹ it will still be my consolation, and I would recoil in ⌞unrelenting⌟² pain, for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Literally “he/it does not have compassion,” or “he/it does not have pity,” or “he/it does not spare”

¹¹ What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that ⌞I should hold out⌟?¹

1. Literally “I should make my self long,” or “I should lengthen my self”

¹² Or is my strength like the strength of stones? Or is my flesh bronze?

¹³ ⌞Indeed⌟,¹ my help is not in me, and any success is driven from me.

1. An interrogative marker plus “if”

¹⁴ “Loyal love¹ should come for the afflicted from his friend, even if² he forsakes the fear of Shaddai.

1. Or “Kindness”
2. Hebrew “and”

¹⁵ My companions are treacherous like a torrent-bed; like a streambed of wadis¹ they flow away,

1. A seasonal stream that is often dry

¹⁶ which are growing dark because of ice upon them, it will pile up snow.

¹⁷ In time they dry up, they disappear; when it is hot, they vanish from their place.

¹⁸ The paths of their way wind around; they go up into the wasteland, and they perish.

¹⁹ The caravans of Tema looked; the traveling merchants of Sheba hope for them.

²⁰ They are disappointed, because they trusted; they came ⌞here⌟¹ and they are confounded.

1. Literally “up to it”

²¹ “For now you¹ have become ⌞such⌟;² you see terrors, and you fear.

1. Plural throughout the rest of this chapter
2. Literally “to it,” or “for it”

²² Is it because I have said, ‘Give to me,’ or,¹ ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth’?

1. Hebrew “and”

²³ or,¹ ‘Save me from the foe’s hand,’ or,² ‘Ransom me from the tyrants’ hand’?

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Hebrew “And”

²⁴ Teach me, and I myself¹ will be silent; and make me understand how I have gone astray.

1. Emphatic personal pronoun

²⁵ How painful are ⌞upright words⌟!¹ But² what does ⌞your reproof⌟³ reprove?

1. Literally “words of uprightness”
2. Hebrew “And”
3. Literally “reproving from you”

²⁶ Do you intend to reprove my words¹ and consider the words of a desperate man as wind?

1. Or “Do you intend to reprove with words”

²⁷ Even over the orphan you would cast the lot, and you would bargain over your friend.

²⁸ “⌞Therefore⌟¹ be prepared, turn to me, and I surely will not lie to your face.²

1. Literally “And now,” or “And so then”
2. Hebrew “faces”

²⁹ Please turn, let no injustice happen; indeed,¹ turn, ⌞my righteousness is still intact⌟.²

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Literally “still my righteousness is in it”

³⁰ Is there injustice on my tongue? Or can my palate not discern calamity?¹

1. Or “calamities”

Job’s Second Speech: A Response to Eliphaz

¹ “Does not ⌞a human being¹ have hard service⌟² on earth? And are not his³ days like the days of a laborer?

1. Or a collective singular, “human beings”
2. Literally “hard service for a human being”
3. Or a collective singular, “their”

² Like a slave he longs for the shadow, and like a laborer he waits for his wages.

³ So ⌞I had to inherit⌟¹ months of worthlessness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me.

1. Literally “I am allotted to me”

⁴ When I lie down, I say,¹ ‘When shall I rise?’ But² the night is long, and I have my fill of tossing until dawn.

1. Hebrew “and I say”
2. Hebrew “And”

⁵ My body is clothed with maggots and clods of dust; my skin hardens, then¹ it gives way again.

1. Hebrew “and”

⁶ “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and they come to an end ⌞without hope⌟.¹

1. Literally “with nothing hope”

⁷ Remember that my life is a breath; my eye will not return to see good.

⁸ The eye of the one seeing me will not see me; your eyes are upon me, but¹ ⌞I will be gone⌟.²

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Literally “there is not me,” or “I am not”

⁹ A cloud vanishes, and it goes away, so he who goes down to Sheol will not come up.

¹⁰ He does not return again to his house, and his place does not recognize him again.

¹¹ “Even¹ I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in my spirit’s anguish; I will complain in my inner self’s² bitterness.

1. Or “I on my part”
2. Or “soul’s”

¹² Am I the sea, or a sea monster, that you set a guard over me?

¹³ When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me, and my couch¹ will ease my complaint,’

1. Or “bed”

¹⁴ then¹ you terrify me with dreams,² and with visions you terrify³ me.

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Or “the dreams”
3. Or “dishearten,” or “frighten”

¹⁵ So¹ my inner self² will choose³ strangling— death more than my ⌞existence⌟.⁴

1. Or “And”
2. Or “soul”
3. Or “I will choose”
4. Literally “bones”

¹⁶ I loathe my life; I would not live forever; depart from me, for my days are a breath.

¹⁷ “What is a human being that you make him great and that ⌞you fix your mind on him⌟,¹

1. Literally “you set on him your heart”

¹⁸ so that¹ you visit him ⌞every morning⌟,² you test him ⌞every moment⌟?³

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Literally “for mornings,” or “at mornings”
3. Literally “for moments,” or “at moments”

¹⁹ ⌞How long⌟¹ will you not turn away from me? Or not leave me alone until I swallow² my spit?

1. Literally “Like what”
2. Or “my swallowing”

²⁰ If I have sinned, what have I done to you, watcher of humanity? Why have you made me as a target for yourself, so that¹ I have become a burden to myself?²

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Some translations translate as “you” (e.g., ESV, NRSV, NIV, NET)

²¹ And why do you not pardon my transgression and take away my guilt? For now I shall lie in the dust, and you will seek me, but¹ ⌞I will be no more⌟.”²

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Literally “there is not me,” or “I am not”

Bildad’s First Response to Job

¹ Then¹ Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,²

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Hebrew “he said”

² “⌞How long⌟¹ will you say these things, and the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?

1. Literally “Until when”

³ Does God pervert justice, ⌞or⌟¹ Shaddai pervert righteousness?

1. Literally “and if”

⁴ If your children sinned against him, then¹ he sent them into the ⌞power⌟² of their transgression.

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Literally “hand”

⁵ If you yourself¹ would seek God, then² you would plead to Shaddai for grace.

1. Emphatic personal pronoun
2. Hebrew “and”

⁶ If you are pure and upright, indeed,¹ now he will rouse himself for you, and he will restore your righteous abode.

1. Or “even,” or “yes”

⁷ Though¹ your beginning was small, your end² will be very great.

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Hebrew “and your end”

⁸ “Indeed,¹ please inquire of former generations, and consider ⌞what their ancestors have found⌟,²

1. Or “For”
2. Literally “as to the finding of their fathers”

⁹ for we are of yesterday, and we do not know, for our days on earth are a shadow.

¹⁰ Will they themselves¹ not teach you and ⌞tell you⌟² and ⌞utter⌟³ words from their heart?

1. Emphatic personal pronoun
2. Literally “they will say to you”
3. Literally “they will bring out”

¹¹ Can papyrus grow tall where there is not a marsh? Will reeds flourish without water?¹

1. Or “where there is no water”

¹² While it is in its flower and is not plucked, yet¹ it withers ⌞before⌟² all grass.

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Literally “to the faces of”

¹³ So are the paths of all who forget God; and the hope of the godless will perish,

¹⁴ whose confidence is cut off and ⌞whose trust⌟¹ is a spider’s house.

1. Literally “his trust”

¹⁵ He will lean himself against his house, but¹ it will not stand; he will take hold of it, but² it will not endure.

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Hebrew “and”

¹⁶ He is ⌞thriving⌟¹ ⌞before⌟² the sun, and his plant shoots spread over his garden.

1. Literally “soaked,” or “well-watered”
2. Literally “to the faces of”

¹⁷ His roots twine over a stone heap; he sees a house of stone.

¹⁸ If he destroys him from his place, then¹ it deceives him, saying, ‘I have never seen you.’

1. Hebrew “and”

¹⁹ Look, this is the joy of his way, and from dust others will spring up.

²⁰ “Look, God will not reject the blameless, and he will not uphold the hand of evildoers.

²¹ Yet he will fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with a shout of joy.

²² Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked ⌞will be no more⌟.”¹

1. Literally “there is not it,” or “it is not”

Job’s Third Speech: A Response to Bildad

¹ Then¹ Job answered and said,

1. Hebrew “And”

² “Truly I know that it is so, but¹ how can a human being be just before God?

1. Hebrew “and”

³ If he wants to contend with him, he cannot answer him one time in a thousand.

⁴ He is wise in¹ heart and mighty in² strength; who has resisted him and succeeded?³

1. Hebrew “of”
2. Hebrew “of”
3. Literally “he succeeded”

⁵ “He is the one who moves mountains, and they do not know how, who overturns them in his anger.

⁶ He is the one who shakes the earth from its place, and its pillars tremble.

⁷ He is the one who commands the sun, and it does not rise, ⌞and he seals up the stars⌟.¹

1. Literally “and behind the stars he seals up”

⁸ He is the one who alone stretches out the heavens and who tramples on the waves of the sea.

⁹ He is the one who made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.

¹⁰ He is the one who does great things ⌞beyond understanding⌟¹ and marvelous things ⌞beyond number⌟.²

1. Literally “until there is not understanding”
2. Literally “until there is not number”

¹¹ “⌞If⌟¹ he passes by me, ⌞I would not see him⌟;² and if he should move on, ⌞I would not recognize him⌟.³

1. Literally “Look”
2. Literally “and I would not see”
3. Literally “and I would not recognize him”

¹² ⌞If⌟¹ he would snatch away, who could turn him? Who could say to him, ‘What are you doing?’

1. Literally “Look”

¹³ God will not turn back his anger; beneath him the helpers of Rahab bow.

¹⁴ ⌞How much less⌟¹ can I myself² answer him? How can I choose my words with him,

1. Literally “Also for”
2. Emphatic personal pronoun

¹⁵ whom I cannot answer, even though I am righteous? From¹ my judge I must implore grace.

1. Hebrew “To”

¹⁶ If I summon him, and he should answer me, I do not believe that he will listen to my voice—

¹⁷ who crushes me with a tempest and multiplies¹ my wounds without cause.

1. Hebrew “he multiplies”

¹⁸ He will not allow me to ⌞catch⌟¹ my breath; rather, he will fill me with bitterness.

1. Literally “return,” or “regain”

¹⁹ If ⌞it is a matter of⌟¹ strength, look, he is mighty. But² if ⌞it is a matter of⌟³ justice, who can summon me?⁴

1. Literally “for”; see NASB, NIV, NET
2. Hebrew “And”
3. Literally “for”; NASB, NIV, NET, NRSV
4. Or “arraign me”

²⁰ Even though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me; even though I am blameless, yet¹ it would pronounce me guilty.

1. Hebrew “and”

²¹ “I am blameless; I do not care about myself;¹ I loathe my life.

1. Perhaps the meaning is “but it makes no difference to me” (NLT)

²² It is all one; therefore I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’

²³ When the whip¹ kills suddenly, he mocks at the despair of the innocent.

1. Or “scourge”

²⁴ The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covers the face of its judge— if it is not he, then who is it?

²⁵ “And my days are swifter than a runner; they flee away; they do not see good.

²⁶ They go by like papyrus skiffs, like an eagle swoops down on its prey.

²⁷ Though¹ ⌞I say⌟,² ‘I will forget my complaint; I will change my expression, and I will rejoice,’

1. Or “If”
2. Literally “my saying”

²⁸ I become afraid of all my sufferings; I know that you do not consider me innocent.

²⁹ If I shall be declared guilty, why then should I labor in vain?

³⁰ If I wash myself with soap,¹ and I cleanse my hands with lye,

1. Or “with snow,” or “in snow”

³¹ then you plunge me into the slime pit, and my clothes abhor me.

³² “For¹ he is not a mortal like me that I can answer him, that ⌞we can come to trial together⌟.²

1. Or the emphatic “Indeed”
2. Literally “we come together in the justice,” or “we come together in the judgment”

³³ There is no arbiter between us that he might lay his hand on both of us.

³⁴ May he remove his rod from me, and let his dread not terrify me;

³⁵ then I would speak and not fear him,¹ for ⌞in myself I am not fearful⌟.²

1. Hebrew “and I will not fear him”
2. Literally “not so I with me”

Job Continues His Response to Bildad

¹ “My inner self¹ loathes my life; ⌞I want to give vent to my complaint⌟;² I want to speak out of the bitterness of my inner self.³

1. Or “soul”
2. Literally “I want to let go upon me my complaint”
3. Or “soul”

² I will say to God, ‘You should not condemn me; let me know why you contend against me.

³ Is it good for you that you oppress, that you despise the labor of your hands, and you smile over the schemes of the wicked?

⁴ ⌞Do you have eyes of flesh⌟?¹ Or ⌞do you see as human beings see⌟?²

1. Literally “Are eyes of flesh for you”
2. Literally “as seeing of human beings you see”

⁵ Are your days as the days of human beings, or your years as the days of man,

⁶ that you seek out my iniquity, and you search for my sin

⁷ because of your knowledge that I am not guilty, and there is no escaping from your hand?

⁸ Your hands fashioned me and made me¹ ⌞altogether⌟,² then³ you destroyed me.

1. Hebrew “they made me”
2. Literally “together all around”
3. Or “and”

⁹ Please¹ remember that you made me like clay, but² you turn me into dust again?

1. Or an untranslatable particle expressing urgency
2. Hebrew “and”

¹⁰ Did you not pour me out like milk and ⌞curdle me⌟¹ like cheese?

1. Literally “you did curdle me”

¹¹ You clothed me with skin and flesh, and you knit me together with bones and sinews.

¹² You have granted me life and loyal love, and your care has preserved my spirit.

¹³ “ ‘Yet¹ you hid these things in your heart; I know that this ⌞was your purpose⌟.²

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Literally “was with you”

¹⁴ If I had sinned, then¹ you would be watching me, and you would not acquit me of my guilt.

1. Hebrew “and”

¹⁵ If I am guilty, woe to me! But¹ if I am righteous, I dare not lift my head; I am filled with shame, and just look at my misery!

1. Hebrew “And”

¹⁶ And if my head grows bold, you would hunt me as the lion in its prime; ⌞and you repeat your exploits against me⌟.¹

1. Literally “and you do again you display marvelous powers against me”

¹⁷ You renew your witnesses against me, and you increase your vexation against me; ⌞relief forces⌟¹ are against me.

1. Literally “substitute and forces”

¹⁸ So¹ why did you bring me forth from the womb? I should have passed away, ⌞and no eye should have seen me⌟.²

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Literally “and an eye should not have seen me”

¹⁹ I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been brought from the womb to the grave.

²⁰ Are not my days few? Let him leave me alone; let him turn from me, and let me rejoice a little.

²¹ Before I go—and I will not return— to the land of darkness and deep shadow,

²² to the land of darkness, like the darkness of a deep shadow and ⌞chaos⌟,¹ so that² it shines forth like darkness.’ ”

1. Literally “and not order”
2. Or “and”

Zophar’s First Response to Job

¹ Then¹ Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

1. Hebrew “And”

² “Should an abundance of words go unanswered, or ⌞a man full of talk⌟¹ be vindicated?²

1. Literally “a man of lips”
2. Hebrew “should he be vindicated”

³ Should your loose talk put people to silence? ⌞And when you mock, shall no one put you to shame⌟?¹

1. Literally “And you will mock there is not putting to shame”

⁴ For you say, ‘My teaching is pure, and I am clean in your sight.’

⁵ But,¹ ⌞O that⌟² God might speak, and that he would open his lips to you,

1. Hebrew “And but”
2. Literally “who shall give”

⁶ and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom, for ⌞insight has many sides⌟.¹ And know that God ⌞on your behalf⌟² has forgotten ⌞some of⌟³ your guilt.

1. Literally “double to sound wisdom”
2. Literally “for you”
3. Literally “from”

⁷ “Can you find out the essence of God, or can you find out ⌞the ultimate limits⌟¹ of Shaddai?

1. Literally “up to the limit”

⁸ ⌞It is higher than the heaven⌟;¹ what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol; what can you know?

1. Literally “heights of heaven”

⁹ Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.

¹⁰ “If he passes through and imprisons someone¹ ⌞and summons the assembly⌟,² then³ who can hinder him?

1. Hebrew “and he imprisons”
2. Literally “and he summons”
3. Hebrew “and”

¹¹ For he knows ⌞those who are worthless⌟;¹ ⌞when he sees⌟² iniquity, ⌞he will not consider it⌟.³

1. Literally “men of worthlessness”
2. Literally “And he will see”
3. Literally “and he will not consider”

¹² But¹ ⌞an empty-headed person⌟² will get understanding when³ a wild donkey’s colt is born as a human being.

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Literally “a man hollowed out”
3. Hebrew “and”

¹³ “If you yourself¹ direct your heart and stretch out your hands to him—

1. Emphatic personal pronoun

¹⁴ if iniquity¹ is in your hand, put it far away, and you must not let wickedness reside in your tents—

1. See v. 11, where the same word is used

¹⁵ surely then you will lift up your face without¹ blemish, and you will be firmly established and will not fear.²

1. Hebrew “from”
2. Hebrew “and not will you fear”

¹⁶ For you yourself¹ will forget your misery; you will remember it as water that has flowed past.

1. Emphatic personal pronoun

¹⁷ “⌞And your life will be brighter than noon⌟;¹ its darkness will be like the morning.

1. Literally “And from noon lifespan will arise”

¹⁸ And you will have confidence because there is hope; and you will be well protected—⌞you will sleep in safety⌟.¹

1. Literally “you will lie down securely”

¹⁹ And you will lie down, and ⌞no one will make you afraid⌟;¹ ⌞and many will entreat your favor⌟.²

1. Literally “there is not making afraid”
2. Literally “and they will appease/implore your faces many”

²⁰ But¹ the eyes of the wicked will fail; and refuge will be lost to them, and their hope is ⌞to breathe their last breath⌟.”²

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Literally “the expiring of soul”

Job’s Fourth Speech

¹  Then¹ Job answered and said,

1. Hebrew “And”

² “Truly indeed you¹ are the people, and wisdom will die with you.²

1. Plural
2. Plural

³ ⌞I also have insight⌟¹ like you;² I am not more inferior than you.³ And ⌞who does not know things like these⌟?⁴

1. Literally “Also for me heart”
2. Plural
3. Plural
4. Literally “and who there is not like these”

⁴ I am a laughingstock to my friends:¹ ‘He calls on God, and he answers him.’ A righteous, blameless man is a laughingstock.

1. Hebrew “to his friends”

⁵ ⌞Those at ease have contempt⌟¹ for the thought of ⌞disaster⌟,² but it is ready for those unstable of foot.

1. Literally “Contempt is according to the thought of the complacent”
2. Literally “a torch”

⁶ The tents of the destroyers are at peace, and there is security for those who provoke God, for those whom God brings into his hand.¹

1. Or “power”

⁷ “But¹ ask² the animals, and they will teach you, and the birds of the heaven, and they will tell you;

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Or “ask now,” or “please ask”

⁸ or ask the earth, and it will teach you, and the fishes of the sea will declare to you.

⁹ Who among all of these does not know that Yahweh’s hand has done this?

¹⁰ In whose hand is the life of all living things and ⌞the breath of every human being⌟?¹

1. Literally “the breath of all the flesh of man”

¹¹ Does not the ear test words and the palate taste food for itself?

¹² Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding is in length of days.

¹³ “With him are wisdom and powerful deeds, and to him belong counsel and understanding.

¹⁴ If he tears down, then¹ it will not be rebuilt; if he shuts a man in, then² he cannot be freed.

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Hebrew “and”

¹⁵ Look, if he withholds the water,¹ then² they dry up; and if he sends them out, then³ they overwhelm the land.

1. Or “waters”
2. Hebrew “and”
3. Hebrew “and”

¹⁶ “Strength and sound wisdom are with him; the deceived and the deceiver are his.¹

1. Or “for him”

¹⁷ He leads counselors away stripped, and he makes fools of judges.

¹⁸ He loosens the fetters of kings, and he binds a loincloth on their loins.

¹⁹ He leads priests away stripped, and he overthrows ⌞the members of ancient families⌟.¹

1. Literally “the constant”

²⁰ He deprives the trustworthy of speech, and he takes away the discretion of elders.

²¹ He pours contempt on noblemen, and he loosens the girdle of the mighty.

²² “He uncovers mysteries out of darkness, and he brings deep shadow to the light.

²³ He makes the nations great, then¹ he destroys them; he expands the nations, then² he guides them.

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Hebrew “and”

²⁴ He strips away the insight of the heads of the earth’s people, and he makes them wander in ⌞a pathless wasteland⌟.¹

1. Literally “in a wasteland not a way”

²⁵ They grope in the dark ⌞without⌟¹ light, and he makes them stagger like a² drunkard.

1. Literally “and not”
2. Hebrew “the”

Job’s Fourth Speech Continues

¹ “Look, my eye has seen everything; my ear has heard and has understood it.

² ⌞What you¹ know⌟,² I myself³ also know— I am not more inferior than you.⁴

1. Plural
2. Literally “Like your knowledge”
3. Emphatic personal pronoun
4. Plural

³ But I would speak to Shaddai, and I desire to argue with God.

⁴ “But¹ you² ⌞whitewash with lies⌟;³ all of you⁴ are ⌞worthless healers⌟.⁵

1. Or “And but”
2. Plural
3. Literally “coverers of lies”
4. Plural
5. Literally “healers of worthlessness”

⁵ ⌞O that⌟¹ you² would keep completely silent, and that it would become wisdom for you.³

1. Literally “Who shall give”
2. Plural
3. Plural

⁶ Please hear my argument, and listen attentively to the pleadings of my lips.

⁷ “Will you¹ speak falsely for God? And will you² speak deceitfully for him?

1. Plural
2. Plural

⁸ ⌞Will you¹ show partiality for him⌟?² Or do you³ want to plead God’s case?

1. Plural
2. Literally “his faces will you raise”
3. Plural

⁹ Will it be well, if he examines you?¹ Or can you² deceive him like deceiving a human being?

1. Plural
2. Plural

¹⁰ “Surely he will rebuke you¹ if ⌞you² show partiality⌟³ in secret.

1. Plural
2. Plural
3. Literally “faces you lift up”

¹¹ Will not his majesty terrify you,¹ and his dread fall upon you?²

1. Plural
2. Plural

¹² Your¹ maxims are proverbs of ashes; your² defenses are defenses of clay.

1. Plural
2. Plural

¹³ “⌞Let me have silence⌟,¹ and I myself² will speak, and let come over me whatever may.

1. Literally “Be silent away from me”
2. Emphatic personal pronoun

¹⁴ Why should I take my flesh in my teeth and¹ put² my life in my hand?

1. Hebrew “now”
2. Or “should I put,” or “will I put”

¹⁵ Look,¹ though he kill me, I will hope in² him; however, I will defend my ways ⌞before him⌟.³

1. Or “Though”
2. Or “for”
3. Literally “to his faces”

¹⁶ Moreover, this is salvation to me, that the godless would not come ⌞before him⌟.¹

1. Literally “to his faces”

¹⁷ “Listen carefully to my words, and let my exposition be in your ears.

¹⁸ Please look,¹ I have prepared my case; I know that I myself² will be vindicated.

1. Or “Look here”
2. Emphatic personal pronoun

Job Argues His Case with God

¹⁹ Who is he who will contend with me? For ⌞then⌟ I would be silent, and I would pass away.

²⁰ “Only you¹ must not do these two things to me; then I will not hide from your face:

1. Singular; the antecedent is God

²¹ withdraw your¹ hand from me, and let not your² dread terrify me.

1. Singular
2. Singular

²² Then¹ call, and I myself² will answer; or let me speak, then³ reply to me.

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Emphatic personal pronoun
3. Hebrew “and”

²³ “⌞How many⌟¹ are my iniquities and sins? Make known to me my transgression and my sin.

1. Literally “Like what”

²⁴ Why do you¹ hide your² face and count me as your³ enemy?

1. Singular
2. Singular
3. Singular

²⁵ Will you¹ terrify a blown leaf? And will you² pursue dry stubble?

1. Singular
2. Singular

²⁶ “Indeed, you¹ write bitter things against me, and you² make me reap the iniquities of my childhood.

1. Singular
2. Singular

²⁷ And you¹ put my feet in the block, and you² watch all my paths; you carve a mark on the soles of my feet.³

1. Singular
2. Singular
3. Or “You mark/note my footprints”

²⁸ And he himself¹ wastes away like something rotten, like a garment that the moth has eaten.

1. Emphatic personal pronoun

Job Continues to Argue His Case with God

¹ “A human being born of a woman is short of days and full of troubles.¹

1. Literally “trouble”

² Like a flower he comes up, and he withers away; and he flees like a¹ shadow, but² he does not last.

1. Or “the”
2. Hebrew “and”

³ Even on such a one you fix your eyes, and you bring me into judgment with you.

⁴ “Who can bring a clean thing from an unclean thing? No one!¹

1. Or “Not one”

⁵ If his days are determined, the number of his months is with you; you have appointed his boundaries, and he cannot cross them.

⁶ Look away from him, and let him desist until he enjoys his days like a laborer.

⁷ “Indeed, there is hope for a tree: if it is cut down, then¹ it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not cease;

1. Hebrew “and”

⁸ though its root grows old in the earth, and its stump dies in the dust,

⁹ at¹ the scent of water it will bud, and it will put forth branches like a young plant.

1. Hebrew “from”

¹⁰ “But¹ a man dies, and he dwindles away; thus² a human being passes away, and where is he?³

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Hebrew “And”
3. Or “where is he then?”

¹¹ As water disappears from a lake, and a river withers away and dries up,¹

1. Or “it dries up”

¹² ⌞so⌟¹ a man lies down, and he does not arise. ⌞Until the heavens are no more⌟,² they will not awaken, and they will not be roused out of their sleep.

1. Literally “and”
2. Literally “Until not heavens”

¹³ “⌞O that⌟¹ you would conceal me in Sheol, that you would hide me ⌞until your wrath is past⌟,² that you would appoint a set time for me and remember me.

1. Literally “Who shall give”
2. Literally “until the return of your nose”

¹⁴ If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my compulsory service I will wait, until the coming of my relief.

¹⁵ You would call, and I myself¹ would answer you; you would long for the work of your hand.

1. Emphatic personal pronoun

¹⁶ For then¹ you would count my steps, but you would not keep watch over my sin.

1. Hebrew “now”

¹⁷ My transgression would be sealed in a bag, and you would cover over my guilt.

¹⁸ “But¹ a mountain falls; it crumbles away, and a rock moves away from its place.

1. Or “And but”

¹⁹ Water wears away stones; its torrents wash away the soil of the earth; so¹ you destroy the hope of human beings.

1. Hebrew “and”

²⁰ You overpower him forever, and he passes away; you change ⌞his countenance⌟,¹ ⌞then⌟² you send him away.

1. Literally “his faces”
2. Hebrew “and”

²¹ His children may come to honor, but¹ he does not know it; or² they may become lowly, but³ he does not realize it.⁴

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Hebrew “and”
3. Hebrew “and”
4. Or “them”

²² He feels only the pain of his own body,¹ and his inner self² mourns for him.”³

1. Hebrew “his body on him”
2. Or “soul”
3. Or “for himself”

Eliphaz’s Second Response to Job

¹ Then¹ Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

1. Hebrew “And”

² “Should the wise answer with windy knowledge, and should he fill his stomach with the east wind?

³ Should he argue in talk that is not profitable or in words with which he cannot do good?

⁴ “⌞What is worse⌟,¹ you yourself² are doing away with fear, and you are lessening meditation ⌞before⌟³ God.

1. Literally “Also,” or “Even”
2. Emphatic personal pronoun
3. Literally “to the faces of”

⁵ For your iniquity teaches your mouth, and you choose the tongue of the crafty.

⁶ Your mouth condemns you, and not I; and your lips testify against you.

⁷ “Were you born the firstborn of the human race? And were you brought forth ⌞before⌟¹ the hills?

1. Literally “to the faces of”

⁸ Have you listened in God’s confidential discussion? And do you limit wisdom to yourself?

⁹ What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that is not clear to us?

¹⁰ Both the gray-haired and the old are among us— ⌞those older than your father⌟.¹

1. Literally “more aged than your father in days”

¹¹ “Are the consolations of God too small for you, a word spoken gently with you?

¹² Why does your heart carry you away? And why do your eyes flash,

¹³ that you turn your spirit against God, and you let such words go out of your mouth?

¹⁴ “What is a human being, that he can be clean, or¹ that one born of a woman can be righteous?

1. Or “and”

¹⁵ Look, he does not trust his holy ones, and the heavens are not clean in his eyes.

¹⁶ ⌞How much less⌟¹ he who is abominable and corrupt,² a man drinking wickedness like water.

1. Literally “Also for,” or “Indeed for,” or “Indeed that”
2. Or “he who is corrupt”

¹⁷ “I will show you, listen to me; and what I have seen, I will tell¹—

1. Literally “and I will tell”

¹⁸ what wise men have told, and they have not hidden that which is from their ancestors,

¹⁹ ⌞to whom alone⌟¹ the land was given, and no stranger passed through their midst.

1. Literally “to them to alone them”

²⁰ “All of the wicked one’s days he is writhing, even¹ through the number of years that are laid up for the tyrant.

1. Hebrew “and”

²¹ Sounds of terror are in his ears; in prosperity the destroyer will come against him.

²² ⌞He cannot trust that he will return⌟¹ from darkness, and he himself² is destined for the sword.

1. Literally “He cannot trust to return,” or “He is not certain to return,” or “He cannot be sure to return” (compare NJPS)
2. Emphatic personal pronoun

²³ “He is wandering for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?’ He knows that a day of darkness is ready ⌞at hand⌟.¹

1. Hebrew “at his hand”; the meaning seems to be, “his ruin is certain”

²⁴ Anguish and distress terrify him; they¹ overpower him like a king ready for the battle.

1. Hebrew “it”

²⁵ Because he stretched out his hand against God, and he was arrogant to Shaddai;

²⁶ he ⌞stubbornly⌟¹ runs against him ⌞with his thick-bossed shield⌟.²

1. Literally “with neck”
2. Literally “with the thickness of the boss of his shield”

²⁷ “Because he has covered his face with his fat and has gathered fat upon his loins,

²⁸ ⌞he will dwell⌟¹ in desolate cities, in houses that they should not inhabit, which are destined for rubble.

1. Hebrew “and he will dwell”

²⁹ He will not become rich, and his wealth will not endure, and their possessions will not stretch across the earth.¹

1. See HCSB, ESV; or “will not reach to the earth”; perhaps “his possessions will not go to the underworld”

³⁰ “He will not escape from darkness; a flame will dry up his new shoot, and by the wind of his mouth he shall be removed.

³¹ Let him not trust in emptiness—he will be deceiving himself— for worthlessness will be his recompense.

³² It will be paid in full ⌞before his time⌟,¹ and his branch will not flourish.

1. Literally “in not his day,” or “without his day”

³³ “He will shake off his unripe fruit like the vine, and he will cast off his blossom like the olive tree;

³⁴ for the company of the godless is barren, and fire consumes the tents of those who accept bribes.

³⁵ They conceive trouble and bring forth mischief, and their womb prepares deceit.”

Job’s Fifth Speech

¹ Then¹ Job answered and said,

1. Hebrew “And”

² “I have heard many things like these; all of you are ⌞miserable comforters⌟.¹

1. Literally “comforters of trouble”

³ Is there a limit to windy words? What provokes you that you answer?

⁴ I myself¹ also could talk as you, if ⌞you were in my place⌟;² I could join against you with words, and I could shake at you with my head.

1. Emphatic personal pronoun;
2. Literally “there is your soul in place of my soul”

⁵ I could¹ encourage you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips would² ease the pain.

1. Or “would”
2. Or “should”

⁶ If I speak, my pain is not relieved; and if I cease, how much will leave me?

⁷ “Surely now he has worn me out; you¹ have devastated all my company.

1. Singular

⁸ Thus¹ you shriveled me up;² it became a witness. And my leanness has risen up against me; it testifies to my face.

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Or “you have seized me”

⁹ His wrath has torn, and he has been hostile toward me; he gnashed at me with his teeth. My foe sharpens his eyes against me.

¹⁰ They gaped at me with their mouth; they struck my cheeks with disgrace; they have massed themselves together against me.

¹¹ God delivers me to an evil one, and he casts me into the hands of the wicked.

¹² “I was at ease, then¹ he broke me in two, and he seized me by my neck; then² he shattered me and set me up as a target for him.

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Hebrew “and”

¹³ His archers surround me; he slashes open my kidneys, and he does not have compassion; he pours out my gall on the ground.

¹⁴ He breached me ⌞breach upon breach⌟;¹ he rushes at me like a warrior.

1. Literally “breach upon the faces of breach”

¹⁵ “I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and I have inserted ⌞my pride⌟¹ in the dust.

1. Literally “my horn”

¹⁶ My face is red because of weeping, and deep shadows are on my eyelids,

¹⁷ ⌞although⌟¹ violence is not on my hands, and my prayer is pure.

1. Literally “upon,” or “because”

¹⁸ “O earth, you should not cover my blood, and let there be no place¹ for my cry for help.

1. Or “do not let it become a place”

¹⁹ So now look, my witness is in the heavens, and he who vouches for me is in the heights.

²⁰ My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God,

²¹ and it argues¹ for a mortal with God, and as ⌞a human⌟² for his friend.

1. Or “but may someone argue”
2. Literally “a son of man”

²² Indeed, after ⌞a few years⌟¹ have come, then² I will go the way from which I will not return.

1. Literally “years of number”
2. Hebrew “and”

Job’s Fifth Speech, Continued

¹ “My spirit is pulled down; my days are extinguished; the graveyard is for me.

² ⌞Surely⌟¹ mockery is with me, and my eye ⌞rests⌟² on their provocation.

1. Literally “If not”
2. Literally “spends the night”

³ Please lay down a pledge for me with yourself; who is he who will give security for my hand?¹

1. Or “who will give security for me?”

⁴ Indeed,¹ you have closed their mind from understanding; therefore, you will not let them triumph.

1. Or “For”

⁵ He denounces friends for reward, so¹ his children’s eyes will fail.

1. Hebrew “and”

⁶ “And he has made me a proverb for¹ the peoples, ⌞and I am one before whom people spit⌟.²

1. Hebrew “of”
2. Literally “and spitting to the faces I am”

⁷ And my eye has grown dim from grief, and the limbs of my body are all¹ like a shadow.

1. Hebrew “all of them”

⁸ The upright are appalled at this, and the innocent excites himself over the godless.

⁹ But¹ the righteous holds on to his way, and ⌞he who has clean hands⌟² increases in strength.

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Literally “the clean of hands”

¹⁰ But¹ ⌞all of you must return⌟²—⌞please come⌟!³ But⁴ I shall not find a wise person among you.

1. Literally “And but”
2. Literally “all of them you must return”
3. Literally “and please come,” or “come on!”
4. Hebrew “And”

¹¹ “My days are past; my plans are broken down— even the desires of my heart.

¹² They make night into day, saying, ‘Light is ⌞near to darkness⌟.’¹

1. Literally “near from the faces of darkness”

¹³ If I hope for Sheol as my house, if I spread my couch in the darkness,

¹⁴ if I call to the pit, ‘You are my father,’ to the maggot, ‘You are my mother or¹ my sister,’

1. Or “and”

¹⁵ where¹ then is my hope? And ⌞who will see my hope⌟?²

1. Hebrew “and where”
2. Literally “my hope who will see it”

¹⁶ Will they go down to the bars of Sheol? Or shall we descend together into the dust?”

Bildad’s Second Speech

¹ Then¹ Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,

1. Hebrew “And”

² “⌞How long⌟¹ ⌞will you² hunt for words⌟?³ Consider,⁴ and afterward we shall speak.

1. Literally “Until when”
2. Plural
3. Literally “will you set a snare for words”
4. Or “you should consider”; plural second person

³ Why are we considered as animals? Why are we taken as¹ stupid in your² eyes?

1. Or “considered”
2. Plural

⁴ “You who are tearing ⌞yourself⌟¹ in your² anger, will the earth be forsaken because of you?³ Or⁴ will the rock be removed from its place?

1. Literally “his soul,” or “his individual self”
2. Hebrew “his”
3. Singular
4. Hebrew “And”

⁵ Furthermore,¹ the light of the wicked is put out, and the flame of his fire will not shine.

1. Or “Also”

⁶ The light becomes dark in his tent, and his lamp above him is put out.

⁷ “⌞His strong steps⌟¹ are shortened, and his own schemes² throw him down,

1. Literally “The steps of his power”
2. Collective singular

⁸ for he is thrust into a net by his feet, and he walks into a pitfall.

⁹ A trap seizes him by the heel; a snare takes hold of him.

¹⁰ His rope is hidden in the ground, and his trap on the path.

¹¹ “Sudden terrors terrify him all around, and they chase him at his heels.

¹² His wealth will become hunger, and disaster is ready for his stumbling.

¹³ It consumes parts of his skin; the firstborn of death consumes his limbs.

¹⁴ He is torn from his tent ⌞in which he trusted⌟,¹ and it brought him to the king of terrors.

1. Literally “his trust”

¹⁵ “⌞Nothing⌟¹ remains for him in his tent; sulfur is scattered upon his dwelling place.

1. Literally “From not”

¹⁶ His roots dry up ⌞below⌟,¹ and its branches² wither away above.³

1. Literally “from under”
2. Singular collective
3. Hebrew “from above”

¹⁷ His remembrance perishes from the earth, and there is not a name for him on the street.

¹⁸ “They thrust him from light into darkness, and they drive him out from the world.

¹⁹ There is no offspring for him nor¹ a descendant among his people, and there is not a survivor in his abode.

1. Hebrew “and not”

²⁰ Those of the west are appalled over ⌞his fate⌟,¹ and those of the east ⌞are seized with horror⌟.²

1. Literally “his day”
2. Literally “they seize horror”

²¹ Surely these are the dwellings of the godless, and this is the dwelling place of him who knows not God.”

Job’s Sixth Speech: A Response to Bildad

¹  Then¹ Job answered and said,

1. Hebrew “And”

² “⌞How long⌟¹ will you² torment me³ and crush me with words?

1. Literally “Until when”
2. Plural
3. Hebrew “my soul,” or “my self”

³ These ten times you¹ have disgraced me; you² are not ashamed that you³ have attacked⁴ me.

1. Plural
2. Plural
3. Plural
4. Or “astonished”

⁴ And what is more, if I have truly erred, my error remains with me.

⁵ If indeed you¹ must magnify yourselves against me, and you² must let my disgrace argue against me,

1. Plural
2. Plural

⁶ know then that God has wronged me and has surrounded me with his net.

⁷ “Look, I cry out, ‘Violence!’ but¹ I am not answered; I cry out, but² there is no justice.

1. Or “and”
2. Hebrew “and”

⁸ He has walled up my way so that¹ I cannot pass; and he has set darkness upon my paths.

1. Hebrew “and”

⁹ He has taken my glory from me, and he has removed the crown of¹ my head.

1. Or “from”

¹⁰ He has broken me down all around, and I am gone. And he has uprooted my hope like a tree,

¹¹ and he has kindled his wrath against me, and ⌞he has counted me as one of his foes⌟.¹

1. Literally “he has counted me for him as his foes”

¹² His troops have come together and have thrown up their rampart¹ against me and have encamped around my tent.

1. Or “siege works”; compare NRSV

¹³ “He has removed my kinsfolk from me, and my acquaintances have only¹ turned aside from me.

1. Or “completely”

¹⁴ My relatives have failed, and my close friends have forgotten me.

¹⁵ The sojourners in¹ my house and my slave women count me as a stranger; I have become a foreigner in their eyes.

1. Or “of”

¹⁶ I call to my servant, but¹ he does not answer; I must ⌞personally⌟² plead with him.

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Literally “with my mouth”

¹⁷ My breath is repulsive to my wife, and I am loathsome to ⌞my own family⌟.¹

1. Literally “to the children of my womb”

¹⁸ Little boys also despise me; when I rise, then¹ they talk against me.

1. Hebrew “and”

¹⁹ All ⌞my intimate friends⌟¹ abhor me, and these whom I have loved have turned against me.

1. Literally “the men of the circle of my confidants”

²⁰ My bones¹ cling to my skin and to my flesh, and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.

1. Collective singular

²¹ “Pity me, pity me, you my friends, for God’s hand has touched me.

²² Why do you¹ pursue me like God? And are not satisfied with my flesh?

1. Plural

²³ “⌞O that⌟¹ my words could be written down! ⌞O that they could be inscribed in a scroll⌟!²

1. Literally “Who then shall give and”
2. Literally “Who shall give in the scroll and they could be inscribed”

²⁴ That with a pen of iron and with lead they might be engraved on a rock forever!

²⁵ But¹ I myself² know that my redeemer is alive, and at the last he will stand up upon ⌞the earth⌟.³

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Emphatic personal pronoun
3. Literally “dust”

²⁶ And after my skin has been thus destroyed, but¹ from² my flesh I will see God,

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Or “without”

²⁷ whom ⌞I will see for myself⌟,¹ and whom my eyes will see and not a stranger.² ⌞My heart faints within me⌟.³

1. Literally “I myself will see for myself”; emphatic personal pronoun as subject to the singular verb
2. Or “another”
3. Literally “My kidneys fail in my lap”; see NRSV

²⁸ “If you¹ say, ‘How will we persecute him?’ And ‘The root of the trouble is found’ in me,²

1. Plural
2. Or “ ‘The root of the trouble is found’ in him”

²⁹ be afraid for yourselves ⌞because of the sword⌟,¹ for wrath brings punishment by² the sword, so that you may know that there is judgment.”

1. Literally “from the faces of the sword”
2. Literally “of”

Zophar’s Second Speech

¹  Then¹ Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

1. Hebrew “And”

² “Therefore my disquieting thoughts bring me back ⌞for the sake of⌟¹ my inward excitement.²

1. Literally “and in because of”
2. Or “my inward haste”

³ I hear discipline that insults me, and a spirit beyond my understanding answers me.

⁴ “Did you¹ know this from of old, since the setting of the human being on earth,

1. Singular

⁵ that the rejoicing of the wicked is ⌞short⌟,¹ and the joy of the godless ⌞lasts only a moment⌟?²

1. Literally “from near”
2. Literally “is until a moment”

⁶ Even though his stature mounts up to the heaven, and his head reaches to the clouds,

⁷ he will perish forever like his dung; those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’

⁸ He will fly away like a dream, and they will not find him, and he will be chased away like a vision of the night.

⁹ The eye that saw him ⌞will not see him again⌟,¹ and his place will no longer behold him.

1. Literally “and it will not do again”

¹⁰ His children will seek favors from the poor, and his hands will return his wealth.

¹¹ His bones were full of his vigor, but¹ it will lie down with him on² the dust.

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Or “in”

¹² “Though wickedness tastes sweet in his mouth, and he hides it under his tongue,

¹³ though he spares it and does not let it go and holds it back in the midst of his palate,

¹⁴ in his bowels his food is turned, the venom of horned vipers is ⌞within him⌟.¹

1. Literally “in his entrails”

¹⁵ He swallows riches, but¹ he vomits them² up; God drives them³ out from his stomach.

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Hebrew “it”
3. Hebrew “it”

¹⁶ He will suck the poison of horned vipers; the viper’s tongue will kill him.

¹⁷ ⌞He will not enjoy the streams⌟,¹ the torrents of honey and curds.

1. Literally “He will not look on streams”

¹⁸ Returning the products of his toil, he will not swallow;¹ according to the profit of his trade, ⌞he will not enjoy⌟,²

1. Hebrew “and he will not swallow”
2. Literally “and he will not taste”

¹⁹ for he has oppressed; he has abandoned the poor; he has seized a house but¹ did not build it.

1. Or “and”

²⁰ Because he has not known satisfaction in his stomach, ⌞he lets nothing escape that he desires⌟.¹

1. Literally “in his desire he does not let be saved”

²¹ ⌞There is nothing left after he has eaten⌟;¹ therefore his prosperity will not endure.

1. Literally “There is not a remnant at his eating”

²² In the fullness of his excess ⌞he will be in distress⌟;¹ all of misery’s power will come upon him.

1. Literally “it will be in distress for him”

²³ ⌞When his stomach fills up⌟,¹ God will send ⌞his burning anger⌟² upon him, and he will let it rain down upon him³ as his food.

1. Literally “It will be to fill up his stomach”
2. Literally “the blaze of his nose/anger”
3. Or “them”

²⁴ “He will flee from an iron weapon, but an arrow of bronze will pierce him.

²⁵ He draws it forth, and it comes out from his body, and the glittering point comes from his gall-bladder; terrors come upon him.

²⁶ ⌞Total darkness⌟¹ is hidden for his treasures;² ⌞an unfanned fire⌟³ will devour him; the remnant⁴ ⌞will be consumed⌟⁵ in his tent.

1. Literally “All darkness”
2. Or “His treasures are hidden by total darkness”
3. Literally “a fire not fanned”
4. Of his treasures
5. Literally “will be evil,” or “will be bad”

²⁷ The heavens will reveal his guilt, and the earth will rise up against him.

²⁸ The products of his house will be carried away¹ like gushing waters² on the day of his wrath.

1. Or “the produce of his house will go away into exile”
2. Or “by gushing waters”

²⁹ This is a wicked human being’s portion from God and the inheritance of his decree from God.”¹

1. Or “and the inheritance decreed for him by God” (compare ESV, NJPS)

Job’s Seventh Speech: A Response to Zophar

¹ Then¹ Job answered and said,

1. Hebrew “And”

² “Listen carefully to my words, and let this be your¹ consolation.

1. Plural

³ Bear with me, and I myself¹ will speak; then² after my speaking you can mock.

1. Emphatic personal pronoun
2. Hebrew “and”

⁴ As for me, is my complaint for human beings? And if so, why cannot I be impatient?

⁵ Turn to me and be appalled, and place your hand on your mouth.

⁶ And when I think of it, I am horrified,¹ and shuddering seizes my flesh.

1. Hebrew “and I am horrified”

⁷ “Why do the wicked live, grow old, even grow mighty in power?

⁸ With them their offspring are established ⌞before them⌟,¹ and their descendants before their eyes.

1. Literally “to their faces”

⁹ Their houses are safe without fear, and the rod of God is not upon them.

¹⁰ His bull breeds and does not fail; his cow calves and does not miscarry.

¹¹ They send out their little ones like the flock, and their children dance around.

¹² They ⌞sing⌟¹ to the tambourine and lyre, and they rejoice to the sound of the long flute.

1. Literally “they lift up their voices”

¹³ They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol.

¹⁴ And they say to God, ‘Turn away from us, for¹ we do not desire to know your ways.

1. Hebrew “and”

¹⁵ Who is Shaddai that we should serve him, or¹ what would we benefit when we plead with him?’

1. Hebrew “and”

¹⁶ Look, their prosperity is not in their hands; the schemes of the wicked are repugnant¹ to me.

1. Or “the plan of the wicked is repugnant”

¹⁷ “How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, and their disaster comes upon them? He¹ distributes pains in his anger.

1. The antecedent is “God,” or possibly “the Almighty”

¹⁸ How often are they like straw ⌞before⌟¹ the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away?

1. Literally “to the faces of”

¹⁹ ‘God stores up his iniquity for his children’?¹ Then let him repay it to him that² he may know.

1. Or “You say, ‘God stores up his iniquity for his children.’ ”
2. Hebrew “and”

²⁰ Let his eyes see his decay, and let him drink from the wrath of Shaddai,

²¹ for what ⌞does he care for⌟¹ his house after him, when the number of his months is² cut off?

1. Literally “his joy in”
2. Hebrew “are”

²² Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since¹ he himself² judges high ones?

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Emphatic personal pronoun

²³ This one dies ⌞in full prosperity⌟,¹ ⌞completely⌟² at ease and secure.

1. Literally “in the vigor of his prosperity”
2. Literally “all of him”

²⁴ His vats are full with milk and the marrow of his bones is moist.

²⁵ Yet¹ another dies with a bitter inner self² and has not tasted prosperity.

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Or “soul”

²⁶ They lie down together in the dust, and maggots cover them.

²⁷ “Look, I know your¹ thoughts and the schemes you devise against me.

1. Plural

²⁸ For you say, ‘Where is the nobleman’s house, and where are ⌞the tents in which the wicked dwell⌟?’¹

1. Literally “tent of dwelling places of wicked”

²⁹ Do you not ask those traveling the roads, and do you not take notice of their accounts?

³⁰ Indeed, the wicked is spared from the day of disaster; he is delivered from the day of wrath.

³¹ Who denounces his way to his face? And who repays him for what he has done?

³² When¹ he is brought to the grave, then² someone stands guard over the tomb.

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Hebrew “and”

³³ The clods of the valley are sweet to him; everyone will follow after him, and ⌞before⌟¹ him ⌞they are innumerable⌟.²

1. Literally “to the faces of”
2. Literally “there is not number”

³⁴ So¹ how will you comfort me with emptiness, when² fraud is left in your answers?”

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Hebrew “and”

Eliphaz’s Third Speech

¹ Then¹ Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

1. Hebrew “And”

² “Can a man be of use to God? Yes, can the wise be of use to him?

³ Is it a pleasure to Shaddai if you are righteous, or¹ a gain if you make your ways blameless?

1. Hebrew “and”

⁴ Does he reprove you because of your reverence or enter into judgment with you?

⁵ Is not your wickedness great, and there is no end to your iniquities?

⁶ “Indeed, you have required a pledge from your family for nothing, and you have stripped off the clothes of the naked.

⁷ You have given no water for the weary to drink, and you withheld food from the hungry.

⁸ And the land ⌞belongs to the man of power⌟,¹ and ⌞the favored⌟² lives in it.

1. Literally “man of power for him”
2. Literally “lifted up of face”

⁹ You have sent widows away empty-handed, and the arms of orphans were crushed.

¹⁰ Therefore trapping nets are all around you, and panic suddenly terrifies you,

¹¹ or it is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.

¹² “Is not God in the height of the heavens? But¹ see how lofty are ⌞the highest stars⌟.²

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Literally “top of stars,” or “head of stars”

¹³ And you ask, ‘What does God know? Can he judge through deep gloom?

¹⁴ Thick clouds are a covering for him, so that he does not see; and he walks about on the dome of heaven.’

¹⁵ Will you keep to the way of old that the people of mischief have trod,

¹⁶ who were snatched away ⌞before their time⌟,¹ whose foundation was washed away by a current?

1. Literally “and not time”

¹⁷ Those who said to God, ‘Turn away from us,’ and ‘What can Shaddai do to us?’

¹⁸ Yet¹ he himself² filled up their houses with good things, but³ the schemes of the wicked are repugnant to me.

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Emphatic personal pronoun
3. Hebrew “and”

¹⁹ The righteous see, and they rejoice, but¹ the innocent one mocks at them.

1. Hebrew “and”

²⁰ ⌞Surely⌟¹ our foe perishes, and fire has consumed their remainder.²

1. Literally “If not”
2. Or “their wealth”

²¹ “Please reconcile yourself with him, and be at peace; ⌞in this way⌟,¹ good will come to you.

1. Literally “by them”

²² Please receive instruction from his mouth, and place his words in your heart.

²³ If you return to Shaddai, you will be restored; if you remove wickedness from your tent,

²⁴ and if you put gold ore in the dust, and the gold of Ophir in the rock of wadis,

²⁵ then¹ Shaddai will be your gold ore and ⌞your precious silver⌟.²

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Literally “silver of the best for you,” or “silver of the best belonging to you”

²⁶ Indeed, then you will delight yourself in Shaddai, and ⌞you will expect that God will be good to you⌟.¹

1. Literally “you will lift up to God your face”

²⁷ You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will pay your vows.

²⁸ And you will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.

²⁹ When they are humiliated, ⌞you say⌟,¹ ‘It is pride,’ for² he saves ⌞the humble⌟.³

1. Literally “and you say,” or “then you say”
2. Hebrew “and”
3. Literally “downward of eyes”

³⁰ He will deliver the guilty, and he will escape because of the cleanness of your hands.”

Job’s Eighth Speech: A Response to Eliphaz

¹ Then¹ Job answered and said,

1. Hebrew “And”

² “Even today my complaint is bitter; my hand is heavy in addition to my groaning.

³ ⌞O that⌟¹ I knew and that I might find him; O that I might come to his dwelling.

1. Literally “Who shall give”

⁴ I would lay my case ⌞before him⌟,¹ and I would fill my mouth with arguments.

1. Literally “to his face”

⁵ I want to know the words with which he would answer me, and I want to understand what he would say to me.

⁶ Would he contend with me in the greatness of his strength? No, but he himself¹ would give heed to me.

1. Emphatic personal pronoun

⁷ There an upright person could reason with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

⁸ “When I go forward, ⌞he is not there⌟,¹ or² backward, I cannot see him.³

1. Literally “and there is not he,” or “and he is not”
2. Hebrew “and”
3. Hebrew “and I cannot see him”

⁹ ⌞When he works⌟¹ on the left, ⌞I cannot perceive⌟² him; he turns to the right, but³ I cannot see him.

1. Literally “At his working”
2. Literally “and I cannot see”
3. Hebrew “and”

¹⁰ But he knows ⌞the way that I take⌟;¹ he tests me—I shall come out like gold.

1. Literally “way with me”

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

¹² From the commandment of his lips, indeed¹ I have not departed; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily food.

1. Hebrew “and”

¹³ “But¹ he is ⌞alone⌟,² and who can dissuade him? And ⌞whatever he desires⌟,³ ⌞indeed⌟,⁴ he does it.

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Literally “as one”
3. Literally “his inner self desires,” or “his soul desires”
4. Hebrew “and”

¹⁴ For he will carry out ⌞what he appoints for me⌟,¹ and many things like these are with him.

1. Literally “my portion,” or “my allotment”

¹⁵ Therefore, I am horrified because of his presence; when I consider, I tremble¹ because of him.

1. Hebrew “and I tremble,” or “then I tremble”

¹⁶ Indeed,¹ God has made my heart faint, and Shaddai has terrified me.

1. Hebrew “And”

¹⁷ Indeed, I have not been silenced ⌞because of darkness⌟,¹ and because of me he² conceals thick darkness.

1. Literally “from the face of darkness”
2. Or “it”

Job’s Eighth Speech, Continued

¹ “Why are not times kept by Shaddai, and why do not those who know him see his days?

² They¹ remove border stones; they seize flocks, and they pasture them.

1. Or “Some” (NASU, ESV) or “Men” (NIV, NET)

³ They drive away the donkey of orphans; they take the widow’s ox as a pledge.

⁴ They thrust the poor off the road; the needy of the earth hide themselves together.¹

1. Or “altogether”

⁵ “Look, like wild donkeys in the desert they¹ go out to their labor as searchers for the prey; the wilderness is² ⌞their⌟³ food for the young.

1. That is, the poor
2. Or “provides”
3. Hebrew “for their”

⁶ They reap their¹ fodder in the field, and they glean in the vineyard of the wicked.

1. Hebrew “his”

⁷ They spend the night naked, ⌞without⌟¹ clothing, and they have no garment in the cold.

1. Literally “from not”

⁸ They are wet from the rainstorm of the mountains,¹ and they cling to the rock ⌞without⌟² refuge.

1. Or “from the mountain rainstorm”
2. Literally “from not”

⁹ “They¹ snatch the orphan from the breast, and they take a pledge against the needy.²

1. That is, those who oppress the poor
2. Or “And they take the child of the needy as a pledge”

¹⁰ They¹ go about naked, without clothing, and hungry, they carry the sheaves.²

1. That is, the poor
2. Or “and they carry the sheaves though hungry”

¹¹ Between their terraces they press out oil; they tread the presses, but¹ they are thirsty.

1. Hebrew “and”

¹² From the city people groan, and the throat¹ of the wounded cries for help; yet² God does not ⌞regard it as unseemly⌟.³

1. Or “soul,” or “inner self”
2. Hebrew “and”
3. Literally “he puts offensiveness”

¹³ “Those are among the ones rebelling against the light; they do not recognize his ways, and they do not stay in his paths.

¹⁴ ⌞At dusk⌟¹ the murderer rises; he kills the needy and the poor, and in the night he is like a² thief.

1. Literally “At the light”
2. Or “the”

¹⁵ And the eye of the adulterer waits for dusk, saying, ⌞‘No eye will see me,’⌟¹ and he places a covering on his face.

1. Literally “ ‘An eye will not see me’ ”

¹⁶ He digs through houses in the darkness; by day they shut themselves in— they do not know the light

¹⁷ because morning likewise is to them deep darkness; indeed, they know about the terrors of deep darkness.

¹⁸ “He himself¹ is swift on the water’s surface; their portion is cursed in the land. ⌞No one turns toward the path of their vineyards⌟.²

1. Emphatic personal pronoun
2. Literally “He does not turn toward the path of the vineyard”

¹⁹ Drought and heat snatch away the snow waters, like Sheol snatches away those¹ who have sinned.

1. Or “they/them”

²⁰ The womb forgets him. The maggot feasts on him until he is no longer remembered, and wickedness is broken like a¹ tree.

1. Or “the”

²¹ He feeds on the barren, who does not have a child, and does no good to the widow.

²² Yet¹ he² carries off the tyrants by his strength; if he rises up, then³ he⁴ cannot be certain of life.⁵

1. Hebrew “And”
2. The probable antecedent is God
3. Hebrew “and”
4. The antecedent of the singular here probably changes to the wicked person
5. Hebrew “the life”

²³ He¹ gives security to him, and he is² supported, but³ his eyes are upon their ways.

1. The probable antecedent is God
2. Or “they are”
3. Hebrew “and”

²⁴ They are exalted a little while, then¹ ⌞they are gone⌟.² And they are brought low; they are cut off like all others, and like the heads of grain they wither away.

1. Literally “and”
2. Literally “he is not”

²⁵ “And if it is not so, then who can prove me a liar and reduce my word to nothing?”

Bildad’s Third Speech

¹ Then¹ Bildad the Shuhite answered and ⌞said⌟,²

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Hebrew “he said”

² “Domination and dread are with him who makes peace in his high heavens.

³ Is there a number to his troops? And upon whom does his light not rise?

⁴ “Indeed,¹ how can a human being be righteous before God? And how will he who is born of a woman be pure?

1. Hebrew “And”

⁵ Look, even the moon ⌞is not bright⌟,¹ and the stars are not pure in his sight.

1. Literally “and it is not bright”

⁶ ⌞How much less⌟¹ for a human being who is a maggot, and ⌞a human⌟² who is a worm?”

1. Literally “Also”
2. Literally “a son of man,” or “a son of Adam”

Job’s Ninth Speech: A Response to Bildad

¹ Then¹ Job answered and said,

1. Hebrew “And”

² “How you¹ have helped ⌞one who has no power⌟!² How you³ have assisted the arm ⌞that has no strength⌟!⁴

1. Singular
2. Literally “for not power”
3. Singular
4. Literally “not strength”

³ How you¹ have advised ⌞one who has no wisdom⌟!² And what sound wisdom you³ have made known ⌞in abundance⌟!⁴

1. Singular
2. Literally “for not wisdom”
3. Singular
4. Literally “as far as the multitude,” or “for multitude”

⁴ ⌞With whose help⌟¹ have you² uttered words, and whose breath has come forth from you?³

1. Literally “With whom”
2. Singular
3. Singular

⁵ “The spirits of the dead tremble below the waters and their inhabitants.

⁶ Sheol is naked before him, and there is no covering for Abaddon.

⁷ He stretches out the north over emptiness; he hangs the earth ⌞over nothing⌟.¹

1. Literally “over not what”

⁸ He ties up the water in its clouds, and the cloud is not torn open beneath it.¹

1. Hebrew “them”; antecedent for “them” is “water” (literally “waters”)

⁹ He covers the face of the full moon;¹ he spreads his cloud over it.

1. Text reads “throne”; “full moon” is based on a change of the vowels

¹⁰ ⌞He has described a circle⌟¹ on the face of the water ⌞between light and darkness⌟.²

1. NRSV; literally “a limit he has circled”
2. Literally “at the end of light with darkness”

¹¹ “The pillars of heaven tremble, and they are astounded at his rebuke.

¹² By his power he stilled the sea, and by his understanding he struck down Rahab.

¹³ By his breath ⌞the heavens were made clear⌟;¹ his hand pierced the fleeing snake.

1. Literally “heavens clearness”

¹⁴ Look, these are the outer fringes of his ways, and ⌞how faint is the word⌟¹ that we hear of him! But² who can understand the thunder of his power?”

1. Literally “how whisper of word”
2. Hebrew “And”

Job Continues His Final Speech

¹ Then¹ Job again took up his discourse and said,

1. Hebrew “And”

² “⌞As God lives⌟,¹ he has removed my justice, and Shaddai has made my inner self² bitter.

1. Literally “The life of God”
2. Or “soul”

³ For ⌞as long as⌟¹ my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nose,

1. Literally “all of still”

⁴ my lips surely will not speak falseness, and my tongue surely will not utter deceit.

⁵ Far be it from me that ⌞I would say that you¹ are right⌟;² until I pass away, I will not put away from me my blamelessness.

1. Plural
2. Literally “I would declare you as in the right”

⁶ I hold fast to my righteousness, and I will not let it go; my heart will not blame any of my days.

⁷ “Let my enemy be like the wicked and my opponent like the unrighteous,

⁸ for what is the hope of the godless when he cuts them off, when God takes away his life?

⁹ Will God hear his cry of distress when distress comes upon him?

¹⁰ Or, in Shaddai will he find delight? Will he call upon God at all times?

¹¹ “I will teach you¹ about² God’s hand; I will not conceal that which is with Shaddai.

1. Plural
2. Or “concerning”

¹² Look, you all have seen, and ⌞why in the world⌟¹ ⌞have you become altogether vain⌟?²

1. Literally “why this”
2. Literally “vain you have become vain”

¹³ “This is the portion of the wicked human being with God, and they receive from Shaddai the inheritance of the ruthless.

¹⁴ If their children multiply, it is for the sword, and his offspring ⌞do not have enough to eat⌟.¹

1. Literally “they are not satisfied with bread”

¹⁵ Their¹ survivors are buried through² the plague, and their³ widows do not weep.

1. Hebrew “His”
2. Or “because of”
3. Hebrew “his”

¹⁶ If he heaps up silver like the dust and fashions clothing like the clay,

¹⁷ he makes it ready, and the righteous will wear it, and the innocent will divide the silver.

¹⁸ “He builds his house like the moth, and like a booth that a watchman has made.

¹⁹ He goes to bed with wealth, but¹ ⌞he will do so no more⌟;² he opens his eyes, and ⌞it is gone⌟.³

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Literally “he will not do again”
3. Literally “it is not”

²⁰ Terrors overtake him like the water; a storm wind carries him off in the night.

²¹ The east wind lifts him up, and he is gone, and it sweeps him away from his place.

²² And it hurls at him, and it has no compassion; he will quickly flee from its power.

²³ It claps its hands over him, and it hisses at him from its place.

Job’s Discourse on Wisdom

¹ “Indeed, there is a mine for silver and a place ⌞for gold to be refined⌟.¹

1. Literally “for the gold they refine”

² Iron is taken from dust, and he pours out copper from ore.

³ He puts an end to darkness, and he searches out the farthest limits for the ore in gloom and deep shadow.

⁴ He breaks open a mine shaft ⌞away from where people dwell⌟;¹ those who are forgotten ⌞by travelers⌟,² they dangle, they sway far away from human beings.

1. Literally “from with dwelling”
2. Literally “by feet”

⁵ As for the earth, from it comes food,¹ but² underneath it, it is turned up as by fire.

1. Or “bread”
2. Hebrew “and”

⁶ Its stones are the place of sapphire, and the earthen dirt ⌞has⌟¹ gold.

1. Literally “for it”

⁷ “It is a path a bird of prey does not know and the black kite’s eye has not seen.

⁸ ⌞Proud wild animals⌟¹ have not trodden it; the lion in its prime has not prowled over it.

1. Literally “The sons of pride”

⁹ He puts his hand on the hard rock; he overturns mountains by the roots.

¹⁰ He cuts out tunnels in the rocks, and his eye sees every treasure.

¹¹ He dams up rivers from their sources, and he brings secret things to the light.

¹² “But¹ from where will wisdom be found? And ⌞where in the world⌟² is the place of understanding?

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Literally “where this”

¹³ A human being does not know its proper value, and it is not found in the land of the living.

¹⁴ The deep says, ‘It is not in me,’ and the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’

¹⁵ “Refined gold cannot be gotten in its place, and silver cannot be weighed out as its price.

¹⁶ It cannot be bought for the gold of Ophir, for precious onyx or¹ sapphire.

1. Hebrew “and”

¹⁷ Gold and glass cannot be compared with it, and its substitution cannot be an ornament of refined gold.

¹⁸ Black corals and crystal will not be mentioned, and wisdom’s price is more than red corals.

¹⁹ The topaz of Cush cannot be compared with it; it cannot be bought for pure gold.

²⁰ Indeed,¹ from where does wisdom come? And ⌞where in the world⌟² is the place of understanding?

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Literally “where this”

²¹ It is hidden from the eyes of all living, and it is concealed from the birds of the heaven.

²² Abaddon and Death say, ‘We heard its rumor with our ears.’

²³ “God understands its way, and he knows its place,

²⁴ for he himself¹ looks to the end of the earth; he sees under all the heaven.

1. Emphatic personal pronoun

²⁵ ⌞When he gave⌟¹ weight to the wind and he apportioned the waters by measure,

1. Literally “To give”

²⁶ ⌞when he made⌟¹ a rule for the rain and a way for the thunder’s lightning bolt,

1. Literally “at his making”

²⁷ then he saw it and talked about it; he established it, and moreover, he explored it.

²⁸ And to the human beings he said, ‘Look, the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.’ ”

Job’s Final Defense

¹ Then¹ Job again took up his discourse and said,

1. Hebrew “And”

² “⌞O that I were⌟¹ as in the months before, as in the days when God watched over me,

1. Literally “Who shall give me”

³ when his shining lamp was over my head— by his light I walked through darkness—

⁴ as when I was in the days of my prime, when God’s confiding was over my ⌞house⌟,¹

1. Literally “tent”

⁵ when Shaddai was still with me, my children were all around me,

⁶ when my paths were washed in sour milk, and the rock poured out streams of oil for me.

⁷ “At my going out the gate to the city, I secured my seat in the square.

⁸ Young men saw me and stepped aside, and the aged rose up and stood.

⁹ Officials refrained from talking, and they laid their hand on their mouth.

¹⁰ The voices¹ of nobles were hushed, and their tongue stuck to their palate.

1. Hebrew “voice”; collective singular by context, governing a plural verb

¹¹ “When the ear heard and commended me, and the eye saw and testified in support of me

¹² because I saved the needy who cried for help, and I saved¹ the orphan for whom there was no helper.

1. Supplying the elided verb from the preceding parallel line

¹³ The blessing of the wretched came upon me, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

¹⁴ I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a headband.

¹⁵ “I was eyes to the blind, and I was feet to the lame.

¹⁶ I was a father to the poor, and I investigated ⌞the stranger’s⌟¹ legal dispute.

1. Literally “the one I knew not”

¹⁷ And I broke the evil one’s jaw bones, and I made his prey drop from his teeth.

¹⁸ “And I thought, ‘I will pass away in my nest, and like the phoenix I shall multiply my days.

¹⁹ My roots were open to water, and dew spent the night on my branches;

²⁰ My glory was new with me, and ⌞I was revitalized regularly⌟.’¹

1. See NJPS; literally “my bow in my hand was new”

²¹ “They listened to me and waited, and they kept silent for my counsel.

²² After my word, they did not speak again, and my word dropped down like dew upon them.

²³ And they waited for me as for the rain, and they opened their mouth wide as for the spring rain.

²⁴ I smiled for them when they had no confidence in anything, and they did not extinguish the light of my face.

²⁵ I chose their way, and I sat as head, and I dwelled like a king among the troops, like one who comforts mourners.

Job’s Final Defense Continued

¹ “But now those younger than I, as far as days, laugh at me, whose fathers I rejected for setting with the dogs of my sheep and goats.

² Moreover, ⌞what use to me is the strength of their hands⌟?¹ With them, vigor is destroyed.

1. Literally “the strength of their hands what is for me”

³ Through want and through barren hunger they are gnawing in the dry region in the darkness of desolation and waste.

⁴ They are picking salt herbs, the leaves of bushes, and the roots of broom trees to warm themselves.

⁵ They were driven out from fellow people; they shout at them as at a¹ thief,

1. Hebrew “the”

⁶ ⌞so that they dwell⌟¹ in holes of the ground and in the rocks.

1. Literally “to dwell”

⁷ They bray among the bushes; they are gathered under the nettles.

⁸ ⌞A senseless crowd⌟,¹ yes, ⌞a disreputable brood⌟,² they were cast out from the land.

1. Literally “sons of good-for-nothing”
2. Literally “sons of no name”

⁹ “But now I am their mocking song, and I have become a byword for them.

¹⁰ They abhor me; they keep aloof from me, and they do not withhold spit from my face

¹¹ because he has loosened his bowstring and humbled me, and they have thrown off restraint ⌞in my presence⌟.¹

1. Literally “from my face”

¹² On the right hand the brood rises¹ up; ⌞they put me to flight⌟,² and they build up their ⌞siege ramps⌟³ against me.

1. Hebrew “rise”
2. Literally “my feet they send away”
3. Literally “the ways/paths of their disaster”

¹³ They destroy my path; they promote my destruction; they have no helper.

¹⁴ As through a wide breach they come; amid a crash they rush on.

¹⁵ Terrors are turned upon me; my honor is pursued as by the wind, and my hope of deliverance passed by like a cloud.

¹⁶ “And now my life is poured out onto me; days of misery have taken hold of me.

¹⁷ ⌞At night I am in great pain⌟;¹ my pains do not take a rest.

1. Literally “night my bones he pierces upon me,” or “night pierces my bones upon me”

¹⁸ He seizes my clothing with ⌞great power⌟;¹ he grasps me by my tunic’s collar.

1. Literally “much of strength”

¹⁹ He has cast me into the dirt, and I have become like dust¹ and ashes.

1. Hebrew “the dust”

²⁰ I cry to you for help, but¹ you do not answer me; I stand, and you merely look at me.

1. Hebrew “and”

²¹ You have turned cruel to me; you persecute me with your hand’s might.

²² You lift me up to the wind—you make me ride it, and you toss me about in the storm.

²³ Indeed, I know that you will bring me to death and to the house of assembly for all the living.

²⁴ “Surely someone must not send a hand against the needy when, in his misfortune, there is a cry of help for them.

²⁵ Have I not wept for ⌞the unfortunate⌟,¹ and grieved myself over the poor?

1. Literally “hard of day”

²⁶ Indeed, I hoped for good, but evil came, and I waited for light, but darkness came.

²⁷ My bowels are in turmoil, and they are not still; days of misery come to confront me.

²⁸ I go about in mourning garb, but not in sunlight; I stand up in the assembly, and I cry for help.

²⁹ I am a companion for the jackals and a companion for ⌞ostriches⌟.¹

1. Literally “daughters of ostrich”

³⁰ My skin turns black on me, and my bones burn with heat.

³¹ So¹ my lyre came to be used for mourning, and my flute for the voice of those who weep.

1. Hebrew “And”

Job’s Final Defense Continued

¹ “I made a covenant with my eyes, so¹ how could I look closely upon a virgin?

1. Hebrew “and”

² And what is the portion of God from above or¹ the heritage of Shaddai from on high?

1. Hebrew “and”

³ Is not disaster for the evil one and ruin for the workers of mischief?

⁴ Does he not see my ways and count all my steps?

⁵ “If I have walked with falseness, and my foot has hastened to deceit,

⁶ let him weigh me in the balance of justice, and let God know my blamelessness.

⁷ If my steps have turned aside from the way, and my heart has walked after my eyes, and my hand has clung to a spot,

⁸ let me sow, and let another eat, and let my crops be rooted out.

⁹ “If my heart has been enticed by a woman, and at my neighbor’s doorway I have lain in wait,

¹⁰ let my wife grind for another, and let other men kneel over her,

¹¹ for that is a shameful act, and that is ⌞a criminal offense⌟.¹

1. Literally “an iniquity of judges”

¹² Indeed, that is a fire that will consume up to Abaddon, and it would uproot all my crop.

¹³ “If I have rejected my male or¹ female slave’s case when their complaint was against me,

1. Hebrew “and”

¹⁴ then¹ what shall I do when God rises up? And when he enquires, how shall I answer him?

1. Hebrew “and”

¹⁵ Did not he who made me in the womb make them? And did not one fashion us in the womb?

¹⁶ “If I have withheld the desire of the poor from them, or¹ I have caused the widow’s eyes to fail,

1. Hebrew “and”

¹⁷ or I have eaten my morsel ⌞alone⌟,¹ and the orphan has not eaten from it

1. Literally “to alone me”

¹⁸ (for from my childhood he¹ ⌞grew up with⌟² me like a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided her³),

1. Probably referring to “the orphan”
2. Literally “reared”
3. Probably referring to “the widow”

¹⁹ if I have seen the one who perishes because of no clothing or¹ that there is no covering for the poor,

1. Hebrew “and”

²⁰ if his loins have not blessed me, or¹ by means of my sheep’s fleece he has warmed himself,

1. Hebrew “and”

²¹ if I have raised my hand against an orphan because I saw my supporters at the gate,

²² then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket.

²³ Indeed, the disaster from God was a dread for me, and ⌞I was powerless⌟¹ because of his majesty.

1. Literally “I was not able”

²⁴ “If I have made gold my trust, or¹ I have called fine gold my security,

1. Hebrew “and”

²⁵ if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great or¹ because my hand found a fortune,

1. Hebrew “and”

²⁶ if I looked at the sun when it shone or¹ at the moon moving in splendor,

1. Hebrew “and”

²⁷ and ⌞I was secretly enticed⌟,¹ and ⌞my hand threw them a kiss⌟,²

1. Literally “it was gullible in the secrecy of my heart”
2. Literally “my hand kissed for my mouth”

²⁸ this also is an iniquity to be judged, for I have deceived God above.

²⁹ “If I have rejoiced at the ruin of the one who hated me or¹ have exulted when evil overtook him—

1. Hebrew “and”

³⁰ no,¹ I have not allowed my mouth to sin, to ask his life with a curse.

1. Hebrew “and”

³¹ ⌞Have the people of my tent not said⌟,¹ ‘⌞O that⌟² someone³ had not been satisfied with his meat’?

1. Literally “If the people of my tent have not said”
2. Literally “who shall give”
3. Or “he”

³² An alien has not lodged in the street; I have opened my door to the traveler.

³³ ⌞Have I concealed⌟¹ my transgressions as other human beings to hide my iniquity in my bosom

1. Literally “If I have concealed”

³⁴ because I dreaded the great multitude, and the contempt of clans terrified me, so that I kept quiet, I did not go out of the doorway?

³⁵ ⌞O that⌟¹ ⌞I had⌟² someone hearing me! Here is my signature; let Shaddai answer me! ⌞As for⌟³ the written communication that ⌞my adversary⌟⁴ has written,

1. Literally “Who shall give”
2. Literally “for me”
3. Hebrew “And,” or “But”
4. Literally “the man of my indictment”

³⁶ I would ⌞surely⌟¹ carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me like a crown.

1. Literally “if not”

³⁷ I would give him an account of my steps; I would approach him like a noble.

³⁸ If my land has cried out against me, and its furrows have wept together,

³⁹ if I have eaten its yield without payment, or¹ I have caused the breath of its owners to die,

1. Hebrew “and”

⁴⁰ let thorns grow in place of wheat and noxious weeds in place of barley.” The words of Job are ended.

Elihu Rebukes Job and His Three Friends

¹ Then these three men ceased from answering Job because he was righteous in his own eyes.

² So Elihu the son of Barakel the Buzite, from the clan of Ram, ⌞became angry⌟.¹ ⌞He became angry⌟² at Job because he justified himself rather than God,

1. Literally “the nose of Elihu became hot”
2. Literally “His nose became hot”

³ and ⌞he became angry⌟¹ at his three friends because they had not found an answer, and they had declared Job guilty.

1. Literally “his nose became hot”

⁴ Thus Elihu had waited for Job ⌞to speak⌟¹ because ⌞they were older than he⌟.²

1. Literally “in words”
2. Literally “they were older than he as far as days”

⁵ When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men, ⌞he became angry⌟.¹

1. Literally “his nose became hot”

⁶ Then Elihu the son of Barakel the Buzite ⌞spoke up⌟¹ and said, “⌞I am young⌟,² but³ you⁴ are old; therefore I feared and became afraid of explaining my knowledge to you.⁵

1. Literally “answered”; see NET
2. Literally “Young I am as far as days”
3. Or “and”
4. Plural
5. Plural

⁷ I thought,¹ ‘Let days² speak, and let many years teach wisdom.’

1. Or “said”
2. Compare the idiom of “as far as days” in vv. 4 and 6

⁸ “Truly, it is a spirit in a human being, and the breath of Shaddai teaches them.

⁹ It is not ⌞the aged⌟¹ who are wise, or² it is not the elders who understand justice.

1. Literally “many in days”
2. Hebrew “and”

¹⁰ Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my knowledge myself.’

¹¹ “Look, I waited for your¹ words; I listened for your² insight, until you searched out ⌞what to say⌟.³

1. Plural
2. Plural
3. Literally “words,” or “sentences”

¹² And I directed my attention to you;¹ and, look, there is no one for Job who refuted, answering his words among you.

1. Plural

¹³ So do not say, ‘We have found wisdom; let God refute him, not a man.’

¹⁴ But¹ he did not direct his words² to me, and I will not answer him with your³ words.

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Or “sentences,” or “what he said”
3. Plural

¹⁵ “They are dismayed; they no longer answer; ⌞they have nothing to say⌟.¹

1. Literally “words fail from them,” or “sentences fail from them,” or “what to say fails from them”

¹⁶ And I have waited because they do not speak, because they stand there and no longer answer.

¹⁷ I myself will answer my share also; I myself will declare my knowledge also,

¹⁸ for I am full of words;¹ ⌞the spirit within me⌟² urges me.

1. Or “sentences,” or “what to say”
2. Literally “the spirit of my stomach”

¹⁹ “Look, my internal organs are like unopened wine, like new wineskins it¹ is ready to burst open.

1. Antecedent is “wine”

²⁰ Let me speak ⌞that I may find relief⌟;¹ let me open my lips, and let me answer.

1. Literally “and let it find relief for me”

²¹ ⌞Please let me not show partiality to anyone⌟,¹ and let me not show flattery to human beings,

1. Literally “Not please I will lift up face of a man”

²² for I do not know how ⌞to flatter⌟,¹ else my Maker would ⌞soon⌟² put an end to me.

1. Literally “I will flatter”
2. Literally “like little”

Elihu Rebukes Job

¹ “But now, please hear my speeches,¹ Job, and hear² all my words.

1. Or “my sentences,” or “what I have to say”
2. Or “give ear to”

² Please look, I open my mouth; my tongue in my mouth speaks.

³ My words declare my heart’s uprightness, and my lips sincerely speak ⌞what my lips know⌟.¹

1. Literally “the knowledge of my lips”

⁴ The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of Shaddai gives life to me.

⁵ “If you are able, answer me. Present your argument ⌞before me⌟;¹ take your stand.

1. Literally “to the face of me”

⁶ Look, before God ⌞I am like you⌟;¹ I myself was also formed from clay.

1. Literally “I am like your mouth”

⁷ Look, dread of me should not terrify you, and my hand will not be heavy upon you.

⁸ “Surely you have spoken in my ears, and I have heard the sound of your words:¹

1. Or “sentences,” or “what you say”

⁹ ‘I am clean, without transgression; I am pure, and there is no guilt in me.

¹⁰ Look, he finds fault against me; he reckons me as his enemy;

¹¹ he puts my feet in the block; he watches all my paths.’

¹² “Look, in this you are not right—I will answer you: Indeed, God is greater than a human being.

¹³ Why do you contend against him, that he will not answer all a person’s words?

¹⁴ Indeed, God speaks in one way, even¹ in two,² yet someone does not perceive it.

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Or “time and again” (NJPS, HCSB)

¹⁵ “In a dream, a vision of the night, when a deep sleep falls on men slumbering on their bed,

¹⁶ then he opens the ear of men, and ⌞he frightens them with a warning⌟¹

1. Literally “with their warning he frightens”

¹⁷ to turn human beings aside from their deeds, and he keeps man from pride.

¹⁸ He spares his life from the pit and his life from passing over the river of death.

¹⁹ “And he is reproved with pain on his bed, even¹ with the strife of his bones continually,

1. Hebrew “and”

²⁰ ⌞so that⌟¹ his life loathes bread, and his inner self² loathes ⌞appetizing food⌟.³

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Or “soul”
3. Literally “food of desire”

²¹ His flesh is wasted away from sight, and his bones, which are invisible, are bared.

²² And ⌞he⌟¹ draws near to the pit and his life to the killers.

1. Literally “his inner self/soul”

²³ “If there is a messenger beside him, a mediator, one of a thousand,¹ to declare to a human being his uprightness

1. That is, “unique,” or “one of a kind”

²⁴ ⌞so that⌟¹ he is gracious to him, and he says, ‘Deliver him from descending into the pit; I have found a ransom.’

1. Hebrew “and”

²⁵ His flesh is renewed with his youth; he returns to the days of his youthful strength.

²⁶ He prays to God, then he accepts him, and he sees his face with a shout of joy, and he repays to the human being his righteousness.

²⁷ “He will sing to men, and he will say, ‘I have sinned and have perverted what is right, and it was not paid back to me.

²⁸ He redeemed my life from going down into the pit, so¹ ⌞I will enjoy the light⌟.’²

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Literally “my life in the light will see”

²⁹ Look, God does all these things twice, three times¹ with a person

1. Or “time and again,” or “oftentimes” (NASB, NASU), or “several times”

³⁰ to bring his life back from the pit ⌞so that he may enjoy the light of life⌟.¹

1. Literally “to be lighted with the light of the life”

³¹ “Listen attentively, Job; listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.

³² If ⌞you have anything to say⌟,¹ ⌞answer me⌟;² speak, for I desire ⌞to justify you⌟.³

1. Literally “If there are words,” or “If there are sentences”
2. Literally “return to me”
3. Literally “your righteousness”

³³ If not, you listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”

Elihu Asserts God’s Justice

¹ Thus¹ Elihu ⌞spoke up⌟² and said,

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Literally “answered”; see NET

² “Hear my words, you wise men, and listen to me, you who know,

³ for the ear tests words, and the palate tastes ⌞food⌟.¹

1. Literally “to eat”

⁴ Let us choose justice for ourselves; let us determine among ourselves what is good—

⁵ for Job has said, ‘I am righteous, but God has taken away my justice.

⁶ Should I lie concerning my justice? Though I am without transgression, my wound caused by an arrow is incurable.’

⁷ What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water?

⁸ And he goes on the road in company with instigators of mischief, and walks with men of wickedness.

⁹ Indeed, he says, ‘A man does not profit when he takes delight in God.’

¹⁰ “Therefore, listen to me, ⌞people who have sense⌟:¹ far be it from God ⌞that he should commit wickedness⌟² and that Shaddai ⌞should do wrong⌟.³

1. Literally “men of heart”
2. Literally “from wickedness”
3. Literally “from wrong”

¹¹ Indeed, he will repay according to a human being’s deeds, and according to a man’s way he will let it happen to him.

¹² What’s more, God truly does not act wickedly, and Shaddai does not pervert justice.

¹³ Who gave him charge over the earth? Or¹ who laid on him the whole world?

1. Hebrew “And”

¹⁴ If he should set his heart to it, and he should gather his spirit and his breath to himself,

¹⁵ all flesh would perish together, and humankind would return to dust.

¹⁶ “But¹ if you have understanding, hear this; listen to ⌞what I say⌟.²

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Literally “the voice/sound of my words”

¹⁷ Shall he who hates justice really govern? Or will you¹ declare the Righteous One, the Mighty, guilty?—

1. Singular

¹⁸ the one who says to a king, ‘You worthless man,’ to noblemen, ‘You wicked man,’

¹⁹ who ⌞shows no partiality to officials⌟¹ and who ⌞does not take note of the noble more than of the insignificant⌟,² for all of them are the work of his hands?

1. Literally “he does not lift the face of officials”
2. Literally “he does not regard the eminent to the face of the poor/insignificant”

²⁰ In a moment they die, and in the middle of the night the people are shaken, and they pass away, and they take away the mighty ⌞effortlessly⌟.¹

1. Literally “not by a hand”

²¹ “Indeed, his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he sees all his steps.

²² There is no darkness, and there is no deep shadow where instigators of mischief might hide themselves.

²³ Indeed, he has not yet appointed a time for man to go to God in the judgment.

²⁴ He shatters the mighty without investigation, and he sets others in their place.

²⁵ Therefore he knows their works, and he overturns them in the night ⌞so that⌟¹ they are crushed.

1. Hebrew “and”

²⁶ He strikes them ⌞where the wicked stood⌟,¹ ⌞where there are onlookers⌟,²

1. Literally “among the wicked”
2. Literally “in the place of seers”

²⁷ because they have turned aside from him and have not understood any of his ways,

²⁸ so that they cause the cry of distress from the helpless to come to him, and he hears the cry of distress from the needy,

²⁹ but he remains quiet, and who can condemn? And he hides his face, and who can behold him? Yet¹ he is over a nation and over a person alike,

1. Hebrew “And”

³⁰ so that godless human beings should not reign, nor those who ensnare the people.

³¹ “Indeed, does anyone say to God, ‘I have endured chastisement; I will not act corruptly again;

³² teach me yourself ⌞what I cannot see⌟;¹ if I have done wrong, I will not repeat it’?

1. Literally “apart from what I can see”

³³ ⌞According to your judgment⌟,¹ must he repay it because you rejected this? Indeed, you must choose, and not I, so² declare what you know.

1. Literally “from with you”
2. Hebrew “And”

³⁴ ⌞Those who have sense⌟¹ say to me, and the wise man hearing me says:

1. Literally “Men of heart”

³⁵ ‘Job speaks without knowledge, and his words are without insight.

³⁶ Would that Job were tested up to the end because his answers are like those from men of mischief,

³⁷ for he adds transgression to his sin; he claps hands among us, and he multiplies his words against God.’ ”

Elihu Condemns Job

¹ Moreover,¹ Elihu ⌞spoke up⌟² and said,

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Literally “answered”; see NET

² “Do you think this is justice when you say, ‘⌞I am right⌟¹ before God’?

1. Literally “My righteousness”

³ If you ask what it profits you: ‘How do I benefit ⌞by refraining from my sin⌟?’¹

1. Literally “from my sin”

⁴ I myself¹ ⌞will give answer to you⌟² and to your friends with you.

1. Emphatic personal pronoun
2. Literally “will return you words”

⁵ “Look at the heavens, and see; and observe the clouds that are higher than you.

⁶ If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?

⁷ If you are righteous, what do you give to him, or what does he receive from your hand?

⁸ Your wickedness affects a person like yourself, and your righteousness affects humans.

⁹ “Because of the multitude of oppressions, they cry out; they cry for help because of the arm of the mighty.

¹⁰ But¹ no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,

1. Hebrew “And”

¹¹ who teaches us more than the animals of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’

¹² There they cry out, but¹ he does not answer ⌞because of the pride of evildoers⌟.²

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Literally “from the face of the pride of evildoers”

¹³ “Surely God does not hear an empty plea, and Shaddai does not regard it.

¹⁴ ⌞How much less⌟¹ when you say that you do not see him, that the case is ⌞before him⌟,² and you are waiting for him!

1. Literally “Also for”
2. Literally “to the face of him”

¹⁵ But¹ now, because his anger does not punish, and he does not acknowledge the transgression at all,

1. Hebrew “And”

¹⁶ ⌞therefore⌟¹ Job opens his mouth in empty talk— without knowledge he multiplies words.”

1. Hebrew “and,” or “so”

Elihu Extols God’s Greatness

¹ Then¹ Elihu continued and said,

1. Hebrew “And”

² “Bear with me a little longer, and ⌞I will explain⌟,¹ for ⌞I still have something to say on God’s behalf⌟.²

1. Literally “I will show you”
2. Literally “yet on behalf of God words/sentences”

³ I will bring my knowledge from far away, and I will ascribe righteousness to my maker,

⁴ for truly my words¹ are not falsehood; one who has perfect knowledge is with you.²

1. Or “what I have to say”
2. In other words, “Somebody who knows what he is talking about is addressing you”

⁵ Look, God is mighty but¹ does not despise anyone; he is mighty and ⌞good in understanding⌟.²

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Literally “strength of heart”

⁶ He does not keep the wicked alive but¹ grants justice to the afflicted.

1. Hebrew “and”

⁷ He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but¹ he sets them forever with kings on the throne, and they are exalted.

1. Hebrew “and”

⁸ “And if they are tied up with fetters, if they are caught in the cords of misery,

⁹ then¹ he declares their work to them, and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly.

1. Hebrew “and”

¹⁰ So¹ he opens their ear to the discipline, and he commands that they return from mischief.

1. Hebrew “And”

¹¹ If they listen and serve him, they complete their days in prosperity and their years in pleasantness.

¹² But¹ if they do not listen, they perish by the sword, and they pass away without knowledge.

1. Hebrew “And”

¹³ And the godless of heart cherish anger; they do not cry for help when he binds them.

¹⁴ ⌞They die in their youth⌟,¹ and their life ends among the male shrine prostitutes.

1. Literally “It dies in the youth of their self”

¹⁵ He delivers the afflicted by his misery, and he opens their ears by the adversity.

¹⁶ And what’s more, he allured you ⌞out of distress⌟¹ into a broad place, where in place of it was no constraint; and what was set on your table is full of fatness.

1. Literally “from the mouth of distress”

¹⁷ But¹ you are obsessed with the judgment of the wicked; judgment and justice take hold of you.

1. Hebrew “And”

¹⁸ Yes,¹ it is wrath, so that it will not incite you into mockery; and do not let the ransom’s greatness turn you aside.

1. Or “Indeed”

¹⁹ Will your cry for help sustain you without distress, or¹ all the efforts of your strength?

1. Hebrew “and”

²⁰ You must not long for the night, to cut off people ⌞in their place⌟.¹

1. Literally “in place of them”

²¹ Take care, you must not turn to mischief, for because of this you have been tried by misery.

²² “Look, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him?

²³ Who has prescribed his way for him? Or¹ who says, ‘You have done wrong’?

1. Hebrew “And”

²⁴ Remember that you should extol his work, of which people have sung.

²⁵ All human beings have looked on it; everyone watches from afar.

²⁶ “Look, God is exalted, and we do not know him; the number of his years is unsearchable.

²⁷ Indeed, he draws up the drops of water; he distills the rain into its mist,

²⁸ which the clouds pour down; they shower abundantly on human beings.

²⁹ “Moreover, ⌞can anyone understand⌟¹ the spreading of clouds, the thundering of his dwelling place?

1. Literally “if he can understand”

³⁰ Look, he scatters his lightning around him, and he covers the roots of the sea.

³¹ Indeed, he judges people by them; he gives food ⌞in abundance⌟.¹

1. Literally “as far as providing in abundance”

³² He covers his hands with lightning, and he commands it the place at which to strike.

³³ His thundering tells about him; the livestock also tell ⌞concerning what rises⌟.¹

1. Literally “about going up”

Elihu Extols God’s Majesty

¹ “About this also my heart trembles, and it leaps from its place.

² Listen carefully to his voice’s thunder and the rumbling that goes out from his mouth.

³ He lets it loose under all the heavens, and his lightning to the earth’s corners.

⁴ After it, his voice roars; it thunders ⌞with his majestic voice⌟,¹ and he does not restrain it when his voice is heard.

1. Literally “with the voice of his majesty”

⁵ “God thunders with his voice in marvelous ways; he does great things, and we cannot comprehend.

⁶ For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth’; and ⌞the shower of rain, his heavy shower of rain⌟¹—

1. Literally “the shower of rain and the show of rains of his strength”

⁷ ⌞he stops all human beings from working⌟¹ ⌞so that everyone whom he has made may know it⌟.²

1. Literally “on the hand of all man he seals”
2. Literally “to know all men of his work”

⁸ Then¹ the animal goes into its den, and it remains in its den.

1. Hebrew “And”

⁹ “The storm wind comes from its chamber and cold from the north wind.

¹⁰ By God’s breath, ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen.

¹¹ Also, he loads down thick clouds with moisture; his lightning scatters the clouds.

¹² And ⌞they⌟¹ turn around by his guidance to accomplish all that he has commanded them on the face of ⌞the habitable world⌟.²

1. Collective “clouds” in the first line takes the singular “it” here with the plural meaning
2. Literally “world of earth”

¹³ Whether as ⌞correction⌟¹ or for his land, or as loyal love, he lets it happen.

1. Literally “a rod”

¹⁴ “Hear this, Job; stand still and consider carefully God’s wondrous works.

¹⁵ Do you know ⌞how God commands them⌟¹ and how he causes his cloud’s lightning to shine?

1. Literally “at the putting of God upon them”

¹⁶ Do you know about the hovering of the clouds, ⌞the marvelous works of the one with perfect knowledge⌟?¹

1. Literally “the marvelous works of perfect knowledge”

¹⁷ You whose garments are hot, when the earth is being still because of the south wind,

¹⁸ with him can you spread out the skies, hard as a molten mirror?

¹⁹ “Teach us what we should say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of the presence of darkness.

²⁰ Should he be told that I want to speak? Or did a man say that he would be communicated with?

²¹ So then, they do not look at the light when it is bright in the skies, when¹ the wind has passed and has cleansed them.

1. Hebrew “and”

²² From the north comes gold— awesome majesty is around God.

²³ As for Shaddai, we cannot attain him; he is exalted in power, and he does not oppress justice and abundant righteousness.

²⁴ Therefore people revered him; he does not regard any¹ ⌞who think that they are wise⌟.”²

1. Or “all”
2. Literally “the wise of heart”

Yahweh Challenges Job

¹ Then¹ Yahweh answered Job from the storm, and he said,

1. Hebrew “And”

² “Who is this darkening counsel by words without knowledge?

Yahweh Interrogates Job

³ ⌞Prepare yourself for a difficult task like a man⌟,¹ and I will question you, and you shall declare to me.

1. Literally “Gird up like a man your loins”

⁴ “Where were you at my laying the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you possess understanding.

⁵ Who determined its measurement? Yes, you do know. Or who stretched the measuring line upon it?

⁶ On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone,

⁷ when the morning stars were singing together and all the sons of God¹ shouted for joy?

1. Or “heavenly beings”

⁸ “Or who shut the sea in with doors at its bursting, when it went out of the womb,

⁹ at my making the clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band,

¹⁰ and I prescribed my rule for it, and I set bars and doors,

¹¹ and I said, ‘You shall come up to here, but¹ you shall not go further, and here it will set a boundary ⌞for your proud surging waves⌟’?²

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Literally “for the pride of your surging waves”

¹² “Have you ⌞ever in your life⌟¹ commanded the morning? Have you made the dawn know its place,

1. Literally “from your days”

¹³ to take hold of the earth’s skirts so that¹ the wicked might be shaken off from it?

1. Hebrew “and”

¹⁴ It is changed like clay under a seal, and they appear like a garment.

¹⁵ And their light is withheld from the wicked, and their uplifted arm is broken.

¹⁶ “Have you entered into the sea’s sources? Or have you walked around in the recesses of the deep?

¹⁷ Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of deep shadow?

¹⁸ Have you considered closely the earth’s vast expanse? Declare it, if you know all of it.

¹⁹ “Where then¹ is the way where the light dwells? And where then² is its place,

1. Or “Where exactly”
2. Or “where exactly”

²⁰ that you may take it to its territory, and that you might discern the paths to its home?

²¹ You know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great.

²² Have you entered into the storehouses of the snow, or¹ have you seen the storehouses of the hail,

1. Hebrew “and”

²³ which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?

²⁴ Where then¹ is the way where the light is distributed, where he scatters the east wind upon the earth?

1. Or “Where exactly”

²⁵ “Who has cut open a channel for the torrents and a way for the ⌞thunder bolts⌟,¹

1. Literally “bolt of thunders”

²⁶ to bring rain on a land ⌞where no one lives⌟,¹ a desert ⌞where no humans live⌟,²

1. Literally “not a man”
2. Literally “not humans in it”

²⁷ to satisfy desert and wasteland, and to cause the ground to put forth the rising of grass?

²⁸ Is there a father for the rain, or who fathered the drops of dew?

²⁹ From whose womb did the ice come forth, and who fathered the frost of heaven?

³⁰ Like stone the waters become hard, and the faces of the deep freeze.

³¹ “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, or can you loosen the cords of Orion?

³² Can you lead forth the southern constellations at their appointed time, or¹ can you lead the Bear with its children?

1. Hebrew “and”

³³ Do you know heaven’s statutes, or can you establish their rule on the earth?

³⁴ Can you lift up your voice to the clouds so that¹ a flood of water may cover you?

1. Hebrew “and”

³⁵ Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go? And will they say to you, ‘Here we are’?

³⁶ Who has put wisdom in the ibis,¹ or who has given understanding to the rooster?²

1. Or “inner parts”
2. Or “mind”

³⁷ Who can number the clouds with wisdom? Or¹ who can tilt heaven’s jars,

1. Hebrew “And”

³⁸ at the flowing of the dust into a cast and the clods cling together?

³⁹ “Can you hunt prey for the lion? And can you satisfy the hunger of strong lions

⁴⁰ when they are crouched in the dens, when they lie in the thicket in an ambush?

⁴¹ Who prepares for the crow its prey, when its young ones cry to God for help, and they wander around ⌞for lack of food⌟?¹

1. Literally “for no food”

¹ “Do you know the time when the goats of the rocks give birth? Do you observe the doe deer’s giving birth?

² Can you number the months they fulfill, and do you know the time of its giving birth?

³ When they crouch, they bring forth their young ones; they get rid of their labor pains.¹

1. Or “deliver their fetuses”

⁴ Their young ones grow strong; they grow up in the open; they go forth and do not return to them.

⁵ “Who has sent forth the wild ass free? And who has released the wild donkey’s bonds,

⁶ to which I have given the wilderness as its house and the salt flat as its dwelling place?

⁷ It scorns the city’s turmoil; it does not hear the driver’s shouts.

⁸ It explores the mountains as its pasture and searches after every kind of green plant.

⁹ “Is the wild ox willing to serve you, or will he spend the night at your feeding trough?

¹⁰ Can you tie the wild ox with its rope to a furrow, or will it harrow the valleys after you?

¹¹ Can you trust it because its strength is great, or will you hand your labor over to it?

¹² Can you rely on it that it will return your grain and that it will gather it to your threshing floor?

¹³ “The wings¹ of the female ostrich flap²— are they³ the pinions of the stork or⁴ the falcon?

1. Hebrew “wing”
2. Or “flaps”
3. Or “if,” or “or”
4. Hebrew “and”

¹⁴ Indeed, it leaves its eggs to the earth, and it lets them be warmed on the ground,

¹⁵ and it forgets that a foot might crush an egg,¹ and ⌞a wild animal⌟² might trample it.³

1. Hebrew “it”; or a collective singular (“them”) referring to “eggs” in v. 14
2. Literally “an animal of the field”
3. Or a collective singular (“them”) referring to “eggs” in v. 14

¹⁶ It deals cruelly with its young ones, as if they were not its own, as if without fear that its labor were in vain,

¹⁷ because God made it forget wisdom, and he did not give it a share in understanding.

¹⁸ When it spreads its wings ⌞aloft⌟,¹ it laughs at the horse and its rider.

1. Literally “in the height”

¹⁹ “Do you give power to the horse? Do you clothe its neck with a mane?

²⁰ Do you make it leap like the locust? The majesty of its snorting is terrifying.

²¹ They paw in the valley, and it exults with strength; it goes out to meet the battle.

²² It laughs at danger and is not dismayed, and it does not turn back from ⌞before⌟¹ the sword.

1. Literally “from faces of”

²³ Upon it the quiver rattles along with the flash of the spear and the short sword.

²⁴ With roar and rage ⌞it races over the ground⌟,¹ and it cannot stand still at the sound of the horn.

1. Or “it paws the ground”; literally “it swallows the earth/ground”

²⁵ ⌞Whenever⌟¹ a horn sounds, it says, ‘Aha!’ And it smells the battle from a distance— the thunder of the commanders and the war cry.

1. Literally “At enough”

²⁶ “Does the hawk soar by your wisdom? Does it spread its wings to the south?

²⁷ Or does the eagle fly high at your command and construct its nest high?

²⁸ It lives on the rock and spends the night ⌞on the rock point and the mountain stronghold⌟.¹

1. Literally “on the tooth of the rock and the stronghold”

²⁹ From there it spies out the prey; its eyes look from far away.

³⁰ And its young ones lick blood greedily, and where the dead carcasses are, there they are.”

¹ Then¹ Yahweh answered Job and said,

1. Hebrew “And”

Job Responds to Yahweh

² “Shall a faultfinder contend with Shaddai? Anyone who argues with God must answer it.”

³ So Job answered Yahweh and said,

⁴ “Look, I am insignificant. What shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.

Yahweh Challenges Job Again

⁵ Once I have spoken, and I will not answer; even¹ twice, but² I will not proceed.”

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Or “and”

⁶ Then¹ Yahweh answered Job from the storm, and he said,

1. Or “And”

Yahweh Interrogates Job Again

⁷ “⌞Prepare yourself for a difficult task like a man⌟,¹ and I will question you, and you shall declare to me.

1. Literally “Gird up like a man your loins”

⁸ “Indeed, would you annul my justice? Would you condemn me, so that you might be righteous?

⁹ Or do you have an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his?

¹⁰ Adorn¹ yourself with pride and dignity, and clothe yourself with splendor.

1. The particle sometimes translated “please” is present, but an almighty God or sovereign king does not say “please” when commanding his subjects

¹¹ Pour out the overflowing of your anger, and look at all the proud, and humble them.

¹² Look at all the proud, humble them, and tread down the wicked ⌞where they stand⌟.¹

1. Literally “in place of them”

¹³ Hide them in the dust together; bind their faces in the grave.

¹⁴ And I will also praise you, that your own right hand can save you.

¹⁵ “Look, Behemoth,¹ which I have made just as I made you; it eats grass like the ox.

1. Some interpret as a hippopotamus

¹⁶ Look, its strength is in its loins and its power in the muscles of its stomach.

¹⁷ It keeps its tail straight like a cedar; the sinews of its thighs are tightly wound.

¹⁸ Its bones are tubes of copper, its limbs like rods of iron.

¹⁹ “It is the first of God’s actions; the one who made him furnishes it with his sword.¹

1. See NET; nearly all other English translations: “Only his Maker can draw the sword against him” (NJPS; compare NLT), or “only its Maker can approach it with the sword” (NRSV, NIV, ESV, HCSB, NASU)

²⁰ Yes, the mountains yield produce for it, and all ⌞wild animals⌟¹ play there.

1. Literally “all the animals of the field”

²¹ Under the lotus tree it lies, in the hiding place of the reeds and in the marsh.

²² The lotus trees cover it with their shade; the wadi’s¹ poplar trees surround it.

1. A seasonal stream that is often dry

²³ Look, if the river is turbulent, it is not frightened; it is confident even though the Jordan rushes against its mouth.

²⁴ Can anyone take it by its eyes? Can he pierce its nose with a snare?

^{1 1} “Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook? Or² ⌞can you tie down its mouth with a cord⌟?³

1. Job 41:1–34 in the English Bible is 40:25–41:26 in the Hebrew Bible
2. Hebrew “And”
3. Literally “with a cord can you press down its tongue”

² Can you put a rope in its nose? Or¹ can you pierce its jawbone with a hook?

1. Hebrew “And”

³ Will it make numerous pleas for mercy to you? Or will it speak gentle words to you?

⁴ Will it make a covenant with you? Will you take it as a slave forever?

⁵ Will you play with it as with birds and put it on a leash for your girls?

⁶ Will guildsmen bargain over it? Will they divide it between tradesmen?

⁷ Can you fill its kin with harpoons or¹ its head with fish spears?

1. Hebrew “and”

⁸ Lay your hands on it; think about the battle—you will not do it again!

⁹ “Look, ⌞the hope of capturing it⌟¹ is false. Will one be hurled down even at its sight?

1. Literally “its hope”

¹⁰ Is it not fierce when somebody stirs it? Who then is he who would stand ⌞before it⌟?¹

1. Or “Who is he thenwho could stand before me?”; literally “to the face of me”

¹¹ Who has come to confront me, that¹ I should repay him? Under all the heavens, ⌞it belongs to me⌟.²

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Literally “to me”

¹² “I will not keep quiet concerning its limbs or¹ concerning the extent of its might and the gracefulness of its frame.

1. Hebrew “and”

¹³ Who can strip off ⌞its outer covering⌟?¹ Who can penetrate its double harness?

1. Literally “the surface of its garment”

¹⁴ Who can open the doors of its face? Its teeth all around are fearsome.

¹⁵ Its back¹ has scales of shields; it is shut up closely as with a seal.

1. LXX; or “pride”

¹⁶ They are close ⌞to one another⌟—¹ even² the air cannot come between them.

1. Literally “one to one”
2. Hebrew “and”

¹⁷ They are joined ⌞one to another⌟;¹ they cling together and cannot be separated.

1. Literally “a man to his brother”

¹⁸ “Its snorting flashes forth light, and its eyes are ⌞red like dawn⌟.¹

1. Literally “like eyelids of dawn”

¹⁹ Torches go from its mouth; sparks of fire shoot out.

²⁰ Smoke comes from its nostrils as from a kettle boiling and burning bulrushes.

²¹ Its breath kindles charcoal, and a flame comes from its mouth.

²² “Strength abides in its neck, and dismay¹ dances ⌞before it⌟.²

1. Or “strength”
2. Literally “to the face of him/it”