Ayub 20:21

20:21 “Nothing is left for him to devour; ¹ 

that is why his prosperity does not last. ² 

Ayub 31:31

31:31 if ³  the members of my household ⁴  have never said, ⁵ 

‘If only there were ⁶  someone

who has not been satisfied from Job’s ⁷  meat!’ –

[20:21]  ¹ tn Heb “for his eating,” which is frequently rendered “for his gluttony.” It refers, of course, to all the desires he has to take things from other people.

[20:21]  ² sn The point throughout is that insatiable greed and ruthless plundering to satisfy it will be recompensed with utter and complete loss.

[31:31]  ³ tn Now Job picks up the series of clauses serving as the protasis.

[31:31]  ⁴ tn Heb “the men of my tent.” In context this refers to members of Job’s household.

[31:31]  ⁵ sn The line is difficult to sort out. Job is saying it is sinful “if his men have never said, ‘O that there was one who has not been satisfied from his food.’” If they never said that, it would mean there were people out there who needed to be satisfied with his food.

[31:31]  ⁶ tn The optative is again expressed with “who will give?”

[31:31]  ⁷ tn Heb “his”; the referent (Job) has been specified in the translation for clarity.