Ayub 23:6

23:6 Would he contend ¹  with me with great power?

No, he would only pay attention to me. ² 

Ayub 27:14

27:14 If his children increase – it is for the sword! ³ 

His offspring never have enough to eat. ⁴ 

Ayub 31:14

31:14 then what will I do when God confronts me in judgment; ⁵ 

when he intervenes, ⁶ 

how will I respond to him?

[23:6]  ¹ tn The verb is now רִיב (riv) and not יָכַח (yakhakh, “contend”); רִיב (riv) means “to quarrel; to dispute; to contend,” often in a legal context. Here it is still part of Job’s questioning about this hypothetical meeting – would God contend with all his power?

[23:6]  ² tn The verbal clause יָשִׂם בִּי (yasim bi) has been translated “he would pay [attention] to me.” Job is saying that God will not need all his power – he will just have pay attention to Job’s complaint. Job does not need the display of power – he just wants a hearing.

[27:14]  ³ tn R. Gordis (Job, 294) identifies this as a breviloquence. Compare Ps 92:8 where the last two words also constitute the apodosis.

[27:14]  ⁴ tn Heb “will not be satisfied with bread/food.”

[31:14]  ⁵ tn Heb “arises.” The LXX reads “takes vengeance,” an interpretation that is somewhat correct but unnecessary. The verb “to rise” would mean “to confront in judgment.”

[31:14]  ⁶ tn The verb פָקַד (paqad) means “to visit,” but with God as the subject it means any divine intervention for blessing or cursing, anything God does that changes a person’s life. Here it is “visit to judge.”