Ayub 28:20

God Alone Has Wisdom

28:20 “But wisdom – where does it come from? ¹ 

Where is the place of understanding?

Ayub 6:11

6:11 What is my strength, that I should wait? ² 

and what is my end, ³ 

that I should prolong my life?

Ayub 21:31

21:31 No one denounces his conduct to his face;

no one repays him for what ⁴  he has done. ⁵ 

Ayub 34:7

34:7 What man is like Job,

who ⁶  drinks derision ⁷  like water!

[28:20]  ¹ tn The refrain is repeated, except now the verb is תָּבוֹא (tavo’, “come”).

[6:11]  ² sn Now, in vv. 11-13, Job proceeds to describe his hopeless condition. In so doing, he is continuing his defense of his despair and lament. The section begins with these rhetorical questions in which Job affirms that he does not have the strength to wait for the blessings that Eliphaz is talking about.

[6:11]  ³ tn The word translated “my end” is קִצִּי (qitsi). It refers to the termination of his life. In Ps 39:5 it is parallel to “the measure of my days.” In a sense, Job is asking what future he has. To him, the “end” of his affliction can only be death.

[21:31]  ⁴ tn The expression “and he has done” is taken here to mean “what he has done.”

[21:31]  ⁵ tn Heb “Who declares his way to his face? // Who repays him for what he has done?” These rhetorical questions, which expect a negative answer (“No one!”) have been translated as indicative statements to bring out their force clearly.

[34:7]  ⁶ tn Heb “he drinks,” but coming after the question this clause may be subordinated.

[34:7]  ⁷ tn The scorn or derision mentioned here is not against Job, but against God. Job scorns God so much, he must love it. So to reflect this idea, Gordis has translated it “blasphemy” (cf. NAB).