Ayub 5:14

5:14 They meet with darkness in the daytime, ¹ 

and grope about ²  in the noontime as if it were night. ³ 

Yesaya 59:9-10

Israel Confesses its Sin

59:9 For this reason deliverance ⁴  is far from us ⁵ 

and salvation does not reach us.

We wait for light, ⁶  but see only darkness; ⁷ 

we wait for ⁸  a bright light, ⁹  but live ¹⁰  in deep darkness. ¹¹ 

59:10 We grope along the wall like the blind,

we grope like those who cannot see; ¹² 

we stumble at noontime as if it were evening.

Though others are strong, we are like dead men. ¹³ 

Yeremia 13:16

13:16 Show the Lord your God the respect that is due him. ¹⁴ 

Do it before he brings the darkness of disaster. ¹⁵ 

Do it before you stumble ¹⁶  into distress

like a traveler on the mountains at twilight. ¹⁷ 

Do it before he turns the light of deliverance you hope for

into the darkness and gloom of exile. ¹⁸ 

[5:14]  ¹ sn God so confuses the crafty that they are unable to fulfill their plans – it is as if they encounter darkness in broad daylight. This is like the Syrians in 2 Kgs 6:18-23.

[5:14]  ² tn The verb מָשַׁשׁ (mashash) expresses the idea of groping about in the darkness. This is part of the fulfillment of Deut 28:29, which says, “and you shall grope at noonday as the blind grope in darkness.” This image is also in Isa 59:10.

[5:14]  ³ sn The verse provides a picture of the frustration and bewilderment in the crafty who cannot accomplish their ends because God thwarts them.

[59:9]  ⁴ tn מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat), which refers to “justice” in the earlier verses, here refers to “justice from God,” or “vindication.” Because the people are unjust, God refuses to vindicate them before their enemies. See v. 11.

[59:9]  ⁵ sn The prophet speaks on behalf of the sinful nation and confesses its sins.

[59:9]  ⁶ sn Light here symbolizes prosperity and blessing.

[59:9]  ⁷ tn Heb “but, look, darkness”; NIV “but all is darkness.”

[59:9]  ⁸ tn The words “we wait for” are supplied in the translation; the verb is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).

[59:9]  ⁹ tn The plural noun form may indicate degree here.

[59:9]  ¹⁰ tn Or “walk about”; NCV “all we have is darkness.”

[59:9]  ¹¹ tn The plural noun form may indicate degree here.

[59:10]  ¹² tn Heb “like there are no eyes.”

[59:10]  ¹³ tn Heb among the strong, like dead men.”

[13:16]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “Give glory/respect to the Lord your God.” For this nuance of the word “glory” (כָּבוֹד, kavod), see BDB 459 s.v. כָּבוֹד 6.b and compare the usage in Mal 1:6 and Josh 7:19.

[13:16]  ¹⁵ tn The words “of disaster” are not in the text. They are supplied in the translation to explain the significance of the metaphor to readers who may not be acquainted with the metaphorical use of light and darkness for salvation and joy and distress and sorrow respectively.

[13:16]  sn For the metaphorical use of these terms the reader should consult O. A. Piper, “Light, Light and Darkness,” IDB 3:130-32. For the association of darkness with the Day of the Lord, the time when he will bring judgment, see, e.g., Amos 5:18-20. For the association of darkness with exile see Isa 9:1-2 (8:23-9:1 HT).

[13:16]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “your feet stumble.”

[13:16]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “you stumble on the mountains at twilight.” The added words are again supplied in the translation to help explain the metaphor to the uninitiated reader.

[13:16]  ¹⁸ tn Heb “and while you hope for light he will turn it into deep darkness and make [it] into gloom.” The meaning of the metaphor is again explained through the addition of the “of” phrases for readers who are unacquainted with the metaphorical use of these terms.

[13:16]  sn For the meaning and usage of the term “deep darkness” (צַלְמָוֶת, tsalmavet), see the notes on Jer 2:6. For the association of the term with exile see Isa 9:2 (9:1 HT). For the association of the word gloom with the Day of the Lord see Isa 60:2; Joel 2:2; Zeph 1:15.