Ayub 8:9

8:9 For we were born yesterday ¹  and do not have knowledge,

since our days on earth are but a shadow. ² 

Mazmur 102:12

102:12 But you, O Lord, rule forever, ³ 

and your reputation endures. ⁴ 

Mazmur 6:1

Psalm 6 ⁵ 

For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments, according to the sheminith style; ⁶  a psalm of David.

6:1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger!

Do not discipline me in your raging fury! ⁷ 

Yakobus 4:14

4:14 You ⁸  do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? ⁹  For you are a puff of smoke ¹⁰  that appears for a short time and then vanishes.

[8:9]  ¹ tn The Hebrew has “we are of yesterday,” the adverb functioning as a predicate. Bildad’s point is that they have not had time to acquire great knowledge because they are recent.

[8:9]  ² tn E. Dhorme (Job, 116) observes that the shadow is the symbol of ephemeral things (14:2; 17:7; Ps 144:4). The shadow passes away quickly (116).

[102:12]  ³ tn Heb “sit” (i.e., sit enthroned, see Ps 9:7). The imperfect verbal form highlights the generalization.

[102:12]  ⁴ tn Heb “and your remembrance [is] for a generation and a generation.”

[6:1]  ⁵ sn Psalm 6. The psalmist begs the Lord to withdraw his anger and spare his life. Having received a positive response to his prayer, the psalmist then confronts his enemies and describes how they retreat.

[6:1]  ⁶ tn The meaning of the Hebrew term שְׁמִינִית (shÿminit, “sheminith”) is uncertain; perhaps it refers to a particular style of music. See 1 Chr 15:21.

[6:1]  ⁷ sn The implication is that the psalmist has sinned, causing God to discipline him by bringing a life-threatening illness upon him (see vv. 2-7).

[4:14]  ⁸ tn Grk “who” (continuing the description of the people of v. 13). Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

[4:14]  ⁹ tn Or “you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.”

[4:14]  ¹⁰ tn Or “a vapor.” The Greek word ἀτμίς (atmis) denotes a swirl of smoke arising from a fire (cf. Gen 19:28; Lev 16:13; Joel 2:30 [Acts 2:19]; Ezek 8:11).