Ayub 19:27

19:27 whom I will see for myself, ¹ 

and whom my own eyes will behold,

and not another. ² 

My heart ³  grows faint within me. ⁴ 

Ayub 23:13

23:13 But he is unchangeable, ⁵  and who can change ⁶  him?

Whatever he ⁷  has desired, he does.

Ayub 34:25

34:25 Therefore, he knows their deeds,

he overthrows them ⁸  in the night ⁹ 

and they are crushed.

[19:27]  ¹ tn The emphasis is on “I” and “for myself.” No other will be seeing this vindication, but Job himself will see it. Of that he is confident. Some take לִי (li, “for myself”) to mean favorable to me, or on my side (see A. B. Davidson, Job, 143). But Job is expecting (not just wishing for) a face-to-face encounter in the vindication.

[19:27]  ² tn Hitzig offered another interpretation that is somewhat forced. The “other” (זָר, zar) or “stranger” would refer to Job. He would see God, not as an enemy, but in peace.

[19:27]  ³ tn Heb “kidneys,” a poetic expression for the seat of emotions.

[19:27]  ⁴ tn Heb “fail/grow faint in my breast.” Job is saying that he has expended all his energy with his longing for vindication.

[23:13]  ⁵ tc The MT has “But he [is] in one.” Many add the word “mind” to capture the point that God is resolute and unchanging. Some commentators find this too difficult, and so change the text from בְאֶחָד (bÿ’ekhad, here “unchangeable”) to בָחָר (bakhar, “he has chosen”). The wording in the text is idiomatic and should be retained. R. Gordis (Job, 262) translates it “he is one, i.e., unchangeable, fixed, determined.” The preposition בּ (bet) is a bet essentiae – “and he [is] as one,” or “he is one” (see GKC 379 §119.i).

[23:13]  ⁶ tn Heb “cause him to return.”

[23:13]  ⁷ tn Or “his soul.”

[34:25]  ⁸ tn The direct object “them” is implied and has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[34:25]  ⁹ tn The Hebrew term “night” is an accusative of time.