Ayub 34:12

34:12 Indeed, in truth, God does not act wickedly,

and the Almighty does not pervert justice.

Ayub 35:10-11

35:10 But no one says, ‘Where is God, my Creator,

who gives songs in the night, ¹ 

35:11 who teaches us ²  more than ³  the wild animals of the earth,

and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?’

Ayub 36:2-3

36:2 “Be patient ⁴  with me a little longer

and I will instruct you,

for I still have words to speak on God’s behalf. ⁵ 

36:3 With my knowledge I will speak comprehensively, ⁶ 

and to my Creator I will ascribe righteousness. ⁷ 

Ayub 36:22-26

36:22 Indeed, God is exalted in his power;

who is a teacher ⁸  like him?

36:23 Who has prescribed his ways for him?

Or said to him, ‘You have done what is wicked’?

36:24 Remember to extol ⁹  his work,

which people have praised in song.

36:25 All humanity has seen it;

people gaze on it from afar.

The Work and Wisdom of God

36:26 “Yes, God is great – beyond our knowledge! ¹⁰ 

The number of his years is unsearchable.

[35:10]  ¹ tn There have been several attempts to emend the line, none of which are particularly helpful or interesting. H. H. Rowley (Job [NCBC], 225) says, “It is a pity to rob Elihu of a poetic line when he creates one.”

[35:11]  ² tn The form in the text, the Piel participle from אָלַף (’alaf, “teach”) is written in a contracted form; the full form is מְאַלְּפֵנוּ (mÿ’allÿfenu).

[35:11]  ³ tn Some would render this “teaches us by the beasts.” But Elihu is stressing the unique privilege humans have.

[36:2]  ⁴ tn The verb כָּתַּר (kattar) is the Piel imperative; in Hebrew the word means “to surround” and is related to the noun for crown. But in Syriac it means “to wait.” This section of the book of Job will have a few Aramaic words.

[36:2]  ⁵ tn The Hebrew text simply has “for yet for God words.”

[36:3]  ⁶ tn Heb “I will carry my knowledge to-from afar.” The expression means that he will give a wide range to knowledge, that he will speak comprehensively.

[36:3]  ⁷ tn This line gives the essence of all of Elihu’s speech – to give or ascribe righteousness to God against the charges of Job. Dhorme translates this “I will justify my Maker,” and that is workable if it carries the meaning of “declaring to be right.”

[36:22]  ⁸ tn The word מוֹרֶה (moreh) is the Hiphil participle from יָרַה (yarah). It is related to the noun תּוֹרָה (torah, “what is taught” i.e., the law).

[36:24]  ⁹ tn The expression is “that you extol,” serving as an object of the verb.

[36:26]  ¹⁰ tn The last part has the verbal construction, “and we do not know.” This clause is to be used adverbially: “beyond our understanding.”