Ayub 10:1

An Appeal for Revelation

10:1 “I ¹  am weary ²  of my life;

I will complain without restraint; ³ 

I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

Ayub 30:23

30:23 I know that you are bringing ⁴  me to death,

to the meeting place for all the living.

Ayub 33:4

33:4 The Spirit of God has made me,

and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. ⁵ 

[10:1]  ¹ tn The Hebrew has נַפְשִׁי (nafshi), usually rendered “my soul.”

[10:1]  ² tn The verb is pointed like a Qal form but is originally a Niphal from קוּט (qut). Some wish to connect the word to Akkadian cognates for a meaning “I am in anguish”; but the meaning “I am weary” fits the passage well.

[10:1]  ³ tn The verb עָזַב (’azav) means “to abandon.” It may have an extended meaning of “to let go” or “to let slip.” But the expression “abandon to myself” means to abandon all restraint and give free course to the complaint.

[30:23]  ⁴ tn The imperfect verb would be a progressive imperfect, it is future, but it is also already underway.

[33:4]  ⁵ tc Some commentators want to put this verse after v. 6, while others omit the verse entirely. Elihu is claiming here that he is inspired by God.

[33:4]  tn The verb תְּחַיֵּנִי (tÿkhayyeni) is the Piel imperfect of the verb “to live.” It can mean “gives me life,” but it can also me “quickens me, enlivens me.”