Ayub 15:16

15:16 how much less man, who is abominable and corrupt, ¹ 

who drinks in evil like water! ² 

Ayub 20:12-13

20:12 “If ³  evil is sweet in his mouth

and he hides it under his tongue, ⁴ 

20:13 if he retains it for himself

and does not let it go,

and holds it fast in his mouth, ⁵ 

Ayub 34:7

34:7 What man is like Job,

who ⁶  drinks derision ⁷  like water!

[15:16]  ¹ tn The two descriptions here used are “abominable,” meaning “disgusting” (a Niphal participle with the value of a Latin participle [see GKC 356-57 §116.e]), and “corrupt” (a Niphal participle which occurs only in Pss 14:3 and 53:4), always in a moral sense. On the significance of the first description, see P. Humbert, “Le substantif toáe„ba„ et le verbe táb dans l’Ancien Testament,” ZAW 72 [1960]: 217ff.). On the second word, G. R. Driver suggests from Arabic, “debauched with luxury, corrupt” (“Some Hebrew Words,” JTS 29 [1927/28]: 390-96).

[15:16]  ² sn Man commits evil with the same ease and facility as he drinks in water – freely and in large quantities.

[20:12]  ³ tn The conjunction אִם (’im) introduces clauses that are conditional or concessive. With the imperfect verb in the protasis it indicates what is possible in the present or future. See GKC 496 §159.q).

[20:12]  ⁴ sn The wicked person holds on to evil as long as he can, savoring the taste or the pleasure of it.

[20:13]  ⁵ tn Heb “in the middle of his palate.”

[34:7]  ⁶ tn Heb “he drinks,” but coming after the question this clause may be subordinated.

[34:7]  ⁷ tn The scorn or derision mentioned here is not against Job, but against God. Job scorns God so much, he must love it. So to reflect this idea, Gordis has translated it “blasphemy” (cf. NAB).