Ayub 27:12

27:12 If you yourselves have all seen this,

Why in the world ¹  do you continue this meaningless talk? ² 

Ayub 31:31

31:31 if ³  the members of my household ⁴  have never said, ⁵ 

‘If only there were ⁶  someone

who has not been satisfied from Job’s ⁷  meat!’ –

[27:12]  ¹ tn The interrogative uses the demonstrative pronoun in its emphatic position: “Why in the world…?” (IBHS 312-13 §17.4.3c).

[27:12]  ² tn The text has the noun “vain thing; breath; vapor,” and then a denominative verb from the same root: “to become vain with a vain thing,” or “to do in vain a vain thing.” This is an example of the internal object, or a cognate accusative (see GKC 367 §117.q). The LXX has “you all know that you are adding vanity to vanity.”

[31:31]  ³ tn Now Job picks up the series of clauses serving as the protasis.

[31:31]  ⁴ tn Heb “the men of my tent.” In context this refers to members of Job’s household.

[31:31]  ⁵ sn The line is difficult to sort out. Job is saying it is sinful “if his men have never said, ‘O that there was one who has not been satisfied from his food.’” If they never said that, it would mean there were people out there who needed to be satisfied with his food.

[31:31]  ⁶ tn The optative is again expressed with “who will give?”

[31:31]  ⁷ tn Heb “his”; the referent (Job) has been specified in the translation for clarity.