Ayub 9:18

9:18 He does not allow ¹  me to recover ²  my breath,

for he fills ³  me with bitterness.

Ayub 24:23

24:23 God ⁴  may let them rest in a feeling of security, ⁵ 

but he is constantly watching ⁶  all their ways. ⁷ 

[9:18]  ¹ tn The verb נָתַן (natan) essentially means “to give”; but followed by the infinitive (without the ל [lamed] here) it means “to permit; to allow.”

[9:18]  ² tn The Hiphil of the verb means “to bring back”; with the object “my breath,” it means “get my breath” or simply “breathe.” The infinitive is here functioning as the object of the verb (see GKC 350 §114.m).

[9:18]  ³ sn The meaning of the word is “to satiate; to fill,” as in “drink to the full, be satisfied.” Job is satiated – in the negative sense – with bitterness. There is no room for more.

[24:23]  ⁴ tn Heb “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[24:23]  ⁵ tn The expression לָבֶטַח (lavetakh, “in security”) precedes the verb that it qualifies – God “allows him to take root in security.” For the meaning of the verb, see Job 8:15.

[24:23]  ⁶ tn Heb “his eyes are on.”

[24:23]  ⁷ sn The meaning of the verse is that God may allow the wicked to rest in comfort and security, but all the time he is watching them closely with the idea of bringing judgment on them.