Ayub 12:14

12:14 If ¹  he tears down, it cannot be rebuilt;

if he imprisons a person, there is no escape. ² 

Ayub 19:7

Job’s Abandonment and Affliction

19:7 “If ³  I cry out, ⁴  ‘Violence!’ ⁵ 

I receive no answer; ⁶ 

I cry for help,

but there is no justice.

Ayub 36:1

Elihu’s Fourth Speech ⁷ 

36:1 Elihu said further: ⁸ 

[12:14]  ¹ tn The use of הֵן (hen, equivalent to הִנֵּה, hinneh, “behold”) introduces a hypothetical condition.

[12:14]  ² tn The verse employs antithetical ideas: “tear down” and “build up,” “imprison” and “escape.” The Niphal verbs in the sentences are potential imperfects. All of this is to say that humans cannot reverse the will of God.

[19:7]  ³ tn The particle is used here as in 9:11 (see GKC 497 §159.w).

[19:7]  ⁴ tc The LXX has “I laugh at reproach.”

[19:7]  ⁵ tn The same idea is expressed in Jer 20:8 and Hab 1:2. The cry is a cry for help, that he has been wronged, that there is no justice.

[19:7]  ⁶ tn The Niphal is simply “I am not answered.” See Prov 21:13b.

[36:1]  ⁷ sn This very lengthy speech can be broken down into the following sections: the discipline of suffering (36:2-25), the work and wisdom of God (36:26–37:24).

[36:1]  ⁸ tn The use of וַיֹּסֶף (vayyosef) is with the hendiadys construction: “and he added and said,” meaning “and he said again, further.”