Ayub 23:4-5

23:4 I would lay out my case ¹  before him

and fill my mouth with arguments.

23:5 I would know with what words ²  he would answer me,

and understand what he would say to me.

Ayub 32:14

32:14 Job ³  has not directed ⁴  his words to me,

and so I will not reply to him with your arguments. ⁵ 

Mazmur 50:21

50:21 When you did these things, I was silent, ⁶ 

so you thought I was exactly like you. ⁷ 

But now I will condemn ⁸  you

and state my case against you! ⁹ 

[23:4]  ¹ tn The word מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat) is normally “judgment; decision.” But in these contexts it refers to the legal case that Job will bring before God. With the verb עָרַךְ (’arakh, “to set in order; to lay out”) the whole image of drawing up a lawsuit is complete.

[23:5]  ² tn Heb “the words he would answer me.”

[32:14]  ³ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Job) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[32:14]  ⁴ tn The verb עַרַךְ (’arakh) means “to arrange in order; to set forth; to direct; to marshal.” It is used in military contexts for setting the battle array; it is used in legal settings for preparing the briefs.

[32:14]  ⁵ tn Heb “your words.”

[50:21]  ⁶ tn Heb “these things you did and I was silent.” Some interpret the second clause (“and I was silent”) as a rhetorical question expecting a negative answer, “[When you do these things], should I keep silent?” (cf. NEB). See GKC 335 §112.cc.

[50:21]  sn The Lord was silent in the sense that he delayed punishment. Of course, God’s patience toward sinners eventually runs out. The divine “silence” is only temporary (see v. 3, where the psalmist, having described God’s arrival, observes that “he is not silent”).

[50:21]  ⁷ tn The Hebrew infinitive construct (הֱיוֹת, heyot) appears to function like the infinitive absolute here, adding emphasis to the following finite verbal form (אֶהְיֶה, ’ehyeh). See GKC 339-40 §113.a. Some prefer to emend הֱיוֹת (heyot) to the infinitive absolute form הָיוֹ (hayo).

[50:21]  ⁸ tn Or “rebuke” (see v. 8).

[50:21]  ⁹ tn Heb “and I will set in order [my case against you] to your eyes.” The cohortative form expresses the Lord’s resolve to accuse and judge the wicked.