Ayub 35:10-12

35:10 But no one says, ‘Where is God, my Creator,

who gives songs in the night, ¹ 

35:11 who teaches us ²  more than ³  the wild animals of the earth,

and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?’

35:12 Then ⁴  they cry out – but he does not answer –

because of the arrogance of the wicked.

[35:10]  ¹ tn There have been several attempts to emend the line, none of which are particularly helpful or interesting. H. H. Rowley (Job [NCBC], 225) says, “It is a pity to rob Elihu of a poetic line when he creates one.”

[35:11]  ² tn The form in the text, the Piel participle from אָלַף (’alaf, “teach”) is written in a contracted form; the full form is מְאַלְּפֵנוּ (mÿ’allÿfenu).

[35:11]  ³ tn Some would render this “teaches us by the beasts.” But Elihu is stressing the unique privilege humans have.

[35:12]  ⁴ tn The adverb שָׁם (sham, “there”) connects this verse to v. 11. “There” can be locative or temporal – and here it is temporal (= “then”).