29:9 the chief men refrained from talking
and covered their mouths with their hands;
40:4 “Indeed, I am completely unworthy 1 – how could I reply to you?
I put 2 my hand over my mouth to silence myself. 3
39:9 I am silent and cannot open my mouth
because of what you have done. 7
30:32 If you have done foolishly by exalting yourself 8
or if you have planned evil,
put 9 your hand over your mouth!
5:13 For this reason whoever is smart 10 keeps quiet 11 in such a time,
for it is an evil 12 time.
7:16 Nations will see this and be disappointed by 13 all their strength,
they will put their hands over their mouths,
and act as if they were deaf. 14
11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how fathomless his ways!
1 tn The word קַלֹּתִי (qalloti) means “to be light; to be of small account; to be unimportant.” From this comes the meaning “contemptible,” which in the causative stem would mean “to treat with contempt; to curse.” Dhorme tries to make the sentence a conditional clause and suggests this meaning: “If I have been thoughtless.” There is really no “if” in Job’s mind.
2 tn The perfect verb here should be classified as an instantaneous perfect; the action is simultaneous with the words.
3 tn The words “to silence myself” are supplied in the translation for clarity.
4 tn Grk “these are the ones who cause divisions.”
5 tn Or “natural,” that is, living on the level of instincts, not on a spiritual level (the same word occurs in 1 Cor 2:14 as a description of nonbelievers).
6 tn Grk “not having [the] Spirit.”
7 tn Heb “because you acted.” The psalmist has in mind God’s disciplinary measures (see vv. 10-13).
8 tn The construction has the בְּ (bet) preposition with the Hitpael infinitive construct, forming a temporal clause. This clause explains the way in which the person has acted foolishly.
9 tn Heb “hand to mouth.” This express means “put your hand to your mouth” (e.g., Job 40:4, 5); cf. NIV “clap your hand over.”
10 tn Or “the wise”; or “the prudent.” Another option is to translate “the successful, prosperous” and understand this as a reference to the rich oppressors. See G. V. Smith, Amos, 169-70. In this case the following verb will also have a different nuance, that is, the wealthy remain silent before the abuses they perpetuate. See the note on the verb translated “keeps quiet” later in this verse.
11 tn Or “moans, laments,” from a homonymic verbal root. If the rich oppressors are in view, then the verb (whether translated “will be silenced” or “will lament”) describes the result of God’s judgment upon them. See G. V. Smith, Amos, 170.
12 tn If this is a judgment announcement against the rich, then the Hebrew phrase עֵת רָעָה (’et ra’ah) must be translated, “[a] disastrous time.” See G. V. Smith, Amos, 170.
13 tn Or “be ashamed of.”
14 tn Heb “and their ears will be deaf.” Apparently this means the opposing nations will be left dumbfounded by the