Job 13:22

13:22 Then call, ¹  and I will answer,

or I will speak, and you respond to me.

Job 19:16

19:16 I summon ²  my servant, but he does not respond,

even though I implore ³  him with my own mouth.

[13:22]  ¹ tn The imperatives in the verse function like the future tense in view of their use for instruction or advice. The chiastic arrangement of the verb forms is interesting: imperative + imperfect, imperfect + imperative. The imperative is used for God, but the imperfect is used when Job is the subject. Job is calling for the court to convene – he will be either the defendant or the prosecutor.

[19:16]  ² tn The verb קָרָא (qara’) followed by the ל (lamed) preposition means “to summon.” Contrast Ps 123:2.

[19:16]  ³ tn Heb “plead for grace” or “plead for mercy” (ESV).