Job 22:26-29

22:26 Surely then you will delight yourself ¹  in the Almighty,

and will lift up your face toward God.

22:27 You will pray to him and he will hear you,

and you will fulfill your vows to him. ² 

22:28 Whatever you decide ³  on a matter,

it will be established for you,

and light will shine on your ways.

22:29 When people are brought low ⁴  and you say

‘Lift them up!’ ⁵ 

then he will save the downcast; ⁶ 

[22:26]  ¹ tc This is the same verb as in Ps 37:4. G. R. Driver suggests the word comes from another root that means “abandon oneself to, depend on” (“Problems in the Hebrew text of Job,” VTSup 3 [1955]: 84).

[22:27]  ² tn The words “to him” are not in the Hebrew text, but are implied.

[22:28]  ³ tn The word is גָּזַר (gazar, “to cut”), in the sense of deciding a matter.

[22:29]  ⁴ tn There is no expressed subject here, and so the verb is taken as a passive voice again.

[22:29]  ⁵ tn The word גֵּוָה (gevah) means “loftiness; pride.” Here it simply says “up,” or “pride.” The rest is paraphrased. Of the many suggestions, the following provide a sampling: “It is because of pride” (ESV), “he abases pride” (H. H. Rowley); “[he abases] the lofty and the proud” (Beer); “[he abases] the word of pride” [Duhm]; “[he abases] the haughtiness of pride” [Fohrer and others]; “[he abases] the one who speaks proudly” [Weiser]; “[he abases] the one who boasts in pride” [Kissane]; and “God [abases] pride” [Budde, Gray].

[22:29]  ⁶ tn Or “humble”; Heb “the lowly of eyes.”