Job 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.

[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.”