Job 24:23

24:23 God ¹  may let them rest in a feeling of security, ² 

but he is constantly watching ³  all their ways. ⁴ 

Job 8:15

8:15 He leans against his house but it does not hold up, ⁵ 

he takes hold ⁶  of it but it does not stand.

[24:23]  ¹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[24:23]  ² tn The expression לָבֶטַח (lavetakh, “in security”) precedes the verb that it qualifies – God “allows him to take root in security.” For the meaning of the verb, see Job 8:15.

[24:23]  ³ tn Heb “his eyes are on.”

[24:23]  ⁴ sn The meaning of the verse is that God may allow the wicked to rest in comfort and security, but all the time he is watching them closely with the idea of bringing judgment on them.

[8:15]  ⁵ tn The verb עָמַד (’amad, “to stand”) is almost synonymous with the parallel קוּם (qum, “to rise; to stand”). The distinction is that the former means “to remain standing” (so it is translated here “hold up”), and the latter “rise, stand up.”

[8:15]  ⁶ sn The idea is that he grabs hold of the house, not to hold it up, but to hold himself up or support himself. But it cannot support him. This idea applies to both the spider’s web and the false security of the pagan.