Job 26:14

26:14 Indeed, these are but the outer fringes of his ways! ¹ 

How faint is the whisper ²  we hear of him!

But who can understand the thunder of his power?”

Job 42:3

42:3 you asked, ³ 

‘Who is this who darkens counsel

without knowledge?’

But ⁴  I have declared without understanding ⁵ 

things too wonderful for me to know. ⁶ 

[26:14]  ¹ tn Heb “the ends of his ways,” meaning “the fringes.”

[26:14]  ² tn Heb “how little is the word.” Here “little” means a “fraction” or an “echo.”

[42:3]  ³ tn The expression “you asked” is added here to clarify the presence of the line to follow. Many commentators delete it as a gloss from Job 38:2. If it is retained, then Job has to be recalling God’s question before he answers it.

[42:3]  ⁴ tn The word לָכֵן (lakhen) is simply “but,” as in Job 31:37.

[42:3]  ⁵ tn Heb “and I do not understand.” The expression serves here in an adverbial capacity. It also could be subordinated as a complement: “I have declared [things that] I do not understand.”

[42:3]  ⁶ tn The last clause is “and I do not know.” This is also subordinated to become a dependent clause.