Job 27:4-5

Context

27:4 my¹ lips will not speak wickedness,

and my tongue will whisper² no deceit.

27:5 I will never³ declare that you three⁴ are in the right;

until I die, I will not set aside my integrity!

[27:4] ¹tn The verse begins with אִם (’im), the formula used for the content of the oath (“God lives…if I do/do not…”). Thus, the content of the oath proper is here in v. 4.

[27:4] ²tn The verb means “to utter; to mumble; to meditate.” The implication is that he will not communicate deceitful things, no matter how quiet or subtle.

[27:5] ³tn The text uses חָלִילָה לִּי (khalilah li) meaning “far be it from me,” or more strongly, something akin to “sacrilege.”

[27:5] ⁴tn In the Hebrew text “you” is plural – a reference to Eliphaz, Zophar, and Bildad. To make this clear, “three” is supplied in the translation.