Job 34:21-28

34:21 For his eyes are on the ways of an individual,

he observes all a person’s ¹  steps.

34:22 There is no darkness, and no deep darkness,

where evildoers can hide themselves. ² 

34:23 For he does not still consider a person, ³ 

that he should come before God in judgment.

34:24 He shatters the great without inquiry, ⁴ 

and sets up others in their place.

34:25 Therefore, he knows their deeds,

he overthrows them ⁵  in the night ⁶ 

and they are crushed.

34:26 He strikes them for their wickedness, ⁷ 

in a place where people can see, ⁸ 

34:27 because they have turned away from following him,

and have not understood ⁹  any of his ways,

34:28 so that they caused ¹⁰  the cry of the poor

to come before him,

so that he hears ¹¹  the cry of the needy.

[34:21]  ¹ tn Heb “his”; the referent (a person) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[34:22]  ² tn The construction of this colon uses the Niphal infinitive construct from סָתַר (satar, “to be hidden; to hide”). The resumptive adverb makes this a relative clause in its usage: “where the evildoers can hide themselves.”

[34:23]  ³ tn Heb “for he does not put upon man yet.” This has been given a wide variety of interpretations, all of which involve a lot of additional thoughts. The word עוֹד (’od, “yet, still”) has been replaced with מוֹעֵד (mo’ed, “an appointed time,” Reiske and Wright), with the ם (mem) having dropped out by haplography. This makes good sense. If the MT is retained, the best interpretation would be that God does not any more consider (from “place upon the heart”) man, that he might appear in judgment.

[34:24]  ⁴ tn Heb “[with] no investigation.”

[34:25]  ⁵ tn The direct object “them” is implied and has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[34:25]  ⁶ tn The Hebrew term “night” is an accusative of time.

[34:26]  ⁶ tn Heb “under wicked men,” or “under wickednesses.” J. C. Greenfield shows that the preposition can mean “among” as well (“Prepositions B Tachat in Jes 57:5,” ZAW 32 [1961]: 227). That would allow “among wicked men.” It could also be “instead of” or even “in return for [their wickedness]” which is what the RSV does.

[34:26]  ⁷ tn The text simply uses רֹאִים (ro’im): “[in the place where there are] seers,” i.e., spectators.

[34:27]  ⁷ tn The verb הִשְׂכִּילוּ (hiskilu) means “to be prudent; to be wise.” From this is derived the idea of “be wise in understanding God’s will,” and “be successful because of prudence” – i.e., successful with God.

[34:28]  ⁸ tn The verse begins with the infinitive construct of בּוֹא (bo’, “go”), showing the result of their impious actions.

[34:28]  ⁹ tn The verb here is an imperfect; the clause is circumstantial to the preceding clause, showing either the result, or the concomitant action.