Job 40:21-24

40:21 Under the lotus trees it lies,

in the secrecy of the reeds and the marsh.

40:22 The lotus trees conceal it in their ¹  shadow;

the poplars by the stream conceal it.

40:23 If the river rages, ²  it is not disturbed,

it is secure, ³  though the Jordan

should surge up to its mouth.

40:24 Can anyone catch it by its eyes, ⁴ 

or pierce its nose with a snare? ⁵ 

[40:22]  ¹ tn The suffix is singular, but must refer to the trees’ shade.

[40:23]  ² tn The word ordinarily means “to oppress.” So many commentators have proposed suitable changes: “overflows” (Beer), “gushes” (Duhm), “swells violently” (Dhorme, from a word that means “be strong”).

[40:23]  ³ tn Or “he remains calm.”

[40:24]  ⁴ tn The idea would be either (1) catch it while it is watching, or (2) in some way disabling its eyes before the attack. But others change the reading; Ball suggested “with hooks” and this has been adopted by some modern English versions (e.g., NRSV).

[40:24]  ⁵ tn Ehrlich altered the MT slightly to get “with thorns,” a view accepted by Driver, Dhorme and Pope.