Job 40:4

40:4 “Indeed, I am completely unworthy ¹  – how could I reply to you?

I put ²  my hand over my mouth to silence myself. ³ 

Psalms 15:4

15:4 He despises a reprobate, ⁴ 

but honors the Lord’s loyal followers. ⁵ 

He makes firm commitments and does not renege on his promise. ⁶ 

Isaiah 32:6

32:6 For a fool speaks disgraceful things; ⁷ 

his mind plans out sinful deeds. ⁸ 

He commits godless deeds ⁹ 

and says misleading things about the Lord;

he gives the hungry nothing to satisfy their appetite ¹⁰ 

and gives the thirsty nothing to drink. ¹¹ 

[40:4]  ¹ tn The word קַלֹּתִי (qalloti) means “to be light; to be of small account; to be unimportant.” From this comes the meaning “contemptible,” which in the causative stem would mean “to treat with contempt; to curse.” Dhorme tries to make the sentence a conditional clause and suggests this meaning: “If I have been thoughtless.” There is really no “if” in Job’s mind.

[40:4]  ² tn The perfect verb here should be classified as an instantaneous perfect; the action is simultaneous with the words.

[40:4]  ³ tn The words “to silence myself” are supplied in the translation for clarity.

[15:4]  ⁴ tn Heb “despised in his eyes [is] a rejected [one].” The Hebrew term נִמְאָס (nim’as, “rejected [one]”) apparently refers here to one who has been rejected by God because of his godless behavior. It stands in contrast to “those who fear God” in the following line.

[15:4]  ⁵ tn Heb “those who fear the Lord.” The one who fears the Lord respects his sovereignty and obeys his commandments. See Ps 128:1; Prov 14:2.

[15:4]  ⁶ tn Heb “he takes an oath to do harm and does not change.” The phrase “to do harm” cannot mean “do harm to others,” for the preceding verse clearly characterizes this individual as one who does not harm others. In this context the phrase must refer to an oath to which a self-imprecation is attached. The godly individual takes his commitments to others so seriously he is willing to “swear to his own hurt.” For an example of such an oath, see Ruth 1:16-17.

[32:6]  ⁷ tn Or “foolishness,” in a moral-ethical sense. See 9:17.

[32:6]  ⁸ tn Heb “and his heart commits sin”; KJV, ASV “his heart will work iniquity”; NASB “inclines toward wickedness.”

[32:6]  ⁹ tn Heb “in order to do [or “so that he does”] what is godless [or “defiled”].”

[32:6]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “so that he leaves empty the appetite [or “desire”] of the hungry.”

[32:6]  ¹¹ tn Heb “and the drink of the thirsty he causes to fail.”