Job 9:27

If I say, ¹  ‘I will ²  forget my complaint, I will change my expression ³  and be cheerful,’ ⁴ 

biblegateway Job 9:27

If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile,’

biblegateway Job 9:27

"Though I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my sad countenance and be cheerful,’

biblegateway Job 9:27

If I decided to forget my complaints, if I decided to end my sadness and be cheerful,

biblegateway Job 9:27

Even if I say, 'I'll put all this behind me, I'll look on the bright side and force a smile,'

SABDAweb Job 9:27

If I say, I will put my grief out of mind, I will let my face be sad no longer and I will be bright;

bibleoremus Job 9:27

If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint; I will put off my sad countenance and be of good cheer,’

biblegateway Job 9:27

If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face and wear a smile,’

biblegateway Job 9:27

If I say, ¹  ‘I will ²  forget my complaint, I will change my expression ³  and be cheerful,’ ⁴ 

¹ tn The construction here uses the infinitive construct with a pronominal suffix – “if my saying” is this, or “if I say.” For the conditional clause using אִם (’im) with a noun clause, see GKC 496 §159.u.

² tn The verbal form is a cohortative of resolve: “I will forget” or “I am determined to forget.” The same will be used in the second colon of the verse.

³ tn Heb “I will abandon my face,” i.e., change my expression. The construction here is unusual; G. R. Driver connected it to an Arabic word ‘adaba, “made agreeable” (IV), and so interpreted this line to mean “make my countenance pleasant” (“Problems in the Hebrew text of Job,” VTSup 3 [1955]: 76). M. Dahood found a Ugaritic root meaning “make, arrange” (“The Root ’zb II in Job,” JBL 78 [1959]: 303-9), and said, “I will arrange my face.” But see H. G. Williamson, “A Reconsideration of `azab II in Ugaritic,” ZAW 87 (1985): 74-85; Williamson shows it is probably not a legitimate cognate. D. J. A. Clines (Job [WBC], 219) observes that with all these suggestions there are too many homonyms for the root. The MT construction is still plausible.

⁴ tn In the Hiphil of בָּלַג (balag) corresponds to Arabic balija which means “to shine” and “to be merry.” The shining face would signify cheerfulness and smiling. It could be translated “and brighten [my face].”