Job 27

Just prior to the hymn to wisdom, Job is said to continue 'his parable' with these words.

Please note that it is called a parable. It is not history. It is like a play that they might go to at the theatre. They were human you know, not fearful automatons like us.

From the pronouncement of futility in verse 12, there being no indication that the speaker has changed, I assume that Job presents arguments that have gone before in the conversation from his comforters. These arguments are not in support of Job's steadfast insistence, his integrity that is ultimately commended by Yahweh (in the story). So I have quotes around this list as if Job is casting off the arguments one at a time. Alternatively, one can imagine a heated exchange where the narrator can't keep up with telling us who is speaking. In any case, it is the end of the pairs of speeches among the four main speakers.

It's a story, but Yahweh is in it? Can that possibly be? Does Yahweh play? Is he a good sport? Just ask Leviathan.

The remainder of this book begins with chapter 28, the hymn to wisdom, then Job's three-chapter summary of his case, then Elihu's intervention. And finally Yahweh's speeches. We are gradually closing up all the gaps I left at the beginning of this rewrite a year or so ago.

Nose, nostril, could equally well be anger.

Job 27		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
וַיֹּ֣סֶף אִ֭יּוֹב שְׂאֵ֥ת מְשָׁל֗וֹ וַיֹּאמַֽר	1		And again Job lifted up his parable and said,	3e	4B	13
חַי־אֵ֭ל הֵסִ֣יר מִשְׁפָּטִ֑י וְ֝שַׁדַּ֗י הֵמַ֥ר נַפְשִֽׁי	2		The Living One, he has turned aside my judgment, and the Sufficient has embittered me.	3e	4B	7 7
כִּֽי־כָל־ע֣וֹד נִשְׁמָתִ֣י בִ֑י וְר֖וּחַ אֱל֣וֹהַּ בְּאַפִּֽי	3		For all the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God in my nose,	3e	4B	7 9
אִם־תְּדַבֵּ֣רְנָה שְׂפָתַ֣י עַוְלָ֑ה וּ֝לְשׁוֹנִ֗י אִם־יֶהְגֶּ֥ה רְמִיָּֽה	4		Have my lips spoken injustice? Or my tongue, has it muttered deceit?	3e	4B	10 9
חָלִ֣ילָה לִּי֮ אִם־אַצְדִּ֪יק אֶ֫תְכֶ֥ם עַד־אֶגְוָ֑ע לֹא־אָסִ֖יר תֻּמָּתִ֣י מִמֶּֽנִּי	5		Far be it from me if I justify you. Until I expire, I will not put aside my completeness from me.	3d	4B	9 3 8
בְּצִדְקָתִ֣י הֶ֭חֱזַקְתִּי וְלֹ֣א אַרְפֶּ֑הָ לֹֽא־יֶחֱרַ֥ף לְ֝בָבִ֗י מִיָּמָֽי	6		In my righteousness I am resolute and I not will desist. My heart will not reproach, on my day.	3e	4B	13 9
יְהִ֣י כְ֭רָשָׁע אֹ֣יְבִ֑י וּמִתְקוֹמְמִ֥י כְעַוָּֽל	7		Let my enemy be as one who is wicked, and one arising against me as one who is unjust.	3e	4B	7 7
כִּ֤י מַה־תִּקְוַ֣ת חָ֭נֵף כִּ֣י יִבְצָ֑ע כִּ֤י יֵ֖שֶׁל אֱל֣וֹהַּ נַפְשֽׁוֹ	8	C	For what expectation has a hypocrite that it should gain, when God eases out his very self?	3e	4C	9 8
הַֽ֭צַעֲקָתוֹ יִשְׁמַ֥ע ׀ אֵ֑ל כִּֽי־תָב֖וֹא עָלָ֣יו צָרָֽה	9		His outcry will the One hear, when trouble comes upon him?	3e	4B	8 6
אִם־עַל־שַׁדַּ֥י יִתְעַנָּ֑ג יִקְרָ֖א אֱל֣וֹהַּ בְּכָל־עֵֽת	10		If on the Sufficient he delights exquisitely, he would call on God all the time.	3e	4B	7 8
אוֹרֶ֣ה אֶתְכֶ֣ם בְּיַד־אֵ֑ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר עִם־שַׁ֝דַּ֗י לֹ֣א אֲכַחֵֽד	11		I will instruct you into the hand of the One. What is with the Sufficient I will not conceal.	3e	4B	7 9
הֵן־אַתֶּ֣ם כֻּלְּכֶ֣ם חֲזִיתֶ֑ם וְלָמָּה־זֶּ֝֗ה הֶ֣בֶל תֶּהְבָּֽלוּ	12		Lo, you, the lot of you have vision, so why this futility? You are futile.	3e	4B	8 9
זֶ֤ה ׀ חֵֽלֶק־אָדָ֖ם רָשָׁ֥ע ׀ עִם־אֵ֑ל וְֽנַחֲלַ֥ת עָ֝רִיצִ֗ים מִשַּׁדַּ֥י יִקָּֽחוּ	13	C	"This is the share of the wicked earthling with the One, and the inheritance of the ruthless from the Sufficient that they take,	3e	4C	9 13
אִם־יִרְבּ֣וּ בָנָ֣יו לְמוֹ־חָ֑רֶב וְ֝צֶאֱצָאָ֗יו לֹ֣א יִשְׂבְּעוּ־לָֽחֶם	14		"If his children are increased, to them the sword, and his offspring will not be satisfied with bread.	3e	4B	8 10
שְׂ֭רִידָיו בַּמָּ֣וֶת יִקָּבֵ֑רוּ וְ֝אַלְמְנֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א תִבְכֶּֽינָה	15	g	"His survivors in death will be entombed, and his widows will not weep,	3e	4B	10 9
אִם־יִצְבֹּ֣ר כֶּעָפָ֣ר כָּ֑סֶף וְ֝כַחֹ֗מֶר יָכִ֥ין מַלְבּֽוּשׁ	16		"If they accumulate silver like dust, and like clay, prepare clothing,	3e	4B	8 8
יָ֭כִין וְצַדִּ֣יק יִלְבָּ֑שׁ וְ֝כֶ֗סֶף נָקִ֥י יַחֲלֹֽק	17	g	"He prepares, but a righteous one will be clothed, and silver the innocent will share,	3e	4B	7 8
בָּנָ֣ה כָעָ֣שׁ בֵּית֑וֹ וּ֝כְסֻכָּ֗ה עָשָׂ֥ה נֹצֵֽר	18		"He builds like a moth his house, and as a lair made for preservation,	3e	4B	6 7
עָשִׁ֣יר יִ֭שְׁכַּב וְלֹ֣א יֵאָסֵ֑ף עֵינָ֖יו פָּקַ֣ח וְאֵינֶֽנּוּ	19		"Rich, he lies down and is not gathered, his eyes given sight, and he is not,	3e	4B	9 8
תַּשִּׂיגֵ֣הוּ כַ֭מַּיִם בַּלָּה֑וֹת לַ֝֗יְלָה גְּנָבַ֥תּוּ סוּפָֽה	20		"Wearing out overtakes him like water, at night storm-wind steals him,	3e	4B	9 8
יִשָּׂאֵ֣הוּ קָדִ֣ים וְיֵלַ֑ךְ וִֽ֝ישָׂעֲרֵ֗הוּ מִמְּקֹמֽוֹ	21		"The east lifts him up and he goes, and he is swept from his own place,	3e	4B	9 8
וְיַשְׁלֵ֣ךְ עָ֭לָיו וְלֹ֣א יַחְמֹ֑ל מִ֝יָּד֗וֹ בָּר֥וֹחַ יִבְרָֽח	22		"And it will cast him off without pity, from its hand, by the wind he runs,	3e	4B	9 8
יִשְׂפֹּ֣ק עָלֵ֣ימוֹ כַפֵּ֑ימוֹ וְיִשְׁרֹ֥ק עָ֝לָ֗יו מִמְּקֹמֽוֹ	23		"It will cuff its open palm on him, and hiss at him from his own place."	3e	4B	8 8