3:9 Let its morning stars 1 be darkened;
let it wait 2 for daylight but find none, 3
nor let it see the first rays 4 of dawn,
34:11 For he repays a person for his work, 8
and according to the conduct of a person,
he causes the consequences to find him. 9
37:13 Whether it is for punishment 10 for his land,
or whether it is for mercy,
he causes it to find its mark. 11
1 tn Heb “the stars of its dawn.” The word נֶשֶׁף (neshef) can mean “twilight” or “dawn.” In this context the morning stars are in mind. Job wishes that the morning stars – that should announce the day – go out.
2 tn The verb “wait, hope” has the idea of eager expectation and preparation. It is used elsewhere of waiting on the
3 tn The absolute state אַיִן (’ayin, “there is none”) is here used as a verbal predicate (see GKC 480 §152.k). The concise expression literally says “and none.”
4 sn The expression is literally “the eyelids of the morning.” This means the very first rays of dawn (see also Job 41:18). There is some debate whether it refers to “eyelids” or “eyelashes” or “eyeballs.” If the latter, it would signify the flashing eyes of a person. See for the Ugaritic background H. L. Ginsberg, The Legend of King Keret (BASORSup), 39; see also J. M. Steadman, “‘Eyelids of Morn’: A Biblical Convention,” HTR 56 (1963): 159-67.
5 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Job) has been specified in the translation to indicate whose friends they were.
6 tn The perfect verb should be given the category of potential perfect here.
7 tc This is one of the eighteen “corrections of the scribes” (tiqqune sopherim); it originally read, “and they declared God [in the wrong].” The thought was that in abandoning the debate they had conceded Job’s point.
8 tn Heb “for the work of man, he [= God] repays him.”
9 tn Heb “he causes it to find him.” The text means that God will cause a man to find (or receive) the consequences of his actions.
10 tn Heb “rod,” i.e., a rod used for punishment.
11 tn This is interpretive; Heb “he makes find it.” The lightning could be what is intended here, for it finds its mark. But R. Gordis (Job, 429) suggests man is the subject – let him find what it is for, i.e., the fate appropriate for him.