31:16 If I have refused to give the poor what they desired, 1
or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
31:21 if I have raised my hand 2 to vote against the orphan,
when I saw my support in the court, 3
1 tn Heb “kept the poor from [their] desire.”
2 tn The expression “raised my hand” refers to a threatening manner or gesture in the court rather than a threat of physical violence in the street. Thus the words “to vote” are supplied in the translation to indicate the setting.
3 tn Heb “gate,” referring to the city gate where judicial decisions were rendered in the culture of the time. The translation uses the word “court” to indicate this to the modern reader, who might not associate a city gate complex with judicial functions.