31:36 Surely 1 I would wear it proudly 2 on my shoulder,
I would bind 3 it on me like a crown;
39:10 Can you bind the wild ox 4 to a furrow with its rope,
will it till the valleys, following after you?
1 tn The clause begins with the positive oath formula, אִם־לֹא (’im-lo’).
2 tn The word “proudly” is not in the Hebrew text, but is implied (note the following line).
3 tn This verb is only found in Prov 6:21. But E. Dhorme (Job, 470) suggests that (with metathesis) we have a derivative מַעֲדַנּוֹת (ma’adannot, “bonds; ties”) in 38:31.
4 tn Some commentators think that the addition of the “wild ox” here is a copyist’s error, making the stich too long. They therefore delete it. Also, binding an animal to the furrow with ropes is unusual. So with a slight emendation Kissane came up with “Will you bind him with a halter of cord?” While the MT is unusual, the sense is understandable, and no changes, even slight ones, are absolutely necessary.