5:6 For evil does not come up from the dust, 1
nor does trouble spring up from the ground,
29:23 They waited for me as people wait 2 for the rain,
and they opened their mouths 3
as for 4 the spring rains.
1 sn The previous discussion shows how trouble rises, namely, from the rebelliousness of the fool. Here Eliphaz simply summarizes the points made with this general principle – trouble does not come from outside man, nor does it come as a part of the natural order, but rather it comes from the evil nature of man.
2 tn The phrase “people wait for” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation.
3 sn The analogy is that they received his words eagerly as the dry ground opens to receive the rains.
4 tn The כּ (kaf) preposition is to be supplied by analogy with the preceding phrase. This leaves a double proposition, “as for” (but see Job 29:2).