9:11 If 1 he passes by me, I cannot see 2 him, 3
if he goes by, I cannot perceive him. 4
1 tn The NIV has “when” to form a temporal clause here. For the use of “if,” see GKC 497 §159.w.
2 tn The imperfect verbs in this verse are consistent with the clauses. In the conditional clauses a progressive imperfect is used, but in the following clauses the verbs are potential imperfects.
3 tn The pronoun “him” is supplied here; it is not in MT, but the Syriac and Vulgate have it (probably for translation purposes as well).
4 sn Like the mountains, Job knows that God has passed by and caused him to shake and tremble, but he cannot understand or perceive the reasons.