Job 22:27-29
Context22:27 You will pray to him and he will hear you,
and you will fulfill your vows to him. 1
22:28 Whatever you decide 2 on a matter,
it will be established for you,
and light will shine on your ways.
22:29 When people are brought low 3 and you say
‘Lift them up!’ 4
then he will save the downcast; 5
1 tn The words “to him” are not in the Hebrew text, but are implied.
2 tn The word is גָּזַר (gazar, “to cut”), in the sense of deciding a matter.
3 tn There is no expressed subject here, and so the verb is taken as a passive voice again.
4 tn The word גֵּוָה (gevah) means “loftiness; pride.” Here it simply says “up,” or “pride.” The rest is paraphrased. Of the many suggestions, the following provide a sampling: “It is because of pride” (ESV), “he abases pride” (H. H. Rowley); “[he abases] the lofty and the proud” (Beer); “[he abases] the word of pride” [Duhm]; “[he abases] the haughtiness of pride” [Fohrer and others]; “[he abases] the one who speaks proudly” [Weiser]; “[he abases] the one who boasts in pride” [Kissane]; and “God [abases] pride” [Budde, Gray].
5 tn Or “humble”; Heb “the lowly of eyes.”