Job 16:4

I also could speak ¹  like you, if ²  you were in my place; I could pile up ³  words against you and I could shake my head at you. ⁴ 

I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could make fine speeches against you and shake my head at you.

"I too could speak like you, If I were in your place. I could compose words against you And shake my head at you.

I could say the same things if you were in my place. I could spout off my criticisms against you and shake my head at you.

If you were in my shoes, I could talk just like you. I could put together a terrific harangue and really let you have it.

It would not be hard for me to say such things if your souls were in my soul’s place; joining words together against you, and shaking my head at you:

I also could talk as you do, if you were in my place; I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you.

I also could speak as you do , If your soul were in my soul’s place. I could heap up words against you, And shake my head at you;

I also could speak ¹  like you, if ²  you were in my place; I could pile up ³  words against you and I could shake my head at you. ⁴ 

¹ tn For the use of the cohortative in the apodosis of conditional sentences, see GKC 322 §109.f.

² tn The conjunction לוּ (lu) is used to introduce the optative, a condition that is incapable of fulfillment (see GKC 494-95 §159.l).

³ tn This verb אַחְבִּירָה (’akhbirah) is usually connected to חָבַר (khavar, “to bind”). There are several suggestions for this word. J. J. Finkelstein proposed a second root, a homonym, meaning “to make a sound,” and so here “to harangue” (“Hebrew habar and Semitic HBR,” JBL 75 [1956]: 328-31; see also O. Loretz, “HBR in Job 16:4,” CBQ 23 [1961]: 293-94, who renders it “I could make noisy speeches”). Other suggestions have been for new meanings based on cognate studies, such as “to make beautiful” (i.e., make polished speeches).

⁴ sn The action is a sign of mockery (see Ps 22:7[8]; Isa 37:22; Matt 27:39).