Job 16:13

his archers ¹  surround me. Without pity ²  he pierces ³  my kidneys and pours out my gall ⁴  on the ground.

his archers surround me. Without pity, he pierces my kidneys and spills my gall on the ground.

"His arrows surround me. Without mercy He splits my kidneys open; He pours out my gall on the ground.

His archers surrounded me, and his arrows pierced me without mercy. The ground is wet with my blood.

then rounded up archers to shoot at me. Merciless, they shot me full of arrows; bitter bile poured from my gut to the ground.

His bowmen come round about me; their arrows go through my body without mercy; my life is drained out on the earth.

his archers surround me. He slashes open my kidneys, and shows no mercy; he pours out my gall on the ground.

His archers surround me. He pierces my heart and does not pity; He pours out my gall on the ground.

his archers ¹  surround me. Without pity ²  he pierces ³  my kidneys and pours out my gall ⁴  on the ground.

¹ tn The meaning of “his archers” is supported for רַבָּיו (rabbayv) in view of Jer 50:29. The LXX, Syriac, Vulgate, Targum Job, followed by several translations and commentators prefer “arrows.” They see this as a more appropriate figure without raising the question of who the archers might be (see 6:4). The point is an unnecessary distinction, for the figure is an illustration of the affliction that God has brought on him.

² tn Heb “and he does not pity,” but the clause is functioning adverbially in the line.

³ tn The verb פָּלַח (palakh) in the Piel means “to pierce” (see Prov 7:23). A fuller comparison should be made with Lam 3:12-13.

⁴ tn This word מְרֵרָתִי (mÿrerati, “my gall”) is found only here. It is close to the form in Job 13:26, “bitter things.” In Job 20:14 it may mean “poison.” The thought is also found in Lam 2:11.