Job 23:9

In the north ¹  when he is at work, ²  I do not see him; ³  when he turns ⁴  to the south, I see no trace of him.

When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.

When He acts on the left, I cannot behold Him; He turns on the right, I cannot see Him.

I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I turn to the south, but I cannot find him.

I go North, but he's hidden his tracks; then South, but not even a glimpse.

I am looking for him on the left hand, but there is no sign of him; and turning to the right, I am not able to see him.

on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him; I turn to the right, but I cannot see him.

When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him ; When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him .

In the north ¹  when he is at work, ²  I do not see him; ³  when he turns ⁴  to the south, I see no trace of him.

¹ sn The text has “the left hand,” the Semitic idiom for directions. One faces the rising sun, and so left is north, right is south.

² tc The form בַּעֲשֹׂתוֹ (ba’asoto) would be the temporal clause using the infinitive construct with a pronoun (subject genitive). This would be “when he works.” Several follow the Syriac with “I seek him.” The LXX has “[when] he turns.” R. Gordis (Job, 261) notes that there is no need to emend the text; he shows a link to the Arabic cognate ghasa, “to cover.” To him this is a perfect parallel to יַעְטֹף (ya’tof, “covers himself”).

³ tn The verb is the apocopated form of the imperfect. The object is supplied.

⁴ tn The MT has “he turns,” but the Syriac and Vulgate have “I turn.”