Job 5:21

You will be protected ¹  from malicious gossip, ²  and will not be afraid of the destruction ³  when it comes.

You will be protected from the lash of the tongue, and need not fear when destruction comes.

"You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, And you will not be afraid of violence when it comes.

You will be safe from slander and will have no fear of destruction when it comes.

You'll be protected from vicious gossip and live fearless through any catastrophe.

He will keep you safe from the evil tongue; and you will have no fear of wasting when it comes.

You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes.

You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, And you shall not be afraid of destruction when it comes.

You will be protected ¹  from malicious gossip, ²  and will not be afraid of the destruction ³  when it comes.

¹ tn The Hebrew verb essentially means “you will be hidden.” In the Niphal the verb means “to be hidden, to be in a hiding place,” and protected (Ps 31:20).

² tn Heb “from the lash [i.e., whip] of the tongue.” Sir 26:9 and 51:2 show usages of these kinds of expressions: “the lash of the tongue” or “the blow of the tongue.” The expression indicates that a malicious gossip is more painful than a blow.

sn The Targum saw here a reference to Balaam and the devastation brought on by the Midianites.

³ tn The word here is שׁוֹד (shod); it means “destruction,” but some commentators conjecture alternate readings: שׁוֹאָה (sho’ah, “desolation”); or שֵׁד (shed, “demon”). One argument for maintaining שׁוֹד (shod) is that it fits the assonance within the verse שׁוֹד…לָשׁוֹן…שׁוֹט (shot…lashon…shod).