Job 21:3

Bear with me ¹  and I ²  will speak, and after I have spoken ³  you may mock. ⁴ 

Bear with me while I speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.

"Bear with me that I may speak; Then after I have spoken, you may mock.

Bear with me, and let me speak. After I have spoken, you may mock me.

Put up with me while I have my say--then you can mock me later to your heart's content.

Let me say what is in my mind, and after that, go on making sport of me.

Bear with me, and I will speak; then after I have spoken, mock on.

Bear with me that I may speak, And after I have spoken, keep mocking.

Bear with me ¹  and I ²  will speak, and after I have spoken ³  you may mock. ⁴ 

¹ tn The verb נָשָׂא (nasa’) means “to lift up; to raise up”; but in this context it means “to endure; to tolerate” (see Job 7:21).

² tn The conjunction and the independent personal pronoun draw emphatic attention to the subject of the verb: “and I on my part will speak.”

³ tn The adverbial clauses are constructed of the preposition “after” and the Piel infinitive construct with the subjective genitive suffix: “my speaking,” or “I speak.”

⁴ tn The verb is the imperfect of לָעַג (la’ag). The Hiphil has the same basic sense as the Qal, “to mock; to deride.” The imperfect here would be modal, expressing permission. The verb is in the singular, suggesting that Job is addressing Zophar; however, most of the versions put it into the plural. Note the singular in 16:3 between the plural in 16:1 and 16:4.