Job 3:24

For my sighing comes in place of ¹  my food, ²  and my groanings ³  flow forth like water. ⁴ 

For sighing comes to me instead of food; my groans pour out like water.

"For my groaning comes at the sight of my food, And my cries pour out like water.

I cannot eat for sighing; my groans pour out like water.

"Instead of bread I get groans for my supper, then leave the table and vomit my anguish.

In place of my food I have grief, and cries of sorrow come from me like water.

For my sighing comes like my bread, and my groanings are poured out like water.

For my sighing comes before I eat, And my groanings pour out like water.

For my sighing comes in place of ¹  my food, ²  and my groanings ³  flow forth like water. ⁴ 

¹ tn For the prepositional לִפְנֵי (lifne), the temporal meaning “before” (“my sighing comes before I eat”) makes very little sense here (as the versions have it). The meaning “in place of, for” fits better (see 1 Sam 1:16, “count not your handmaid for a daughter of Belial”).

² sn The line means that Job’s sighing, which results from the suffering (metonymy of effect) is his constant, daily food. Parallels like Ps 42:3 which says “my tears have been my bread/food” shows a similar figure.

³ tn The word normally describes the “roaring” of a lion (Job 4:10); but it is used for the loud groaning or cries of those in distress (Pss 22:1; 32:3).

⁴ tn This second colon is paraphrased in the LXX to say, “I weep being beset with terror.” The idea of “pouring forth water” while groaning can be represented by “I weep.” The word “fear, terror” anticipates the next verse.