Job 9:35

Then ¹  would I speak and not fear him, but it is not so with me. ² 

Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot.

" Then I would speak and not fear Him; But I am not like that in myself.

Then I could speak to him without fear, but I cannot do that in my own strength.

Then I'd speak up and state my case boldly. As things stand, there is no way I can do it.

Then I would say what is in my mind without fear of him; for there is no cause of fear in myself.

then I would speak without fear of him, for I know I am not what I am thought to be.

Then I would speak and not fear Him, But it is not so with me.

Then ¹  would I speak and not fear him, but it is not so with me. ² 

¹ tn There is no conjunction with this cohortative; but the implication from the context is that if God’s rod were withdrawn, if the terror were removed, then Job would speak up without fear.

² tn The last half of the verse is rather cryptic: “but not so I with me.” NIV renders it “but as it now stands with me, I cannot.” This is very smooth and interpretive. Others transpose the two halves of the verse to read, “Since it is not so, I with myself // will commune and not fear him.” Job would be saying that since he cannot contend with God on equal terms, and since there is no arbiter, he will come on his own terms. English versions have handled this differently: “for I know I am not what I am thought to be” (NEB); “since this is not the case with me” (NAB); “I do not see myself like that at all” (JB).