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19 Tell us what we should[a] say to him.
We cannot prepare a case[b]
because of the darkness.
20 Should he be informed that I want[c] to speak?
If a man speaks, surely he will be swallowed up!
21 But now, the sun[d] cannot be looked at[e]
it is bright in the skies—
after a wind passed and swept the clouds away.[f]

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Footnotes

  1. Job 37:19 tn The imperfect verb here carries the obligatory nuance, “what we should say?”
  2. Job 37:19 tn The verb means “to arrange; to set in order.” From the context the idea of a legal case is included.
  3. Job 37:20 tn This imperfect works well as a desiderative imperfect.
  4. Job 37:21 tn The light here must refer to the sun in the skies that had been veiled by the storm. Then, when the winds blew the clouds away, it could not be looked at because it was so dazzling. Elihu’s analogy will be that God is the same—in his glory one cannot look at him or challenge him.
  5. Job 37:21 tn The verb has an indefinite subject, and so should be a passive here.
  6. Job 37:21 tn Heb “and cleaned them.” The referent is the clouds (v. 18), which has been supplied in the translation for clarity. There is another way of reading this verse: the word translated “bright” means “dark; obscured” in Syriac. In this interpretation the first line would mean that they could not see the sun, because it was darkened by the clouds, but then the wind came and blew the clouds away. Dhorme, Gray, and several others take it this way, as does the NAB.

19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.

20 Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.

21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.

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19 “Teach us what we should say to Him,
For we can prepare nothing because of the darkness.
20 Should He be told that I wish to speak?
If a man were to speak, surely he would be swallowed up.
21 Even now men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies,
When the wind has passed and cleared them.

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19 “Tell us what we should say to him;(A)
    we cannot draw up our case(B) because of our darkness.(C)
20 Should he be told that I want to speak?
    Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?
21 Now no one can look at the sun,(D)
    bright as it is in the skies
    after the wind has swept them clean.

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