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Job’s Confession

42 Then Job answered the Lord:

“I know that you can do all things;
no purpose of yours can be thwarted;
you asked,[a] ‘Who is this who darkens counsel without knowledge?’
But[b] I have declared without understanding[c]
things too wonderful for me to know.[d]

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Footnotes

  1. Job 42:3 tn The expression “you asked” is added here to clarify the presence of the line to follow. Many commentators delete it as a gloss from Job 38:2. If it is retained, then Job has to be recalling God’s question before he answers it.
  2. Job 42:3 tn The word לָכֵן (lakhen) is simply “but,” as in Job 31:37.
  3. Job 42:3 tn Heb “and I do not understand.” The expression serves here in an adverbial capacity. It also could be subordinated as a complement: “I have declared [things that] I do not understand.”
  4. Job 42:3 tn The last clause is “and I do not know.” This is also subordinated to become a dependent clause.

Job Repents and is Restored

42 Job replied to the Lord:

“I know[a] that you can do anything
    and nothing that you plan is impossible.
You asked,[b] ‘Who is this that darkens counsel without knowledge?’
    Well now, I have talked about what I don’t understand—
        awesome things beyond me that I don’t know.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 42:2 Or You know that I know
  2. Job 42:3 The Heb. lacks You asked