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15 all flesh would perish together
and human beings would return to dust.

God Is Impartial and Omniscient

16 “If you have[a] understanding, listen to this,
hear what I have to say.[b]
17 Do you really think[c]
that one who hates justice can govern?[d]
And will you declare guilty
the supremely Righteous One,[e]

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Footnotes

  1. Job 34:16 tn The phrase “you have” is not in the Hebrew text, but is implied.
  2. Job 34:16 tn Heb “the sound of my words.”
  3. Job 34:17 tn The force of הַאַף (haʾaf) is “Is it truly the case?” The point is being made that if Job were right God could not be judging the world.
  4. Job 34:17 tn The verb חָבַשׁ (khavash) has the basic idea of “to bind,” as in binding on the yoke, and then in the sense of subduing people under authority (cf. Assyrian absanu). The imperfect verb here is best expressed with the potential nuance.
  5. Job 34:17 tn The two words could be taken separately, but they seem to form a fine nominal hendiadys, because the issue is God’s justice. So the word for power becomes the modifier.