Job 22:2-4 New English Translation
2 “Is it to God that a strong man is of benefit?
Is it to him that even a wise man is profitable?[a]
3 Is it of any special benefit[b] to the Almighty
that you should be righteous,
or is it any gain to him
that you make your ways blameless?[c]
4 Is it because of your piety[d] that he rebukes you
and goes to judgment with you?[e]
Footnotes
- Job 22:2 tn Some do not take this to be parallel to the first colon, taking this line as a statement, but the parallel expressions here suggest the question is repeated.
- Job 22:3 tn The word חֵפֶץ (khefets) in this passage has the nuance of “special benefit; favor.” It does not just express the desire for something or the interest in it, but the profit one derives from it.
- Job 22:3 tn The verb תַתֵּם (tattem) is the Hiphil imperfect of תָּמַם (tamam, “be complete, finished”), following the Aramaic form of the geminate verb with a doubling of the first letter.
- Job 22:4 tn The word “your fear” or “your piety” refers to Job’s reverence—it is his fear of God (thus a subjective genitive). When “fear” is used of religion, it includes faith and adoration on the positive side, fear and obedience on the negative.
- Job 22:4 sn Of course the point is that God does not charge Job because he is righteous; the point is he must be unrighteous.
New English Translation (NET)
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.