Job 37:20
Should He be told that I want to speak? Would a man ask to be swallowed up?
BSB
ASV
Shall it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?
KJV
Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
Shall it be told him that I speak?.... And what I speak? there is no need of it, since he is omniscient, and knows every word that is spoken by men; or is anything I have said concerning him, his ways, and his works, worthy relating, or worthy of his hearing, being so very imperfect? nor can the things I have spoken of, though common things, be fully explained to any; or should it be told him, the Lord, that he, Elihu, had spoke as Job had done, and arraigned his justice, and complained of his dealings?
What I a mortal say against God's dealings is not worthy of being told HIM. In opposition to Job's wish to "speak" before God (Job 13:3, 18-22). if . . . surely he shall be swallowed up--The parallelism more favors UMBREIT, "Durst a man speak (before Him, complaining) that he is (without cause) being destroyed?"
Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.
The walk8
Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.
Through
Psalms 139:4Even before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, O LORD.
leads to
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
You unleash your mouth for evil and unharness your tongue for deceit.
You asked, ‘Who is this who conceals My counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.
The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.
Through
Job 6:3For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas—no wonder my words have been rash.
leads to
A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.
“Even today my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning.
Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us— none can compare to You— if I proclaim and declare them, they are more than I…