59 Now the protasis continues again.
60 Some commentators suggest taking the meaning here to be “as Adam,” referring to the Paradise story of the sin and denial.
61 The infinitive is epexegetical, explaining the first line.
62 The has “in my bosom.” This is the only place in the OT where this word is found. But its meaning is well attested from Aramaic.
63 Here too the verb will be the customary imperfect—it explains what he continually did in past time.
64 Heb “the great multitude.” But some commentators take רַבָּה () adverbially: “greatly” (see ).
65 There is no clear apodosis for all these clauses. Some commentators transfer the verses around to make them fit the constructions. But the better view is that there is no apodosis—that Job broke off here, feeling it was useless to go further. Now he will address God and not men. But in vv. 38–40b he does return to a self-imprecation. However, there is not sufficient reason to start rearranging all the verses.

In other versions

if I have concealed my transgressions as others do

by hiding my iniquity in my heart,

because I stood in great fear of the multitude,

and the contempt of families terrified me,

so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors—

if I have concealed my sin as people do,

by hiding my guilt in my heart

because I so feared the crowd

and so dreaded the contempt of the clans

that I kept silent and would not go outside—

Have I covered my transgressions as others do

by hiding my iniquity in my heart

because I greatly feared the crowds

and because the contempt of the clans terrified me,

so I grew silent and would not go outside?

“Have I tried to hide my sins like other people do,

concealing my guilt in my heart?

Have I feared the crowd

or the contempt of the masses,

so that I kept quiet and stayed indoors?

Have I concealed my transgressions as other human beings

to hide my iniquity in my bosom

because I dreaded the great multitude,

and the contempt of clans terrified me,

so that I kept quiet, I did not go out of the doorway?

If I covered my transgressions as Adam,

By hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:

Did I fear a great multitude,

Or did the contempt of families terrify me,

That I kept silence, and went not out of the door?

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