Logos Bible Study

Job 42:1–6

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Job’s Confession

42:1Then Job answered the Lord:

42:2“I know that you can do all things;

no purpose of yours can be thwarted;

42:3you asked,1

‘Who is this who darkens counsel

without knowledge?’

But2 I have declared without understanding3

things too wonderful for me to know.4

42:4You said,5

‘Pay attention, and I will speak;

I will question you, and you will answer me.’

42:5I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,

but now my eye has seen you.6

42:6Therefore I despise myself,7

and I repent in dust and ashes!

VII. The Epilogue (42:7–17)

Read in Logos
Job 42:2: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”

Footnotes

  1. 1 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. 2 The word לָכֵן (lakhen) is simply “but,” as in Job 31:37.
  3. 3 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. 4 The last clause is “and I do not know.” This is also subordinated to become a dependent clause.
  5. 5 This phrase, “you said,” is supplied in the translation to introduce the recollection of God’s words.
  6. 6 This statement does not imply there was a vision. He is simply saying that this experience of God was real and personal. In the past his knowledge of God was what he had heard—hearsay. This was real.
  7. 7 Or “despise what I said.” There is no object on the verb; Job could be despising himself or the things he said (see L. J. Kuyper, “Repentance of Job,” 9 [1959]: 91–94).

The NET Bible First Edition, Copyright 1996-2005 by Biblical Studies Press

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Then Job answered the Lord and said:

“I know that you can do all things,

and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’

Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,

things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

‘Hear, and I will speak;

I will question you, and you make it known to me.’

I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,

but now my eye sees you;

therefore I despise myself,

and repent in dust and ashes.”

Copyright 2001 Crossway Bibles

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Then Job replied to the Lord:

“I know that you can do all things;

no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’

Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,

things too wonderful for me to know.

“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;

I will question you,

and you shall answer me.’

My ears had heard of you

but now my eyes have seen you.

Therefore I despise myself

and repent in dust and ashes.”

Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica, Inc.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Then Job replied to the Lord:

I know that you can do anything

and no plan of yours can be thwarted.

You asked, “Who is this who conceals my counsel with ignorance?”

Surely I spoke about things I did not understand,

things too wondrous for me to know.

You said, “Listen now, and I will speak.

When I question you, you will inform me.”

I had heard reports about you,

but now my eyes have seen you.

Therefore, I reject my words and am sorry for them;

I am dust and ashes.

Copyright 2017 Holman Bible Publishers

NLTNew Living Translation

Then Job replied to the Lord:

“I know that you can do anything,

and no one can stop you.

You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’

It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about,

things far too wonderful for me.

You said, ‘Listen and I will speak!

I have some questions for you,

and you must answer them.’

I had only heard about you before,

but now I have seen you with my own eyes.

I take back everything I said,

and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Then Job answered Yahweh and said,

“I know that you can do all things,

and any scheme from you will not be thwarted.

‘Who is this darkening counsel without knowledge?’

Therefore I uttered, but I did not understand;

things too wonderful for me, but I did not know.

‘Hear and I will speak;

I will question you, then inform me.’

By the ear’s hearing I heard of you,

but now my eye has seen you.

Therefore I despise myself

and repent in dust and ashes.”

Copyright 2012 Lexham Press

KJV 1900King James Version

Then Job answered the Lord, and said,

I know that thou canst do every thing,

And that no thought can be withholden from thee.

Who is he that hideth counsel

Without knowledge?

Therefore have I uttered that I understood not;

Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak:

I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear:

But now mine eye seeth thee.

Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent

In dust and ashes.

Public Domain