Got a bit confused at Job 34:29-30 in different translations
but the Amplified saved the day. :D
In the Message it said,
“If God is silent, what’s that to you?
If he turns his face away, what can you do about it?
But whether silent or hidden, he’s there, ruling,
so that those who hate God won’t take overand ruin people’s lives.”
Which was all very fine, but I felt like the paraphrase didn’t do its full meaning justice. So I looked at the CEB:
“Still, if he remains quiet,
who can condemn;
if he hides his face, who can see him?
He prevents a lawless person from ruling,from capturing people.”
Oh! Okay..that aint the same, is it? The two parts of it seem more unrelated.
Amplified cleared it up for me :)
“29When He gives quietness (peace and security from oppression), who then can condemn? When He hides His face [withdrawing His favor and help], who then can behold Him [and make Him gracious], whether it be a nation or a man by himself?—
30 That the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.”
:D That explanation of ‘quietness’ comforts me, and makes sense of the two verses in the chapter as a whole.
:)
