OET interlinear JOB 31:31

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-oathformula

אִם־לֹ֣א אָ֭מְרוּ מְתֵ֣י אָהֳלִ֑⁠י מִֽי־יִתֵּ֥ן מִ֝⁠בְּשָׂר֗⁠וֹ לֹ֣א נִשְׂבָּֽע

if not said men_of tent_of,my who? he/it_gave with,meat_of,his not satisfied

As in 31:25 and 31:29, here Job does not state the second part of the condition in an oath that he is swearing. See what you did in those verses. Alternate translation: “If the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who will give one who has not been satisfied from his flesh?’ then judges would certainly punish such iniquity” or “If the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who will give one who has not been satisfied from his flesh?’ then I would certainly deserve punishment”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / quotesinquotes

אִם־לֹ֣א אָ֭מְרוּ מְתֵ֣י אָהֳלִ֑⁠י מִֽי־יִתֵּ֥ן מִ֝⁠בְּשָׂר֗⁠וֹ לֹ֣א נִשְׂבָּֽע

if not said men_of tent_of,my who? he/it_gave with,meat_of,his not satisfied

If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: “If the men of my tent have not asked who could show one who has not been satisfied from my flesh!”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

מְתֵ֣י אָהֳלִ֑⁠י

men_of tent_of,my

Job is using the term tent by association to mean his household. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “the men of my household”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

מְתֵ֣י אָהֳלִ֑⁠י

men_of tent_of,my

Although Job refers to his male and female servants separately in 31:13, Job is likely using the masculine term men here in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could use language in your translation that is clearly inclusive of both men and women. Alternate translation: “the men and women of my household” or “my servants”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

מִֽי־יִתֵּ֥ן מִ֝⁠בְּשָׂר֗⁠וֹ לֹ֣א נִשְׂבָּֽע

who? he/it_gave with,meat_of,his not satisfied

Job’s servants would be using the question form for emphasis. If you would not use the question form for that purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or as an exclamation. (In this context, unlike elsewhere in the book, the expression Who will give does not express a wish. The servants are not saying, “We wish there was one who has not been satisfied.”) Alternate translation: “No one can show anyone who has not been satisfied from his flesh!” or, positively, “Everyone has been satisfied from his flesh!”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

לֹ֣א נִשְׂבָּֽע

not not satisfied

As the next verse shows, Job’s servants would be speaking implicitly of hungry people. You could indicate that in your translation if it would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “a hungry person who has not been satisfied”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

מִ֝⁠בְּשָׂר֗⁠וֹ

with,meat_of,his

Job’s servants would be using the term flesh by association to mean meat and, by further association, food in general. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “from his food”