Job 34:6

King James Version

Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.

Parallel Translations

New Living Translation
I am innocent, but they call me a liar. My suffering is incurable, though I have not sinned.'

English Revised Version
Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.

Update Bible Version
Against my right he has lied; My wound is incurable, [though I am] without transgression.

New Century Version
Instead of getting a fair trial, I am called a liar. I have been seriously hurt, even though I have not sinned.'

New English Translation
Concerning my right, should I lie? My wound is incurable, although I am without transgression.'

Webster's Bible Translation
Should I lie against my right? my wound [is] incurable without transgression.

World English Bible
Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar; My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.'

Amplified Bible
Although I am right, I am accounted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'

English Standard Version
in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For whi lesynge is in demynge me, and myn arowe is violent with out ony synne.

Berean Standard Bible
Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'

Contemporary English Version
Job also argues that God considers him a liar and that he is suffering severely in spite of his innocence.

American Standard Version
Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar; My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.

Bible in Basic English
Though I am right, still I am in pain; my wound may not be made well, though I have done no wrong.

Complete Jewish Bible
Against justice, I am considered a liar; my wound is mortal, though I committed no crime.'

Darby Translation
Should I lie against my right? My wound is incurable without transgression.

Easy-to-Read Version
I am right, but I am judged to be a liar. I have done no wrong, but I am badly hurt.'

JPS Old Testament (1917)
Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'

King James Version (1611)
Should I lye against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.

New Life Bible
Would I lie about my right? I have been hurt so that I cannot be healed, but I have done no wrong.'

New Revised Standard
in spite of being right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'

Geneva Bible (1587)
Should I lye in my right? my wound of the arrowe is grieuous without my sinne.

George Lamsa Translation
Who is the man who has perished without transgression?

Good News Translation
He asks, "How could I lie and say I am wrong? I am fatally wounded, but I am sinless."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Concerning mine own right, shall I tell a falsehood? Incurable is my disease - not for any transgression.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For in judging me there is a lie: my arrow is violent without any sin.

Revised Standard Version
in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'

Bishop's Bible (1568)
In my right I shoulde be a lyer: my wounde is incurable without my fault.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And he has erred in my judgment: my wound is severe without unrighteousness of mine.

Christian Standard Bible®
Would I lie about my case?My wound is incurable,though I am without transgression.”

Hebrew Names Version
Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar; My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.'

Lexham English Bible
Should I lie concerning my justice? Though I am without transgression, my wound caused by an arrow is incurable.'

Literal Translation
should I lie against my right? My wound is incurable, yet I am without rebellion.

Young's Literal Translation
Against my right do I lie? Mortal [is] mine arrow -- without transgression.'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
I must nedes be a lyar, though my cause be right: & violetly am I plaged, where as I made no fawte.

New American Standard Bible
Should I lie about my right? My wound is incurable, though I am without wrongdoing.'

New King James Version
Should I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Should I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'

Legacy Standard Bible
Should I lie concerning my justice?My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'

Contextual Overview

¹ Furthermore Elihu answered and said, ² Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. ³ For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat. ⁴ Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good. ⁵ For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. ⁶ Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression. ⁷ What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? ⁸ Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. ⁹ For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I: Job 27:4-6

wound: Heb. arrow, Job 6:4, Job 16:13

Reciprocal: Job 9:17 - without cause Job 11:4 - I am clean Job 32:2 - because Job 40:8 - wilt thou condemn Jeremiah 15:18 - my wound Jeremiah 30:15 - thy sorrow

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Should I lie against my right?.... No; I ought not: this though Job had not said in so many words, yet this seems to be his sense in Job 27:4; that should he own and say that he was a wicked man, a hypocrite, and destitute of the grace of God, he should not only speak against himself, but, contrary to his conscience, say an untruth, and not do justice to his character. Some read the words without an interrogation, as Mr. Broughton,

"for my right I must be a liar;''

that is, for vindicating my right, seeking and endeavouring to do myself justice, and clear myself from false imputations, I am reckoned a liar. And to this purpose is the paraphrase of Aben Ezra,

"because I seek judgment, they say that I lie.''

Others render them, "there is a lie in judging me", so the Vulgate Latin version; that is,

"I am falsely accused, I am judged wrongfully:''

things I know not are laid to my charge, which has often been the case of good men: or, "I have lied in judgment"; that is, "failed", as the word is sometimes used, Isaiah 58:11; failed in his expectation of judgment or of justice being done him; he looked for it, but was disappointed; but the first sense seems best;

my wound [is] incurable without transgression; not that he thought himself without transgression, but that his wound or stroke inflicted on him, or the afflictions he was exercised with, were without cause; were not for any injustice in his hands, or wickedness that he had committed; and that he utterly despaired of being rid of them, or restored to his former health and prosperity; and to this sense he had expressed himself, Job 9:17. In the Hebrew text it is, "my arrow" y, that is, the arrow that was in him, the arrows of the Lord that stuck fast in him; these were thrown at him and fastened in him without cause; and there was no hope of their being drawn out, or of the wounds made by them being healed; see Job 6:4. Now what Elihu was offended at in these expressions was, that Job should so rigidly insist on his innocence, and not own himself faulty in any respect; nor allow there was any cause for his afflictions, nor entertain any hope of the removal of them: whereas it became him to acknowledge his sins, which no man is free from, and that he was dealt with less than his iniquities deserved; and that, instead of indulging despair, he should rather say, "I will return" to the Lord; he hath "torn" and he will "heal", he hath "smitten" and he will "bind up", Hosea 6:1.

y חצי "sagitta mea", Montanus, Schultens, Michaelis.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Should I lie against my right? - These are also quoted as the words of Job, and as a part of the erroneous opinions on which Elihu proposes to comment. These words do not occur, however, as used by Job respecting himself, and Elihu must be understood to refer to what he regarded as the general strain of the argument maintained by him. In regard to the meaning of the words, there have been various opinions. Jerome renders them, “For in judging me there is falsehood - mendacium est; my violent arrow (the painful arrow in me) is without any sin.” The Septuagint, “He the Lord hath been false in my accusation” - ἐψένσατο δὲ τῳ κρίματί μου epseusato de tō krimati mou - “my arrow is heavy without transgression.” Coverdale, “I must needs be a liar, though my cause be right.” Umbreit renders it, “I must lie if I should acknowledge myself to be guilty.”

Noyes, “Though I am innocent, I am made a liar.” Prof. Lee, “Should I lie respecting my case? mine arrow is mortal without transgression.” That is, Job said he could not lie about it; he could use no language that would deceive. He felt that a mortal arrow had reached him without transgression, or without any adequate cause. Rosenmuller renders it, “However just may be my cause, I appear to be a liar.” That is, he was regarded as guilty, and treated accordingly, however conscious he might be of innocence, and however strenuously he might maintain that he was not guilty. The meaning probably is, “I am held to be a liar. I defend myself; go over my past life; state my course of conduct; meet the accusations of my friends, but in all this I am still held to be a liar. My friends so regard me - for they will not credit my statements, and they go on still to argue as if I was the most guilty of mortals. And God also in this holds me to be a liar, for he treats me constantly as if I were guilty. He hears not my vindication, and he inflicts pain and woe upon me as if all that I had said about my own integrity were false, and I were one of the most abandoned of mortals, so that on all hands I am regarded and treated as if I were basely false.” The literal translation of the Hebrew is, “Concerning my judgment (or my cause) I am held to be a liar.”

My wound is incurable - Margin, as in Hebrew “arrow.” The idea is, that a deadly arrow had smitten him, which could not be extracted. So in Virgil:

Haeret lateri letalis arundo. Aeneid iv. 73.

The image is taken from an animal that had been pierced with a deadly arrow.

Without transgression - Without any sin that deserved such treatment. Job did not claim to be absolutely perfect; he maintained only that the sufferings which he endured were no proper proof of his character; compare Job 6:4.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Job 34:6. Should I lie against my right? — Should I acknowledge myself the sinner which they paint me, and thus lie against my right to assert and maintain my innocence?

My wound is incurable without transgression. — If this translation is correct, the meaning of the place is sufficiently evident. In the tribulation which I endure, I am treated as if I were the worst of culprits; and I labour under incurable maladies and privations, though without any cause on my part for such treatment. This was all most perfectly true; it is the testimony which God himself gives of Job, that "he was a perfect and upright man, fearing God and eschewing evil;" and that "Satan had moved the Lord against him, to destroy him, WITHOUT A CAUSE. See Job 1:1; Job 2:3.

The Chaldee translates thus: -

"On account of my judgment, I will make the son of man a liar, who sends forth arrows without sin."

Mr. Good thus :-

"Concerning my cause I am slandered;

He hath reversed my lot without a trespass."

The latter clause is the most deficient, אנוש חצי בלי פשע; Miss Smith's translation of which is the best I have met with: "A man cut off, without transgression." The word חצי chitstsi, which we translate my wound, signifies more literally, my arrow; and if we take it as a contracted noun, חצי chitstsey for חצים chitstsim, it means calamities. אנוש anush, which we translate incurable, may be the noun enosh, wicked, miserable man; and then the whole may be read thus: "A man of calamities without transgression." I suffer the punishment of an enemy to God, while free from transgression of this kind.