Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1918 edition. Excerpt: ... Ill THE TEXT The text used for the present edition of the book of Job is that of the American Revised Version. Very few departures from it have been made, and those made were compelled by the necessities of accuracy, accuracy being indispensable to dramatic propriety. The outstanding change comes in Job's last speech, XLII, 6. The ordinary reading is: ... I abhor myself And repent in dust and ashes. For this I have written I recant my challenge, and am comforted Amid dust and ashes. Concerning the meaning of nikhamti, which the regular versions translate " repent," there cannot, I think, be much question. Its root means "comfort," and the whole purport of the drama holds the word to this meaning: Job's friends come to comfort him and fail; God comes, answering Job's challenge, and succeeds. This leads Job to withdraw the challenge. The traditional rendering is false as it stands, as the idiomatic use of nikhamti with ill, which is translatable as " repent," would require Job to repent or be sorry about, not in, dust and ashes. Such guidance as the meter here offers allows many other alternatives and the movement of the dialogue alone can help to decide which is most fitting. Concerning emus, the question is less closed. But " recant" seems to me to be closer to the dramatic situation and the context as a whole. Besides, it has the high authority of Nathaniel Schmidt. Other changes have involved merely the grammatical proprieties of the English language. Save the Shema: Shema, Yisrael, Yahweh Elohenu Yahweh Jihad, nothing has been added to the text. Job's remarks I, 21, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken r.way, blessed be the name of the Lord," have been put also in the mouth of the chorus, and other transpositions and rearrangements...
