King James Version

Job 4:2

If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?

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Hebrew

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הֲנִסָּ֬הhanisahadventureנָסָהparticle, interrogative, verb, niphal, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “adventure”, a completed actionH5254to test; by implication, to attemptadventure, assay, prove, tempt, try.דָבָ֣רdavarcauseדָּבָרnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “cause”, the ordinary formH1697a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a causeact, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dea…אֵלֶ֣יךָeleykhaamongאֵלpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “among”H413near, with or among; often in general, toabout, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, [idiom] hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in).תִּלְאֶ֑הtilehfaintלָאָהverb, qal, imperfect, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “faint”, an unfinished actionH3811to tire; (figuratively) to be (or make) disgustedfaint, grieve, lothe, (be, make) weary (selves).וַעְצֹ֥רvatsorand close upעָצָרconjunction, verb, qal, infinitive construct — “and close up”, the to-form of the verbH6113to inclose; by analogy, to hold back; also to maintain, rule, assemble[idiom] be able, close up, detain, fast, keep (self close, still), prevail, recover, refrain, [idiom] reign, restrain, retain, shut (up), slack, stay, stop, withhold (self).בְּ֝מִלִּ֗יןbemilinin wordמִלָּהpreposition, noun, common, feminine, plural, absolute — “in word”, the ordinary formH4405a word; collectively, a discourse; figuratively, a topic[phrase] answer, by-word, matter, any thing (what) to say, to speak(-ing), speak, talking, word.מִ֣יmiwhoמִיparticle, interrogative — “who”H4310who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffixany (man), [idiom] he, [idiom] him, [phrase] O that! what, which, who(-m, -se, -soever), [phrase] would to God.יוּכָֽלyukhalbe ableיָכֹלverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “be able”, an unfinished actionH3201to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might)be able, any at all (ways), attain, can (away with, (-not)), could, endure, might, overcome, have power, prevail, still, suffer.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

If one venture a word unto thee, wilt thou be weary? But who can withhold himself from speaking?

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

If one assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?

Young’s Literal Translation

Hath one tried a word with thee? — Thou art weary! And to keep in words who is able?

World English Bible

“If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?

Darby Translation

If a word were essayed to thee, wouldest thou be grieved? But who can refrain from speaking?

Douay-Rheims

If we begin to speak to thee, perhaps thou wilt take it ill, but who can withhold the words he hath conceived?

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

If one venture a word unto thee, wilt thou be weary? But who can withhold himself from speaking?

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Hast thou been often spoken to in distress? but who shall endure the force of thy words?

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Μὴ πολλάκις σοι λελάληται ἐν κόπῳ; ἰσχὺν δὲ ῥημάτων σου τίς ὑποίσει;