Job 34:23

Lay upon. This text is variously rendered. The obvious meaning of the KJV is that God will not impose upon a man more than his guilt deserves. Another possible rendering is, “For he needs not long to regard a man in order to bring him into judgment before God.” God can see man’s character at a glance. Another suggested rendering is, “He needeth not to attend long to a man to bring him into judgment before God.” Of necessity, human tribunals must make long and patient investigation, and then they frequently err. God knows no such necessity. Another interpretation, “For he has not appointed a time for any man to go before God in judgment” (RSV), supplies the word mo‘ed, “time,” which is, however, not necessary, since the Hebrew as it stands makes sense.