Job 23:9

Verse Job 23:9. On the left hand, where he doth work] In these two verses Job mentions the four cardinal points of the heavens: the EAST, by the word קדם kedem, which signifies before; the WEST, by אחור achor, which signifies after, or the back part; the NORTH, by שמאל semol, which signifies the left; and the SOUTH, by ימין yamin, which signifies the right. Such is the situation of the world to a man who faces the east; see Genesis 13:9; Genesis 13:11; Genesis 28:14. And from this it appears that the Hebrews, Idumeans, and Arabs had the same ideas of these points of the heavens. It is worthy of remark that Job says, He hideth himself on the right hand, (the south,) that I cannot see him: for in fact, the southern point of heaven is not visible in Idumea, where Job was. Hence it comes that when he spake before, Job 9:9, of the constellations of the antarctic pole, he terms them the hidden chambers of the south; i.e., those compartments of the celestial concave that never appeared above the horizon in that place. - See Calmet.

Mr. Good translates these verses as follows: -

Behold! I go forward, and he is not there;

And backward, but I cannot perceive him.

On the left hand I feel for him, but trace him not:

He enshroudeth the right hand, and I cannot see him.

The simple rendering of Coverdale is nervous and correct: -

For though I go before, I fynde hym not:

Yf I come behynde, I can get no knowledge of him:

Yf I go on the left syde to pondre his workes,

I cannot atteyne unto them:

Agayne, yf I go on the right syde, he hydeth himself,

That I cannot se him.