# speak to the earth ... will declare to you Job is saying that the beasts, the birds, the earth, and the fish understand God better than Job's friends do. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-irony]]) # Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you The command in the first part of the sentence functions as a hypothetical condition. Alternate translation: "Or if you were to speak to the earth, it would teach you" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-imperative]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hypo]]) # the fish of the sea will declare to you The command "Ask the fish of the sea" is understood from the previous sentences. It functions as a hypothetical condition. Alternate translation: "and if you were to ask the fish of the sea, they would declare to you" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-imperative]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hypo]])