en_tn_condensed/job/12/08.md

# But now ask ... will declare to you

These 4 statements all express the idea 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-parallelism]] and [[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]])