Speaking finally on behalf of the three friends, Eliphaz brings his speech to a close. He approached Job apologetically in 4.2, and now he ends, calling on Job to learn the truth as Eliphaz perceives it. Lo translates a phrase meaning literally “Look at this” and is rendered by Good News Translation as “Job,” addressed by his name.

We have searched out: Eliphaz refers to himself and his colleagues, and in the context this excludes Job. Searched out translates a verb used again in 28.3. It means “give careful thought to something, study, observe.” It is true translates the Hebrew “so it is,” a self-assuring affirmation. The first half of line a is the reason, and the second half is the conclusion. In some languages it will be necessary to make clear what the referent of it is in the expression it is true. This may be rendered, for example, “What we have learned is true,” “All the things we have discovered are true,” or “Everything I have told you is true.”

Hear, and know it for your good: in place of Hear as a command, some interpreters prefer “we have heard” (New English Bible, Moffatt). Most, however, like Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, have an imperative such as “listen, be informed, pay attention.” Good, as the Revised Standard Version footnote says, is literally “for yourself,” and many translations keep it in that form; for example, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy says, “Listen to this and prove it to yourself.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch says “You should take note of it for yourself, because it is so.” Both of these are good translation models.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, Wiliam. A Handbook on Job. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .