The princes refrained from talking: princes translates the same word as in 3.15, which Good News Translation there renders “princes.” In the context of a town gathering these men are city officials and other leaders, and not literally the sons of the king. The Hebrew term often translated “princes” never refers to sons of kings unless they happen to have this position of leadership. Refrained from talking means “they stopped talking” or “they would stop talking.” Out of respect for Job even the highest officials ceased talking when Job appeared. Good News Translation reduces the two lines of verse 9 to a single line.

And laid their hand on their mouth: in 21.5 Job told the friends “Look at me, and be appalled, and lay your hand upon your mouth.” This gesture is used here to show the superior that they are keeping silent in his presence so that he may speak to them. The same gesture is used in some parts of the world to indicate that the one covering his mouth is addressing his superior. If the gesture has a different meaning, the translator should substitute an appropriate equivalent that means “to refrain from speaking,” or say, for example, “and they kept their silence” or “they hushed their speaking.”

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 .