Surely I would carry it on my shoulder: in Isaiah 22.22 the key of the house of David is placed by God on the shoulder of his servant Eliakim. Carrying the indictment on the shoulder made it possible for everyone to see it. Good News Translation says “I would wear them proudly on my shoulder.” Revised Standard Version‘s carry it refers to the singular “the indictment” of verse 35, while Good News Translation‘s “wear them” refers to the plural “the charges.” This line is taken as the consequence of the desire expressed in the previous line. In some languages it may be necessary to state the reason why Job would carry them on his shoulder; for example “Then I would carry them high on my shoulders where everyone could see them.”

I would bind it on me as a crown: Job would go even further; if they would be visible on his shoulder, they would be even more visible on his head. And so Job is saying “I would not only carry them proudly on my shoulder, but would even wear them for a crown on my head.” In some languages as a crown may have to be expressed as “I will even carry them on top of my head.”

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 .