Shall one who hates justice govern? begins with an interrogative that has the sense of “Is it really so?” or “Is it really the case?” Dhorme translates “Do you really think…?” The expression introduces a proposition or thought that is not acceptable to the speaker, and so assumes a negative answer. The verb hate is associated with other abstract nouns, as in “hate knowledge” (Prov 1.22) and “hate the good” (Micah 3.2). Justice is used in the same sense as in verse 5b (Good News Translation). Govern is literally “bind up” and is used in Hosea 6.1; Isaiah 1.6, where it refers to bandaging wounds. However, it appears that the word has the sense of “rule or control” only here. Dhorme argues in favor of govern, based on the use of the same Hebrew word in Isaiah 3.7 (“a healer”), where he says the meaning is “bind on a yoke,” a figure for subduing and controlling. God, who governs all things, can not be thought of as one who hates justice. Good News Translation transposes the two lines of this verse. Good News Translation‘s rendering is questionable and should not be followed. It also destroys the balance between the parallel lines. Verse 17 may also be rendered “Could God really govern the world if he hates doing things fairly? Of course not!” Another translation model is Biblia Dios Habla Hoy: “If God hated justice, he could not govern.” This may also be expressed as “If God really did not like judging matters fairly, how could he govern the world?”

Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty is the second half of Elihu’s question to Job. In 40.8b God will put a similar question to Job. Him who is righteous and mighty is literally “a righteous mighty one.” Righteous means “fair, just.” Mighty, which Good News Translation renders as “God,” is used as a Hebrew adjective applied to God only in 36.5. It never stands alone in the Old Testament as a name for God, although the reference here is clearly to God and not to any human being. New English Bible says “a sovereign whose rule is so fair,” and New International Version “the just and mighty One.” The line may also be expressed, for example, “Would you condemn God, who is great and does things justly?” “Do you dare speak badly of the great God who rules the world fairly?” or “Surely you wouldn’t condemn God, who is great….”

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 .