These two verses will be handled as a unit, since verse 8 contains the conditions whose consequences are given in verse 9.
And if they are bound in fetters: in Revised Standard Version they refers to the “righteous” in verse 7. Good News Translation makes the subject of this line “people.” Bound in fetters is similar to the thought expressed in 13.27 and 33.11. The feet of prisoners were chained to a solid object to prevent them from escaping.
Caught in the cords of affliction introduces a metaphor meaning “made to suffer” or, as Bible en français courant says more poetically, “captives of a miserable situation.” The thought in verse 8 is that when the righteous suffer, before God rescues them, it is because God is disciplining them. Verse 8 may also be expressed “If they are imprisoned and are made to suffer” or “If they are made prisoners and suffer.”
The purpose for which they are allowed to suffer is to make them aware of their sins and to help them recognize that being raised to important positions has made them proud. Then he declares to them their work is the consequence of the “if” clause in verse 8. He should be changed to “God” in translation, if the pronoun reference is not clear. Declares translates a verb meaning “reveals, shows, makes clear.” Their work is literally “what they have done” and is defined by the next phrase their transgressions. These are not two separate events but rather a general description followed by a more specific one. This line then says “God shows them how they have committed sins” or “… how they have sinned.”
That they are behaving arrogantly: the verb form in Hebrew is reflexive and may be rendered, for example, “and allowed themselves to become proud.” Good News Translation has reduced the two lines of verse 9 to one. The evil conduct of these people is brought on by their becoming proud. Verse 9, the consequence of verse 8, may be rendered “then God shows them how they have sinned and become proud.”
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 .