These two verses are handled together, since they share the same problems of interpretation and translation adjustments. Verse 3a is a variant of 38.2, in which God asks Job “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” In other words, “Job, who are you to question my wisdom…” (Good News Translation). Aside from some small differences in the verbs used in 38.2 and here, it seems out of place for Job to be asking Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?

In order to deal with this verse, various approaches have been made. Some scholars delete verses 3 and 4 as marginal notes that have been incorporated later into the text. See New English Bible. Others take these two verses to be original. Revised Standard Version puts verses 3a and 4 in quotation marks to show that Job is quoting God. But quotation marks are of little help to people hearing a text read. New Jerusalem Bible makes a more complex adjustment by giving the implied answer to the question the LORD had asked Job in 38.2: “I was the man who misrepresented your intentions with my ignorant words.” New Jerusalem Bible explains this adjustment in a footnote. Bible en français courant places “You said” at the beginning of verse 3: “You said: I dared to make your plans obscure by speaking about things I was ignorant of.” The same is done at the beginning of verse 4. Good News Translation is similar to Bible en français courant: “You ask how I dare question…” and “You told me to listen….” Good News Translation uses indirect speech to make the passage smoother and more natural in English.

In fairness to the text a note should call attention to 38.2-3 and the translation adjustment required. For example, “In verses 3 and 4 Job is using some of God’s words from 38.2 and 3 to reply to him.” Verse 3a may also be expressed, for example, “You asked me how I could doubt your wisdom” or “You asked me, ‘What right have you to question my wise way of doing things?’ ”

The second line of verse 3 is Job’s own statement, which is a reason clause beginning with Therefore or “because of that, accordingly, on that account.” Uttered means “talked about, said.” In effect Job says “Because of that I talked about things I knew nothing of.” The subject of the final line of verse 3 is in apposition with line b. Things too wonderful translates “great things” and Good News Translation “marvels too great.” Job confesses that these “great things” are beyond his ability to know.

Verse 4 repeats with slight variations 33.31a; 38.3b; 40.7b. See these for comments.

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 .