If he passes through, and imprisons: in this verse Zophar shifts from the greatness of God’s wisdom to his power and authority. There are two major variations in the translation of this verse. One group, Dhorme, New English Bible, and others, understands the word translated imprisons to mean “keep something secret,” and in this case it would refer to keeping his passing by a secret. More commonly the meaning is taken as in Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and others to mean “arrest, capture, put in jail.” Good News Translation and some others consider passes through to express a casual appearance related to the main event, as in the English expression “he comes and (does so-and-so).” Therefore they do not translate it but begin with the “if” clause: “If God arrests you.” If passes through is to be translated, it can be rendered “If God happens to arrest you” or “If God should decide to arrest you.” Revised Standard Version, unlike Good News Translation, does not specify an object for the verb imprisons. In Good News Translation it is “you.” In English this can refer to Job in the context of Zophar’s talk, but it is also general and slightly more direct than saying “arrests somebody.” The line may be expressed “If God should come along and arrest you” or “If God should put you in jail.”

Verse 10 must be understood in part in the light of verse 11, as has been done in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. The verb translated calls to judgment means “summon an assembly, call people to a meeting,” but in the context of verse 11 it refers more specifically to a court case or hearing, and therefore Good News Translation “brings you to trial” is a good model; other possibilities are “and brings you before the judge” or “puts you in a law court.” Who can hinder him translates the Hebrew for “who can turn him back.” Hinder means to be an obstacle in someone’s progress. Good News Translation “stop” is more forceful. If a general object is used as the object of imprisons in line a, then this line may sometimes be rendered, for example, “and sends a person to trial, what can he do about it?” “… there is nothing he can do to prevent it,” or “… that person will have to go ahead and suffer.”

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 .