Verse 4 is difficult to translate. Like verse 3 it has three lines, but their relation is not clear. There is an awkward shift from first to third person. I am a laughingstock to my friends translates the Hebrew “I am an object of laughter to his friends.” There are two ways to interpret this verse. One is as Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. Job is speaking of himself, and so the Hebrew “his friend” is changed to “my friends.” In line b then the Hebrew “answers him” is changed to “answers me.” Good News Translation differs from Revised Standard Version in that it transposes lines b and c. If the translator follows the line order of Good News Translation (a, c, b), this verse may be rendered in some languages, for example, “My friends now laugh and make fun of me. They do this even though I am righteous and innocent; but before this happened, God used to answer me when I prayed to him.” Another way to interpret the verse is to change the first line to third person; for example, “Anyone becomes a laughingstock to his friends” (New Jerusalem Bible). Line b likewise may be kept in the third person, “If he cries to God and expects an answer.” In this interpretation there is no reference to Job; it is a general reference to any righteous and blameless person as being the object of scorn and laughter. Both interpretations are possible.

I, who called upon God and he answered me translates the Hebrew “One calling unto God and he answered him.” Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation (third line) change “him” to “me” so that it refers to Job, as in line a. Called upon God means “asked God for help.”

A just and blameless man, am a laughingstock: the Revised Standard Version wording keeps the reference to Job (not to a generalized subject) through the use of am. Just translates the Hebrew tsadiq discussed in 4.17; 10.15. See also 1.1, 8 for a discussion of blameless. Laughingstock refers to a person who is made fun of or laughed at.

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 .