Thou prevailest for ever against him: prevailest translates a word whose root means “to be powerful,” and which has the sense here of “attack.” This meaning is well conveyed by Good News Translation “You overpower a man.” For ever is connected more naturally with prevailest as in Revised Standard Version, and New International Version “You overpower him once for all.” And he passes translates the Hebrew “and he goes,” which is an indirect manner of speaking about death, as in English “pass away.” The line may also be expressed, for example, “You defeat him and he dies,” “You overcome him and he gives up his life,” or “You subdue him and he is finished.”

Thou changest his countenance is in the Hebrew “changing his face” and refers to the distorted face of the dead person. Revised Standard Version reflects the Hebrew form and does not say what kind of change takes place, but Good News Translation does not leave it in doubt: “His face is twisted in death.” Revised Standard Version and others understand God to be the one who changes the face. Others, like Good News Translation, take it that the face is changed as a result of death. It seems best to take it as in Good News Translation, which is closer to the Hebrew idea. In languages in which a passive construction cannot be used, it may be necessary to say, for example, “You distort his face,” “You cause his face to twist,” or “You give him an ugly face in death.” And sendest him away is parallel to and he passes in line a. Good News Translation does not repeat the expression but uses “and send him away” for both expressions.

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 .