He will not be rich: this line seems to contradict the context of the wealthy, wicked person, but the reference is to the future, and so it means, as Good News Translation says, “He will not remain rich for long.” And his wealth will not endure is the parallel of the previous clause, with no significant change in meaning and without heightening of poetic effect.

Nor will he strike root in the earth: in contrast with the clarity of the first two lines, the third is rendered in many different ways by translators. Revised Standard Version and others have a note “Hebrew obscure” and base the translation on the Vulgate. Good News Translation and others base their translation on the Septuagint, which says “He will not cast a shadow on the earth.” K-B offers the meaning “possessions” for the word translated “shadow” by Good News Translation, a word which is otherwise completely unknown. New International Version follows this lead and says “nor will his possessions spread over the land.” Translators may follow this suggestion (supported also by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project), or follow Good News Translation “Even his shadow will vanish.” This line extends the thought of the previous line to say again that this person will disappear. We may translate, for example, “He will disappear; even his shadow will vanish” or “Both he and his shadow will disappear.”

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 .