It will be paid in full before his time: it is not clear what It refers to. Hebrew says “Before his day it (he) shall be filled.” This likewise is unclear. The Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate understand the Hebrew words meaning “It shall be filled” as “withered.” Both words sound alike. This understanding is supported by the next line, which speaks of a tree. Good News Translation refers to the man: “he will wither.” New English Bible and others supply the subject “his palm tree” or “his vine” to get a line that is balanced with 32b. “Palm tree” is arrived at with a slight change to the Hebrew.

And his branch will not be green: branch translates a word which refers specifically to the palm branch and is found in Isaiah 9.14; 19.15. It is recommended that translators adapt some form of Good News Translation; for example, “Very soon he will wither like a dry branch, and never be green again” or “He is like a branch that withers before its time and is never green again.”

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 .