Have you listened in the council of God?: listened refers to listening to the talk that takes place in the council where God’s plans are made. Council of God is the same assembly of heavenly beings described in 1.6; 2.1. See discussion there. This line may be rendered, for example, “When God held his council in the heavens, were you there listening?” “Did you hear God’s plans discussed in his meeting in the heavens?” or “Were you there listening when God and his messengers held their meeting in the heavens?”

And do you limit wisdom to yourself?: limit translates the verb rendered “do away with” in verse 4, but here it has the meaning of attracting to oneself, of getting all there is. Dhorme therefore translates “Have you a monopoly on wisdom?” New English Bible has “usurp all wisdom for yourself alone?” Good News Translation “belong to you alone” is clear and adequate. For discussion of wisdom see 11.6. This line may also be expressed, for example, “Are you the only human who has wisdom?” “Are you the only person who is wise?” or “Is there no one else in the world but you who is wise?”

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 .