Job is not overwhelmed or discouraged by the attacks of the friends, and so he invites them now to repeat what they have said.

But you, come on again, all of you: some hold that verse 10 has little connection with the context, and that line a is too long and some of it should be eliminated; but there is no agreement on what should be removed to improve it. The Hebrew has “all of them” in line a, but switches to “you (plural)” in line b. However, this is not uncommon, and most translations are in agreement with Revised Standard Version, which changes from third plural in verse 9 to second plural in verse 10 (Good News Translation is exceptional). Come on again is literally “go back and turn again!” “Turn again” is used as in Proverbs 1.23, where it is rendered by Revised Standard Version “Give heed.” It is the teacher’s challenge to the learner to examine a matter again for its deeper meaning. Good News Translation expresses this command as an “if” clause: “But if all of them came and stood before me….” This rendering restructures the Hebrew considerably but succeeds well in expressing Job’s intention. This line may also be rendered, for example, “Come again and repeat what you have been saying,” “Come on then, all of you, attack me again,” or “Speak up all of you; let’s hear your words again.”

And I shall not find a wise man among you: in Job’s mind a wise man would not be one as in 17.4, whose mind has been closed, who is appalled at his situation (17.8). He would be wise by showing sympathetic understanding of Job’s plea to God to hear the argument of his innocence. By contrast the friends offer pious advice and attempt to show that Job is not innocent of wickedness. The line may also be expressed, for example, “I know I won’t find one of you to be a wise man” or “I have listened, but will not find that one of you 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 .