He has kindled his wrath against me: kindled implies fire or heat, and the Hebrew can also be translated “His anger glows at me.” Good News Translation avoids the suggestion of fire or heat and says “rages against me.” Bible en français courant has “unleashing the fire of his anger against me.” The line may also be expressed, for example, “He burns me with the heat of his anger” or “He has lit his anger like a person lights a fire and turned it against me.”

And counts me as his adversary: the Hebrew says “his adversaries,” while the Septuagint and Syriac have the singular, which is followed by Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and most others. Counts me as means “treats me as, considers me as.” Good News Translation “worst” is not supported by the Hebrew. This line may also be expressed “he treats me as one of his enemies,” “he acts as if I were his enemy,” or “he fights me as if I were his enemy.”

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 .