The heavens will reveal his iniquity: Dhorme considers verses 27 and 29 to form the conclusion of Zophar’s speech and so transposes verses 28 and 27. Through the use of heavens in line a and earth in line b, the poet asserts that the whole universe condemns the wicked man. In 16.18-19 Job called upon the witnesses of heaven and earth. For a similar idea of the participation of heaven and earth in legal dispute, compare Deuteronomy 32.1; Isaiah 1.2; Micah 6.1-2. In some languages it is not possible to say that the heavens can reveal something. In such cases it may be possible to express verse 27a as a simile; for example, “The heavens will be like a witness and shout that he is guilty” or “The heavens will be like a witness against him and shout ‘You are wicked!’ ”

And the earth will rise up against him is probably to be taken in the legal sense of taking the witness stand to testify against someone, and so Good News Translation “earth gives testimony against him,” and New English Bible “And earth will rise up to condemn him.” The line may be expressed “Even the earth will be like a witness who stands up to testify against him,” or “The earth will be like a witness in court and will say ‘You are guilty!’ ”

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 .