Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?: in 9.29 Job was convinced that God would condemn him. In 13.21 Job asked God to withdraw his hand “and let not dread of thee terrify me.” Now, however, he does not believe that God would overwhelm him with his might. Perhaps verse 6 can be taken as God having granted Job’s request in 13.21. In the Hebrew line a is a question which Job answers negatively in line b. Contend translates the same word used in 9.3 and 13.19, meaning “dispute, argue, plead.” In the greatness of his power is a phrase that is best taken in an instrumental sense, that is, the greatness of his power is the instrument or weapon which God uses in the contest against Job. “Will he use his great power to argue with me?” or “Would God use all his strength against me?” (Good News Translation). However, Good News Translation leaves unclear in what respect God uses his strength. Bible en français courant is more specific with “Does it take a very great effort for him to confront me?” This line may also be expressed “Does it take great strength for him to dispute with me?” or “Would he crush me with his might in an argument?”
No; he would give heed to me is literally “No, surely he would place (attention) on me.” Job answers his own question with confidence. The verb translated give heed usually means “place, put,” but there is no object expressed in Hebrew, and so one must be supplied. New English Bible understands the object to be a charge: “No; God himself would never bring a charge against me.” Dhorme proposes changing the word translated give heed by adding one consonant to get “He would only have to listen to me,” which is the basis for Good News Translation “He would listen as I spoke.” This line may also be rendered “No, he would give me a fair hearing,” “No, he would pay attention to what I say,” or “He would not do that; he would listen to what I say.”
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 .