I hold fast my righteousness, and will not let it go: verse 6 develops further the notion of verse 5b. Just as in 2.3, 9, where Job is said to “hold fast his integrity,” so here too he “clings to, maintains” his being in the right. New English Bible translates “I will maintain the rightness of my cause….” Righteousness refers to Job’s right behavior, conduct unspoiled by wrongdoing. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy says “I will not cease to insist on my honor.” It is also used in the sense of “innocence” from wrong and is translated in Psalm 7.8 “Judge in my favor O LORD; you know that I am innocent” (Good News Translation). And will not let it go: this statement reinforces the first part I hold fast. Good News Translation represents it by “never” in “I will never give up….” In this line righteousness or “being in the right” is treated as a physical object which can be held. In some languages this thought must be expressed differently; for example, “I insist I am innocent and will not change my mind” or “I know I am in the right and will never surrender.”

My heart does not reproach me for any of my days: a literal translation of this line gives poor sense, as Revised Standard Version shows. This is due to the uncertainty of the meaning of the Hebrew verb and its relation to the other words in the sentence. The word translated heart here evidently has the meaning of “conscience,” as in Good News Translation. In a similar way, in 1 Samuel 24.5 David’s heart smites him. The Hebrew verb is usually translated as “reproach,” but there is no object in the Hebrew. Most translators supply me as the object, but Good News Translation expresses the meaning effectively with “my conscience is clear.” For any of my days, which is not represented in Good News Translation, means “as long as I live” and is translated by New English Bible as “so long as I live.” “My conscience is clear” is sometimes expressed idiomatically; for example, “my heart does not speak behind me” or “my shadow does not tell me things.” In some languages this line may be rendered “my heart does not scold me as long as I live.”

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 .