Its stones are the place of sapphires: Its refers to “the earth” in verse 5a, and so Good News Translation “The stones of the earth.” In English “rock” is more commonly used when speaking of ore bearing minerals or precious stones. Rowley says that sapphires were probably unknown before Roman imperial times, and that the stone discussed were probably lapis lazuli, as in the Revised Standard Version footnote. Sapphires are bluish transparent gems. Lapis lazuli is deep blue and is not transparent. This line may be rendered, for example, “Men find sapphires in the rocks of the earth” or “Men find (blue) gems in the rocks in the earth.”

And it has dust of gold: lapis lazuli is speckled with yellow iron pyrites, which give the impression of being gold dust. New English Bible, which translates the word for sapphires as lapis lazuli, renders this line “dusted with flecks of gold.” Some believe that this is the preferred meaning, since the metal “gold” was mentioned earlier, in verse 1. Most modern translations, however, follow Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. If lapis lazuli is known in the language, New English Bible may serve as a good translation model. Otherwise it is better to follow Good News Translation or to say, for example, “and they find gold in the dirt.”

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 .