I chose their way, and sat as chief: verse 25 has three lines. I chose their way expresses the thought of Job making the decisions affecting the lives of his people as he guided and directed them. And sat as chief: this phrase, which states Job’s position of authority, may best be placed at the beginning of the line, before what he does as chief; for example, “I was their leader and showed them the way” or “I was the one who led them and made their decisions.”

And I dwelt like a king among his troops: the second line extends the idea of sat as chief to being king of an army. The reference to troops is not to be taken as implying that Job was a military leader. Job depicts himself in the role of the highest leadership, and the people as faithful and obedient followers. “I was their leader as a king is over his troops” or “I lived among them like a king among his soldiers.”

Like one who comforts mourners is less certain than the previous lines. Dhorme claims the meaning of Revised Standard Version has no connection with the context, and so he makes a change to get “Where I led them, they were willing to go,” which New Jerusalem Bible follows with “and I led them wherever I chose.” Although Dhorme’s suggestion seems to fit the context, the Hebrew is perfectly clear and serves as a good conclusion to this part of the speech. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project supports Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation and is recommended to translators. The line may also be rendered “and I comforted them like one who consoles those who mourn” or “when they were sad I consoled them.”

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 .