They abhor me, they keep aloof from me: in Hebrew there are three verbs in the two lines of this verse, and Good News Translation represents them with three lines. Abhor me translates a verb used in 19.19. The thought is not that of hatred, but disgust at Job’s repulsive physical conditions. New Jerusalem Bible says “Filled with disgust, they keep their distance.” Bible en français courant translates “They turn their back to me to show their disgust.” They keep aloof is translated by Good News Translation, more in terms of attitude than physical avoidance, as “they think they are too good for me.” However, it is the reaction to Job’s physical condition that is intended here, as in Bible en français courant and New Jerusalem Bible.

They do not hesitate to spit at the sight of me is literally “and from my face they do not spare spit.” These persons are ready at any time to spit with disdain at the face of Job. The thought is that they spit into his face, and not that they spit on the ground at the sight of him, or when they see him. Good News Translation has “They … even come and spit in my face.” Spitting in the face has different meanings in different cultures. In languages in which this is a gesture of blessing, it may be necessary to say “they insult me by spitting on me” or “they spit on me to show they despise me.”

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 .