Revised Standard Version translates the Hebrew of verse 13a as an “if” clause, and that of verse 14 as two questions which are asked in consequence of verse 13. The Revised Standard Version rendering of verse 14 appears to leave in doubt whether or not Job would concern himself with the claims for justice coming from his servants. Good News Translation overcomes this problem by restructuring these two verses. The translator should remember that verse 13 follows the “if” style of oath; however, in place of the curse placed upon himself if he has acted wrongly, Job asks the two rhetorical questions seen in verse 14. For every language, it will be necessary to determine whether the translation can maintain the same pattern for expressing all the “if” oaths in this chapter. In 19.15-16 Job relates how his servants have turned against him. Here he defends his dealings with them before his misfortune.
If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant: rejected the cause translates a phrase which can mean “refused to listen to the claim” or “failed to recognize the rights.” In a positive way the oath can also be translated, for example, “I always did what was right….” My manservant or my maidservant: The Hebrew language requires that these two separate terms must be used. The meaning is “my male slave and my female slave.” New English Bible translates them “my slave and my slave-girl.” Some translations keep the separate male and female categories, and others, like Good News Translation, reduce them to one, “one of my servants.” The rights of slaves, though not many, are set forth in Exodus 21.1-11. In verse 15 Job sees both himself and the slave as creatures of God.
When they brought a complaint against me: the slave or servant is seen here as claiming one of his rights, or complaining to Job of some injustice. Job is the object of the complaint. Good News Translation has made this line the first line, “When one of my servants complained against me,” and line a becomes line b in Good News Translation, so that circumstance or setting is followed by consequence, “I would … treat him fairly,” which is a positive rendering of line a. “One of my servants,” which translates manservant and maidservant, is kept as the subject of line a. Bible en français courant also rearranges the structure in a similar manner: “Whenever my male or female servant had a complaint to present to me, I always respected their rights.” Verse 13 may also be expressed “Whenever a man or woman who worked for me complained, I always listened to their case” or “If a man or woman servant wished to complain against the way I treated them, I respected their right to speak.”
What then shall I do when God rises up?: Revised Standard Version translates the Hebrew literally. The expression when God rises up is found in Psalm 76.9, “When God arose to establish judgment….” Good News Translation renders this “when God came to judge me.”
When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?: When he makes inquiry translates the Hebrew for “When he visits.” “Visits” is used in the sense of “inquiring” in 7.18, as “inspect” in 5.24, and as “punish” in 35.15. Good News Translation relates verse 14 to verse 13 by the connecting expression “If I did not,” that is, “If I did not treat my servants fairly.” The question which follows in Good News Translation, “how could I then face God?” is the rendering of what shall I answer him? Good News Translation joins rises up and makes inquiry into “when God came to judge me.” Translators should consider Good News Translation‘s rendering as a model for clear meaning. However, translators may wish to keep more of the parallelism in the two lines of verse 14. The verse may also be rendered “If I did not treat them fairly, what would I answer God when he comes to judge me?” or “If I failed to act justly, I would not be able to answer God when he examines 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 .