In Revised Standard Version verse 29 begins with another “if” clause as a form of oath denying a particular sin. Verse 30 interrupts the “if” clause by making a statement of denial. The same procedure is repeated in verses 31 and 32, to be followed in verse 33 by still another “if” clause. Instead of Job calling down a punishment at verse 34, there is a suggested cause why Job may have been tempted to be hypocritical in verse 33. With verse 34 the build-up of denials breaks off without the self-cursing the reader has been led to expect. Accordingly many scholars transfer verses 38-40 to other locations throughout the chapter. Translations such as Good News Translation, which do not use the “if” clause structure in verses 29-34, are able to present the sequence of denials in these verses without the sense of incompleteness in Revised Standard Version.

If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him that hated me: rejoiced translates the same word used in verse 25a, but here the sense is “to take satisfaction, to be pleased.” The ruin translates a word found only here and in Proverbs 24.22, and means “misfortune, disaster.” Him that hated me translates a form of the verb “hate” which may best be rendered as “enemy,” as in Good News Translation and others. This line may also be expressed “I have never been glad to see my enemies in trouble” or “I have never been pleased when people who hate me have misfortune.”

Or exulted when evil overtook him: exulted occurs also in Isaiah 51.17. Here it is used in the reflexive form and means to be glad, but in this context, at another person’s expense—a cruel joy that comes from seeing someone else suffer. Evil is parallel with ruin in the previous line and refers to “misfortune, trouble.” Good News Translation translates both these parallel lines rather than shortening and combining them into one.

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 .