If I have walked with falsehood: Revised Standard Version interprets verse 5 in the form of an “if” clause which is continued in verse 7. Verse 6 is treated as a parenthetical statement breaking the connection between verses 5 and 7. Whether or not verses 5 and 7 are translated as “if” clauses depends on the interpretation of the Hebrew ʾim, the first word in these verses. Dhorme and others take this word to be a question marker and translate “Have I walked with falsehood?” The use of the question form has the advantage of establishing a connection between verses 5 and 6, instead of making verse 6 a kind of parenthetical remark as in Revised Standard Version. Good News Translation, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, New English Bible, and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, on the other hand, understand this structure to be an oath in the form of a strong denial; that is, “I swear I have never acted wickedly.” Translating as in Good News Translation also makes a better connection with verse 6. Translators may find either that the denial statement is more natural, or that the question form is more natural in their languages, and should be guided accordingly. Still others may find that the “if” clause is more appropriate in this kind of context. It is important that the translator decide how this structure is to be translated, because it occurs so frequently throughout the chapter. The word walked in the phrase walked with falsehood gives coherence and poetic continuity with “ways” in verse 4. The expression means “to walk with falsehood as a companion,” and since this is figurative language, it may be translated, for example, “guided by what is false,” “directed by lies,” “led by wrong,” or nonfiguratively as Good News Translation, “acted wickedly,” or Moffatt “lived a false life.”

And my foot has hastened to deceit: foot gives continuity to steps in verse 4. Foot has hastened is a vivid way of expressing eagerness to carry out an act; that is, “made an attempt,” “exerted an effort,” or as in Good News Translation, “tried to.” Deceit is parallel with falsehood in the previous line and has been expressed as a verb phrase in Good News Translation, “tried to deceive others.” In some languages hastened to deceit is best expressed idiomatically; for example, “and I have acted with two hearts,” “and I have worn two faces,” or “and I have lived with a double tongue.”

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 .