In Revised Standard Version verse 26 is a statement whose reason is given in verse 27. He strikes them for their wickedness is literally “Under evil deeds he strikes them.” There are numerous changes and rearrangements proposed for verse 26. However, it seems best to follow the suggestion of Pope, that the Hebrew word for “under” has both the sense of “Among” and “In the place of,” as in 40.12 (“where they stand”). The word translated their wickedness is the plural of “evil,” meaning “evildoers, criminals.” The meaning of this line will then be “He strikes them down in the place for criminals,” that is, “in the place where criminals are dealt with.” The sense of this becomes clear only with line b.

In the sight of men is literally “in the place of onlookers,” which means in the place where spectators gather, or the public square. Good News Translation is similar, if less specific, with “He punishes sinners where all can see it.” Bible en français courant combines the lines: “He strikes them in public, like criminals.” Pope, Good News Translation, and Bible en français courant are to be preferred to Revised Standard Version.

Because they turned aside from following him explains the reason for verse 26: “because they no longer followed him,” “because they were disloyal, unfaithful to him.”

And had no regard for any of his ways: had no regard for translates a verb which can be rendered “paid no attention to, ignored.” His ways refers to “his laws or teachings,” or as Good News Translation says, “commands.” Verse 27 may also be rendered, for example, “because they became unfaithful to him and paid no attention to what he told them to do” or “because they no longer believed in him and would not obey his laws.”

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 .