Revised Standard Version suggests that Elihu is accusing Job of judging the wicked. But Job has done the contrary; he has argued that there is no one judging the wicked, and so they not only escape punishment, they thrive. Therefore it seems more probable that Elihu is condemning Job because he did not act justly when he had the power to do so, and therefore Job has brought his suffering on himself.

But you are full of the judgment on the wicked is literally “but the wicked’s judgment (condemnation, punishment, sentence) you have filled up.” Good News Translation reduces the two lines of this verse to one and understands them to be a statement by Elihu that punishment has caught up with Job. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project relates verse 16c to verse 17a, so that the table that is full of food parallels Job’s being full of the judgment that is for the wicked. The sense here is probably not to be taken that Job is judging, condemning the wicked, but that the punishment, judgment, condemnation due the wicked has come fully to Job. The context of verses 15-21 is about powerful people like Job who have been reduced to weakness, and who may be tempted to trust in their past glory. New International Version attempts to keep the sense of being full of the judgment by translating “But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked.” We may also say, for example, “But now you are getting the full punishment that other wicked people get.”

Judgment and justice seize you: seize has no object, and most translations supply you, as in Revised Standard Version. Bible en français courant, which gives the sense of Good News Translation but also retains both lines, says “However, you have been condemned, and the sentence which is handed to you is without appeal.” The model of Bible en français courant may have to be expressed differently in some languages; for example, “God has condemned you to suffer, and you cannot escape the punishment he gives you.”

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 .