Although this verse is stated as a question, the force of Job’s words is a plea for God to take his eyes off Job and leave him in peace. How long wilt thou not look away from me: this question is awkwardly constructed in English. New English Bible, which retains the liturgical language when addressing God, says “Wilt thou not look away from me for an instant?” Nor let me alone till I swallow my spittle?: Job complains that God does not take his observant gaze off Job long enough for him to swallow his spittle. In 9.18 Job asks for time to take a breath. If the expression swallow my spittle is unfamiliar or has a different meaning than in Hebrew, it should be avoided or replaced by an equivalent expression. In Arabic the same expression is commonly used with the meaning “to take a break” or “to catch one’s breath.” The two lines of verse 19 need to be more closely related than they are in Revised Standard Version. This is done well in Good News Translation: “look away long enough for 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 .