The final consequence of the conditions in verse 27 is I shall be condemned; most of the ancient versions treated this short clause as meaning “Since I am already condemned,” or as in Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, “If I am condemned….” Job is saying that, since it is so certain that God will find him guilty, there is no use arguing. In many languages this line must be expressed in the active; for example, “You will condemn me,” “You will hold me guilty,” or “You, God, will not say that I am innocent.”

Why then do I labor in vain?: the word translated labor means “tire oneself out, exhaust oneself.” Job’s labor is the futile effort of arguing his defense. In some languages this may be rendered “Why do I keep on trying to defend my case?” “Why do I continue to argue against you?” or “Why don’t I give up?”

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 .