Verses 15-19 contain a list of rewards that Job will enjoy if he follows Zophar’s advice. Job, however, has no intention of following the advice of his friends.

Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish: this expression means “be free from shame, be self-confident, have hope for the future.” Good News Translation translates “face the world again,” which is a sign of having hope and confidence. Without blemish means “without a stain on his conscience” or “with a clear conscience.” Line 15a may also be rendered, for example, “Then you will certainly face the future without shame,” “Then you will be strong and have a clear heart,” or sometimes “You will walk a straight path and have a clean eye.”

You will be secure, and will not fear: secure translates a Hebrew verb applied to casting molten metal to form a statue. The form of the verb used here has the sense of being “hard, firm, solid,” not in a physical sense but socially, spiritually, emotionally. New English Bible translates “man of iron,” that is, of iron-like character, a solid, sound personality. The text does not say what it is that Job will not fear. But in languages which must provide an object, it will be best to keep the object general and say, for example, “You will be afraid of nothing,” or “Nothing or no one will cause you to be afraid.”

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 .