complete verse (Job 21:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Job 21:2:

  • Kupsabiny: “‘Please listen (plur.) to the words that I am saying,
    when you have done that you will have rescued me.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Please listen carefully to my words.
    May this be the consolation that you give me. ” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘[You (plur.)] listen carefully to me so-that you (plur.) can- also -please me.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘Listen to what I say, all three of you;
    that is the only thing that you can do that will comfort me.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Job 21:2

Job appeals for the close attention of the friends. Listen carefully to my words: see the comments on 13.17, where Job used the same words.

And let this be your consolation: Revised Standard Version is misleading in its wording, which sounds as if Job is giving consolation to the friends. Your consolation means “the consolation or comfort which you give me.” In 15.11 Eliphaz claimed to offer Job “the consolations of God.” Job has received no comfort from the friends, but if they will only listen to him, by doing so they will be able to comfort him. This verse may be rendered “Please listen carefully to what I have to say; this is the only comfort I expect from you,” or idiomatically sometimes, “Open your ears for me; then you will be able to help 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 .