complete verse (Job 34:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Job 34:16:

  • Kupsabiny: “If you (sing.) are wise listen
    and hear the words that I am going to speak to you (sing.).” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “So Job, if you have insight,
    pay attention to these words of mine. ” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘If you (sing.) have understanding, Job, listen to this that I would-say:” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Job 34:16

If you have understanding, hear this is literally “If understanding hear this.” If you have is clearly implied. Elihu uses the singular in hear this, so he is no doubt speaking directly to Job. This line may need to be expressed differently; for example, “If you (singular) understand things” or “If you (singular) understand what I am saying to you.”

Hear this in line a and listen to what I say in line b are the same in meaning. The two Hebrew verbs are the same as those used in verse 2. See there for comments.

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 .