complete verse (Job 34:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Job 34:8:

  • Kupsabiny: “He associates with people who are rebels
    and who are sinners.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “He keeps company with evildoers,
    and makes wicked people his friends.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “He likes to go with wicked and sinners men.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Job 34:8

Who goes in company with evildoers: goes is literally “takes the path.” The sense is as in Revised Standard Version or, better expressed, “He goes about in the company of evildoers.” His going about with such people may be taken in the literal sense of accompanying them as they go about or, more abstractly, as forming friendships with them, or having a common purpose with them.

And walks with wicked men: walks is parallel with goes in line a and is the same as in Psalm 1.1, “walks not in the counsel of the wicked,” where “walk” refers to conduct. Here it may be translated, for example, “and acts like wicked people act,” “does the things wicked people do,” or “lives like wicked people live.”

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 .