They die in youth implies that these people have no future. In line b in shame is literally “among the male prostitutes,” as noted in the Revised Standard Version footnote. Translations differ greatly in the rendering of this line. Some translations avoid the literal meaning and give a euphemism or substitute expression that parallels the idea of premature death in line a. Others seek to represent in some way the idea of the pagan temple male prostitute. The term occurs in both masculine and feminine forms in Deuteronomy 23.17; 1 Kings 14.24; 15.12; 22.46; 2 Kings 23.7. The practice of religious prostitution, which was frequently condemned in the books of 1-2 Kings, was part of the fertility rituals of the Canaanites. Some have sought a parallel between dying in youth in line a and the supposed short lives of temple prostitutes, but according to Pope there is no evidence to support this view. Revised Standard Version their life ends in shame avoids the literal rendering and gives a meaning which the literal expression suggests. The same is true of Good News Translation. Dhorme thinks the reference to male prostitutes focuses upon their youthfulness and so translates “and their life ends in adolescence.” This creates a good parallelism but does not seem to be justified. Elihu, like the friends, is sure that the wicked are headed for an untimely death and so must repent. On the whole the translations of Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation are recommended.

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 .