OET interlinear JOB 12:12

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

בִּֽ⁠ישִׁישִׁ֥ים חָכְמָ֑ה וְ⁠אֹ֖רֶךְ יָמִ֣ים תְּבוּנָֽה

in/on/at/with,aged wisdom and,long days understanding

Though Job is making another general statement in this verse, he is referring implicitly to himself as someone who has acquired much wisdom through long experience. The further implication is that although Zophar challenged him in 11:8 by asking, “What will you know?” Job is insisting here that he actually does know a lot about life. You could indicate these things in your translation if it would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “I have lived a long time and I have acquired much wisdom through experience, so I actually do know a lot about life”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

בִּֽ⁠ישִׁישִׁ֥ים חָכְמָ֑ה

in/on/at/with,aged wisdom

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of wisdom, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “The aged are wise”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

בִּֽ⁠ישִׁישִׁ֥ים

in/on/at/with,aged

Job is using the adjective aged as a noun to mean people of a certain kind. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate this word with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “With aged people” or “With older people”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

וְ⁠אֹ֖רֶךְ יָמִ֣ים תְּבוּנָֽה

and,long days understanding

The expression length of days means a long life. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “yes, people who have lived a long life have understanding”