OET interlinear JOB 12:21

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

שׁוֹפֵ֣ךְ בּ֭וּז עַל־נְדִיבִ֑ים

pours contempt on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in nobles

For emphasis, Job is speaking as if contempt were a liquid that God could literally pour on nobles. He means that God makes these princes lose the respect of others and experience complete contempt from them. If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the emphasis in another way. It may be helpful to begin a new sentence here. Alternate translation: “God completely disgraces nobles”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וּ⁠מְזִ֖יחַ אֲפִיקִ֣ים רִפָּֽה

and,belt strong untie/releasens

Job is speaking as if God literally loosens the belt of mighty ones, that is, as if these mighty people tie up their robes so that they can do strenuous things, but God loosens their robes again so that they can not do those things. Job means that God is so strong that when he acts, even the strongest people are shown to be weak by comparison. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and God is so strong that when he acts, even the strongest people are shown to be weak by comparison”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

אֲפִיקִ֣ים

strong

Job is using the adjective mighty as a noun to mean a certain kind of person. The term is plural; the ULT shows this by adding the word ones. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate this adjective with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “people who are mighty”