OET interlinear JOB 20:27

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

יְגַלּ֣וּ שָׁמַ֣יִם עֲוֺנ֑⁠וֹ וְ֝⁠אֶ֗רֶץ מִתְקוֹמָ֘מָ֥ה לֽ⁠וֹ

reveal heavens iniquity,his and,earth rise_up to=him/it

Zophar is speaking as if the heavens and the earth were living things that could testify against this wicked person. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate this in your translation. Alternate translation: “If the sky could speak, it would testify that it had observed his iniquity; if the earth could speak, it would raise itself up against him”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וְ֝⁠אֶ֗רֶץ מִתְקוֹמָ֘מָ֥ה לֽ⁠וֹ

and,earth rise_up to=him/it

Zophar means that the earth would raise itself up, that is, stand up, against this wicked person in order to bring charges against him or to serve as a witness in a legal proceeding. In this culture, in order to begin a case against someone, a person would stand up among those who had gathered in the public square. Someone who had evidence to bring in such a proceeding would similarly stand up. Either way, the earth, Zophar says, would testify that the wicked person was guilty. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain the significance of this action. Alternate translation: “and the earth will stand and bring charges against him” or “and the earth will stand and be a witness against him”