OET interlinear JOB 24:24

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

ר֤וֹמּוּ

exalted

The pronoun They (or they) refers to wicked people in all of its instances in this verse. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers in the first instance. Alternate translation: “Wicked people are exalted”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ר֤וֹמּוּ

exalted

Job is speaking of wicked people as if they were literally exalted or raised up to a high position. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “They achieve greatness”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ר֤וֹמּוּ

exalted

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “They achieve greatness”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

מְּעַ֨ט

a_little_while

This could mean: (1) that wicked people are exalted for a little while. Alternate translation: “for a short time” (2) that wicked people are exalted a little bit. Alternate translation: “to a limited extent”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

וְֽ⁠הֻמְּכ֗וּ

and,brought_low

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who does the action, the context suggests that it is God. Alternate translation: “indeed, God brings them low”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

וְֽ⁠אֵינֶ֗⁠נּוּ

and=not_existing=he

This expression means that these “mighty” people no longer exist. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “then they no longer exist”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְֽ⁠הֻמְּכ֗וּ

and,brought_low

Job is speaking as if wicked people were literally brought low or moved down to a low position. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Since this phrase repeats the meaning of then they do not exist, the meaning seems to be that they die. Alternate translation: “indeed, they die”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

כַּ⁠כֹּ֥ל יִקָּפְצ֑וּ⁠ן וּ⁠כְ⁠רֹ֖אשׁ שִׁבֹּ֣לֶת יִמָּֽלוּ

like_the,all gathered_up, and,like,heads grain cut_off

The phrase they are gathered could be: (1) a characteristic Hebrew expression that describes death. Alternate translation: “like all people, they are die; yes, like the tops of ears of grain, they are cut off” (2) part of the comparison to ears of grain. In that case, it would be appropriate to translate it literally. Alternate translation: “like all people, they are gathered and cut off like the tops of ears of grain”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

כַּ⁠כֹּ֥ל יִקָּפְצ֑וּ⁠ן וּ⁠כְ⁠רֹ֖אשׁ שִׁבֹּ֣לֶת יִמָּֽלוּ

like_the,all gathered_up, and,like,heads grain cut_off

If your language does not use these passive forms, you could express the ideas in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: (1) “God gathers them among the dead, as he does all people; yes, God cuts them off like the tops of ears of grain” or (2) “as he does to all people, God gathers them and cuts them off like the tops of ears of grain”