OET interlinear JOB 29:16

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

אָ֣ב & לָֽ⁠אֶבְיוֹנִ֑ים

father & to_the,needy

Job is speaking as if he had literally been a father to needy people. He means that he fulfilled the role of a father by being a protector and advocate. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “a protector of the needy” or “an advocate for the needy”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

לָֽ⁠אֶבְיוֹנִ֑ים

to_the,needy

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

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וְ⁠רִ֖ב לֹא־יָדַ֣עְתִּי אֶחְקְרֵֽ⁠הוּ

and,case not I_know investigated,which

Job is referring implicitly to a case whose details he did not know before someone brought it to the city gate for adjudication. Job did not know these details because he was not personally acquainted with the person bringing the case. So he was not motivated by friendship or family loyalty, but simply by the interests of justice. You could indicate that in your translation if it would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “and I made sure that each person got justice even if he was not a friend or relative of mine”