With him are strength and wisdom: the structure of verses 13 and 16 is the same; however, the words translated strength and wisdom in verse 16 are different from the words translated “wisdom and might” in verse 13. In 16 the word rendered wisdom refers to the effects of wisdom in terms of success and is therefore more correctly translated “victorious” in Good News Translation. New English Bible translates “Strength and success belong to him.” Bible en français courant has “strength and skill.” This line may also be expressed, for example, “God is powerful and defeats his enemies” or “God is strong and able to do as he wishes.”

The deceived and the deceiver are his: the two subjects in this line have similar sounds in Hebrew and are therefore an example of the poetic feature called alliteration. They are used to include both extremes, and another set with the same function is found in the Hebrew of “bond or free” in Deuteronomy 32.36. Deceived refers to one who goes astray, gets lost. The deceiver is the one who causes someone to go astray or become lost. This line begins a theme of aimless wandering which continues to verse 25. The intention is primarily upon humanity as a crowd drifting about without purpose. This may include the moral aspect of going astray. The thought is that nothing escapes the wisdom of God. Are his translates the Hebrew “to him,” but are his is ambiguous, suggesting wrongly that he keeps them. They do not escape his power and wisdom, and so Good News Translation “are in his power” is to be preferred. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “subject to him.” This line may be rendered, for example, “If a person becomes lost or causes others to become lost, God is in control of them” or “… they have not escaped from God’s power.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, Wiliam. A Handbook on Job. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .