Where then is my hope?: in Revised Standard Version verse 15 is treated as a consequence of the two preceding verses, which is preferred. The clear implication of the question is that there is no hope. In languages in which hope must be expressed as a verb phrase, it may be necessary to express this question differently; for example, “What is there for me to hope for?” or “What do I have to look forward to?”

Who will see my hope?: it is uncommon for a word to be in parallel with itself in two consecutive lines. Because of this the ancient versions use a different word in line b. For example, the Septuagint has “my good.” New Jerusalem Bible follows one Hebrew variant, “any happiness,” and New English Bible another, “my piety.” Good News Translation avoids the repetition of hope in line b by asking “Who sees any?” This line must often be expressed differently from the Revised Standard Version form to say, for example, “Does anyone see a future for me?” or “Does anyone know?”

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 .