These two verses are related in that verse 24 provides the reason for verse 23. The answers to the questions in verse 20 were first given negatively, but from verse 23 to the end of the chapter the answers to verse 20 are all positive.

God understands the way to it: God is emphatic in this line, and so Good News Translation translates “God alone.” The Hebrew says literally “God understands its way.” This means that God knows the “way, path, road” that leads to wisdom.

And he knows its place: this line is essentially the same in meaning as the previous line, which is well expressed by Good News Translation as “God … knows the place where wisdom is found.” Verse 23 may also be rendered, for example, “God is the one who knows the way to the place of wisdom” or “But God knows the path to wisdom, only he knows how to find it.”

For he looks to the ends of the earth: although the Hebrew has different verbs for looks and sees in these two lines, the meaning is the same, as in Good News Translation. Since God sees and knows all things, he knows where wisdom is found. Ends of the earth is used in Isaiah 40.28; 41.5, 9 and is a use of spatial terms to indicate the vast extent of God’s wisdom. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy says “to the last corner of the earth,” and New Jerusalem Bible “to the remotest parts of the earth.”

And sees everything under the heavens: nothing escapes the eyes of God. He sees everything on earth. Verse 24 may also be expressed “He can see to the end of the earth, and sees everything under the sun” or “God can see as far as the end of the earth and see everything on it.”

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 .