The godless in heart cherish anger: godless translates a word used in 8.13, which refers to people who do not trust God, and so “those who do not trust God” or “people who do not believe in God.” Here in heart is added to make the expression more vivid. In some languages it is translated as “unbelievers in heart.” Dhorme thinks it means “hypocritical,” New Jerusalem Bible calls them “stubborn,” and Bible en français courant “people of bad faith,” that is, people who lack faith. Cherish anger is literally “put anger.” Dhorme makes a change to get “keep their anger,” and this seems to be followed by both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. The anger they have is their own, not God’s.

These people do not cry for help; that is, “they do not ask God to help them.” When he binds them describes the extent of the conditions God imposes on them, and still they do not ask for his help. Pope changes the Hebrew verb translated binds to get “chastises,” but the general sense of putting them in bonds is for punishment, and so Good News Translation “even when punished” is adequate without the need for any change. Verse 13 may be rendered, for example, “They are people who do not trust God and who stay angry. Even when God punishes them, they do not ask him to help them.”

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 .