But he is unchangeable and who can turn him?: unchangeable translates the Hebrew “in one.” Some interpreters supply “mind” to complete the sense, “he is of one mind”; that is, he is not divided but knows exactly what he wants. Pope and Dhorme make a textual change to get “he chooses,” which is followed by New Jerusalem Bible and New English Bible. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project rates the Hebrew as an “A” reading and recommends two meanings: “and he is unique” or “and he alone.” Revised Standard Version, and Good News Translation “He never changes,” follow the Hebrew text but understand it differently than Hebrew Old Testament Text Project. The sense of the question who can turn him? is well expressed by New English Bible, “who can turn him from his purpose?” The point is that God freely chooses what he will do, and no one can change the course he has chosen. Good News Translation expresses the first part of verse 13 as two statements.

What he desires, that he does is literally “And his nefesh does what he desires.” Nefesh, often translated “soul, breath, throat, neck,” is also the center of emotions and particularly expresses desire, even selfish desires, in such passages as Hosea 4.8, where Revised Standard Version translates it “greedy.” This line is well translated by New English Bible, “He does what his own heart desires,” or it may be expressed in some languages as “What his liver (stomach, throat) desires, he will do.” In some languages translators may find that Revised Standard Version‘s statement-plus-question in line a followed by a further statement in line b would be better changed to two statements; for example, “When he decides to do something, he does it; nothing can change his mind” or “What God decides to do he does, and he does whatever his heart desires.”

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 .