With kings and counselors of the earth describes the company Job would have kept, if at birth he had gone down into the world of the dead. For a similar idea see Isaiah 14.9-11, where in Sheol the rulers of the earth rise from their thrones to mock the dead king of Babylon. The word translated counselors refers to the officials or ministers who carried out the king’s orders. Of the earth simply emphasizes their realm, or as Moffatt says, “the kings and statesmen of the world.” In some languages Job’s companions in death would be “chiefs and tribal headmen” or “great chiefs and minor chiefs.” In language areas where there are no persons with such authority, it may be necessary to say “with important ancestors and their helpers.” Good News Translation picks up “sleeping” from verse 13b, which it does not use there, and uses it metaphorically here.
Who rebuilt ruins for themselves: scholars are divided regarding what is meant by this line. Revised Standard Version understands that the kings rebuilt what they found as ruins during their rule. In this sense they restored what were probably old palaces. New English Bible says “who built themselves palaces.” New International Version understands that the palaces they built are “places now lying in ruins.” Another group of translations takes for themselves to mean that the kings built burial places or pyramids (so Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, New Jerusalem Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, Moffatt). Good News Translation follows Revised Standard Version and expresses the idea of ruins through the use of “rebuilt ancient palaces.” Considering the various possibilities, Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation are adequate models for translation. “Palaces” may be rendered in some languages as “houses which chiefs live in,” “big house for the rulers,” or “big houses important people live in.”
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 .