Why do you contend against him…?: in 9.2-3 Job recognizes that “if one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.” Contend means “to argue a legal case, accuse, complain.” Elihu’s question is based on his observation in verse 12b, which Job himself has repeated, that if God is greater than a man, why should Job argue with him?

Saying, ‘He will answer none of my words’: the Revised Standard Version footnote shows that the Hebrew has “his words,” which probably refer to “man” in verse 12, and so Good News Translation “a man’s complaints.” Bible en français courant offers two translations of this verse, one in the text and one in the footnote: “Why do you blame him for not answering questions put to him?” or “Why do you enter a lawsuit with him? He does not have to answer anyone’s questions.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project suggests three renderings, which are reworded here for clarity: (1) “God does not give answers to all of a man’s questions”; (2) “God does not give account for all of his actions”; (3) “A reply cannot be given for all that God says.” The second is similar to the translation in the New International Version footnote: “That he does not answer for any of his actions”; and the third is similar to New English Bible, “For no one can answer his arguments.” Job’s concern throughout the book has been that God does not answer him; he is not concerned with a general or abstract problem. Therefore a translation should focus, not on the general, but on the specific application to Job, and so can be rendered “Why do you complain against God for not answering your questions?” or “Why do you object that God does not argue his case with you?” or “Why do you accuse God for not defending himself?”

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 .