Would that Job were tried to the end begins with a word that can be read as “my father” and is translated this way by the Vulgate. However, “my father” makes no sense here. Would that, expressing Elihu’s desire, can be rendered as in King James Version, “My desire is that….” In other words, “Job ought to be taken to court to be tried….” It is not entirely clear whether Job should be tried by men or by God. If it is by God, Job would be fully in agreement, because that is what he has asked for many times. Therefore it seems more likely that Elihu has men in mind, and himself in particular. To the end means that Job should be tried “until the last detail has been covered,” “until there is not a word left to say.” Good News Translation “Think through” does not render properly the idea of being tried in court.

The reason Job must be submitted to such a trial is because he answers like wicked men. Answers refers to Job’s speech in regard to God, and to his reply to what the friends spoke. Here “Job speaks, talks,” is better than answers. Verse 36 may be rendered, for example, “Job, you ought to be tried in great detail because you talk like a criminal” or “Job should be brought to trial until every charge has been covered, because he argues with God like an evil man.”

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 .