For the company of the godless is barren: company is a term used frequently in the Old Testament to refer to a “band, clique, faction, group” who adhere to a common leader. Moffatt says “For the godless are a barren tribe.” These gangs of godless people are said to be barren, that is, will suffer the fate of being cut off without “descendants” (Good News Translation). This line may be rendered, for example, “The bands of unbelievers will have no descendants,” “The groups of people who do not trust God will come to an end,” or “Gangs of people who do not put their trust in God will die without descendants.”

And fire consumes the tents of bribery: fire suggests the kind of fire which came down and destroyed some of Job’s wealth in 1.16. Tents of bribery is ambiguous since it may refer to those who give bribes or to those who receive them. Here the second meaning fits best the context of condemnation of the wicked. (For comments on “bribe” see 6.22.) Good News Translation assumes it means “the homes built by bribery.” This likewise is unclear as to who paid and who received the bribes. More suitable would be to make clear that tents of bribery refers to the homes of the gangs of the wicked who have received bribes for their oppressive acts and have built their homes from them. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy says “and their houses (of the godless company) enriched by bribes will burn in the fire.” This line may also be expressed “the houses they have built from bribery money will be burned down” or “the houses they have built from the money they have gotten by taking bribes from the oppressed will burn down.”

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 .