45 The word עַתָּה (’attah, “now”) may have a logical nuance here, almost with the idea of “if that had been the case …” ( §39.3.4f). However, the temporal “now” is retained in translation since the imperfect verb following two perfects “suggests what Job’s present state would be if he had had the quiet of a still birth” (J. E. Hartley, Job [], , n. 23). Cf. §106.p.
46 The copula on the verb indicates a sequence for the imperfect: “and then I would.…” In the second half of the verse it is paralleled by “then.”
47 The text uses a combination of the perfect (lie down/sleep) and imperfect (quiet/rest). The particle עַתָּה (’attah, “now”) gives to the perfect verb its conditional nuance. It presents actions in the past that are not actually accomplished but seen as possible ( §106.p).
48 The last part uses the impersonal verb “it would be at rest for me.”
49 The difficult term חֳרָבוֹת (khoravot) is translated “desolate [places]”. The confused the word and translated it “who gloried in their swords.” One would expect a word for monuments, or tombs (T. K. Cheyne emended it to “everlasting tombs” [“More Critical Gleanings in Job,” 10 (1898/99): 380–83]). But this difficult word is of uncertain etymology and therefore cannot simply be made to mean “royal tombs.” The verb means “be desolate, solitary.” In Isa 48:21 there is the clear sense of a desert. That is the meaning of Assyrian huribtu. It may be that like the pyramids of Egypt these tombs would have been built in the desert regions. Or it may describe how they rebuilt ruins for themselves. He would be saying then that instead of lying here in pain and shame if he had died he would be with the great ones of the earth. Otherwise, the word could be interpreted as a metonymy of effect, indicating that the once glorious tomb now is desolate. But this does not fit the context—the verse is talking about the state of the great ones after their death.
50 The expression simply has “or with princes gold to them.” The noun is defined by the noun clause serving as a relative clause ( §155.e).
51 Heb “filled their houses.” There is no reason here to take “houses” to mean tombs; the “houses” refer to the places the princes lived (i.e., palaces). The reference is not to the practice of burying treasures with the dead. It is simply saying that if Job had died he would have been with the rich and famous in death.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

For then I would have lain down and been quiet;

I would have slept; then I would have been at rest,

with kings and counselors of the earth

who rebuilt ruins for themselves,

or with princes who had gold,

who filled their houses with silver.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

For now I would be lying down in peace;

I would be asleep and at rest

with kings and rulers of the earth,

who built for themselves places now lying in ruins,

with princes who had gold,

who filled their houses with silver.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Now I would certainly be lying down in peace;

I would be asleep.

Then I would be at rest

with the kings and counselors of the earth,

who rebuilt ruined cities for themselves,

or with princes who had gold,

who filled their houses with silver.

NLTNew Living Translation

Had I died at birth, I would now be at peace.

I would be asleep and at rest.

I would rest with the world’s kings and prime ministers,

whose great buildings now lie in ruins.

I would rest with princes, rich in gold,

whose palaces were filled with silver.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

For now I would lie down, and I would be at peace;

I would be asleep; then I would be at rest

with kings and counselors of the earth,

who rebuild ruins for themselves,

or with high officials who have gold,

who fill up their houses with silver.

KJV 1900King James Version

For now should I have lain still and been quiet,

I should have slept: then had I been at rest,

With kings and counsellers of the earth,

Which built desolate places for themselves;

Or with princes that had gold,

Who filled their houses with silver:

Public Domain