Job 31

HCSB

Job 31

^{Tools
1}

I have made a covenant with my eyes.^(A)
How then could I look at a young woman?^(a)^(B)

^{Tools
2}

For what portion^(C) would I have from God above,
or what inheritance from the Almighty on high?

^{Tools
3}

Doesn’t disaster come to the unjust
and misfortune to evildoers?

^{Tools
4}

Does He not see my ways
and number all my steps?^(D)

^{Tools
5}

If I have walked in falsehood
or my foot has rushed to deceit,

^{Tools
6}

let God weigh me in accurate scales,^(E)
and He will recognize my integrity.^(F)

^{Tools
7}

If my step has turned from the way,
my heart has followed my eyes,
or impurity has stained my hands,^(G)

^{Tools
8}

let someone else eat what I have sown,
and let my crops be uprooted.^(H)

^{Tools
9}

If my heart has been seduced by my neighbor’s wife
or I have lurked at his door,

^{Tools
10}

let my own wife grind grain for another man,
and let other men sleep with^(b) her.

^{Tools
11}

For that would be a disgrace;
it would be a crime deserving punishment.^(c)^(I)

^{Tools
12}

For it is a fire that consumes down to Abaddon;
it would destroy my entire harvest.^(J)

^{Tools
13}

If I have dismissed the case of my male or female servants
when they made a complaint against me,

^{Tools
14}

what could I do when God stands up to judge?
How should I answer Him when He calls me to account?

^{Tools
15}

Did not the One who made me in the womb also make them?
Did not the same God form us both in the womb?^(K)

^{Tools
16}

If I have refused the wishes of the poor
or let the widow’s^(L) eyes go blind,

^{Tools
17}

if I have eaten my few crumbs alone
without letting the fatherless eat any of it—

^{Tools
18}

for from my youth, I raised him as his father,
and since the day I was born^(d) I guided the widow—

^{Tools
19}

if I have seen anyone dying for lack of clothing
or a needy person without a cloak,^(M)

^{Tools
20}

if he^(e) did not bless me
while warming himself with the fleece from my sheep,

^{Tools
21}

if I ever cast my vote^(f) against a fatherless child
when I saw that I had support in the city gate,^(N)

^{Tools
22}

then let my shoulder blade fall from my back,
and my arm be pulled from its socket.

^{Tools
23}

For disaster from God terrifies me,
and because of His majesty I could not do these things.^(O)

^{Tools
24}

If I placed my confidence in gold
or called fine gold my trust,^(P)

^{Tools
25}

if I have rejoiced because my wealth is great
or because my own hand has acquired so much,

^{Tools
26}

if I have gazed at the sun when it was shining
or at the moon moving in splendor,^(Q)

^{Tools
27}

so that my heart was secretly enticed
and I threw them a kiss,^(g)

^{Tools
28}

this would also be a crime deserving punishment,
for I would have denied God above.

^{Tools
29}

Have I rejoiced over my enemy’s distress,
or become excited when trouble came his way?

^{Tools
30}

I have not allowed my mouth to sin
by asking for his life with a curse.

^{Tools
31}

Haven’t the members of my household said,
“Who is there who has not had enough to eat at Job’s table?”

^{Tools
32}

No stranger had to spend the night on the street,
for I opened my door to the traveler.

^{Tools
33}

Have I covered my transgressions^(R) as others do^(h)
by hiding my guilt in my heart,^(S)

^{Tools
34}

because I greatly feared the crowds,
and the contempt of the clans terrified me,
so I grew silent and would not go outside?

^{Tools
35}

If only I had someone to hear my case!^(T)
Here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me.
Let my Opponent compose His indictment.

^{Tools
36}

I would surely carry it on my shoulder
and wear it like a crown.^(U)

^{Tools
37}

I would give Him an account of all my steps;
I would approach Him like a prince.

^{Tools
38}

If my land cries out against me
and its furrows join in weeping,

^{Tools
39}

if I have consumed its produce without payment
or shown contempt for its tenants,⁽ⁱ⁾

^{Tools
40}

then let thorns^(V) grow instead of wheat
and stinkweed^(W) instead of barley.

The words of Job are concluded.

Footnotes:

a. Job 31:1: Or a virgin

b. Job 31:10: Lit men kneel down over

c. Job 31:11: Lit crime judges

d. Job 31:18: Lit and from my mother’s womb

e. Job 31:20: Lit his loins

f. Job 31:21: Lit I raise my hand

g. Job 31:27: Lit and my hand kissed my mouth

h. Job 31:33: Or as Adam

i. Job 31:39: Lit or caused the breath of its tenants to breathe out

Cross references:

A. Job 31:1: Proverbs 4:25; Isaiah 33:15; 2 Peter 2:14

B. Job 31:1: Exodus 22:6; Proverbs 17:24; Matthew 5:28

C. Job 31:2: Job 20:29; Job 27:13; Psalm 17:14

D. Job 31:4: Job 14:16; Job 34:21; Proverbs 5:21

E. Job 31:6: Job 6:2; Daniel 5:27

F. Job 31:6: Job 2:3; Job 2:9; Job 27:5; Proverbs 11:3

G. Job 31:7: Numbers 15:39; Job 23:11; Psalm 7:3

H. Job 31:8: Leviticus 26:16; Deuteronomy 28:30; Job 20:18

I. Job 31:11: Genesis 38:24; Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22; Deuteronomy 22:24

J. Job 31:12: Job 26:6; Job 28:22; Proverbs 6:27-29

K. Job 31:15: Psalm 119:73; Psalm 139:13; Jeremiah 1:5

L. Job 31:16: Job 22:9; Job 24:3; Job 24:21; Job 29:13

M. Job 31:19: Exodus 22:26; Job 22:6

N. Job 31:21: Job 5:4; Proverbs 22:22; Isaiah 29:21

O. Job 31:23: Job 13:11; Job 22:10; Job 23:15

P. Job 31:24: Psalm 52:7; Matthew 6:19; Mark 10:24

Q. Job 31:26: Deuteronomy 4:19; Deuteronomy 17:3; Ezekiel 8:16

R. Job 31:33: Job 7:21; Job 22:5; Job 33:9

S. Job 31:33: Psalm 32:3-5; Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:8-10

T. Job 31:35: Job 16:21; Ecclesiastes 6:10; Isaiah 45:9

U. Job 31:36: Proverbs 4:9; Proverbs 12:4; Proverbs 17:6

V. Job 31:40: Genesis 3:18; Isaiah 34:13

W. Job 31:40: Proverbs 24:31; Isaiah 5:2