Job 31
31
Lust
1I’ve made a covenant with my eyes;
how could I look at a virgin?
2What is God’s portion for me#31.2 Heb lacks for me. from above,
the Almighty’s inheritance from on high?
3Isn’t it disaster for the wicked,
destruction for workers of iniquity?
4Doesn’t he see my ways,
count all my steps?
Deceit
5If I have walked with frauds
or my feet have hurried to deceit,
6let him weigh me on accurate scales;
let God know my integrity.
7If my step has turned from the way,
if my heart has followed my eyes
or a blemish has clung to my hands,
8then let me sow and another reap;
let my offspring be uprooted.
Adultery
9If my heart has been drawn to a woman
and I have lurked at my neighbor’s door,
10then may my wife grind for another
and others kneel over her;
11for that’s a crime;
it’s a punishable offense;
12indeed, it’s a fire that consumes to the underworld,#31.12 Heb Abaddon
uprooting all my harvest.
Slaves
13If I’ve rejected the just cause of my male or female servant
when they contended with me,
14what could I do when God rises;
when he requires an account, what could I answer?
15Didn’t the one who made me in the belly make them;
didn’t the same one fashion us in the womb?
The defenseless
16If I have denied what the poor wanted,
made a widow’s eyes tired,
17eaten my morsel alone,
and not shared any with an orphan
(18for from my youth I raised the orphan as a father,
and from my mother’s womb I led the widow);#31.18 Heb lacks orphan … widow.
19if I ever saw someone dying without clothes, the needy naked;
20if they haven’t blessed me fervently,#31.20 Or his loins
or if they weren’t warmed by the wool from my sheep;
21if I have lifted my hand against the orphans,
when I saw that I had help in the city gate—
22may my arm fall from my shoulder,
my forearm be broken at the elbow—
23for God’s calamity is terror to me;
I couldn’t endure his splendor.
False worship
24If I’ve made gold my trust,
said to fine gold: “My security!”
25if I’ve rejoiced because my wealth was great,
when my hand found plenty;
26if I’ve looked at the sun when it shone,
the moon, splendid as it moved;
27and my mind has been secretly enticed,
and threw a kiss with my hand,
28that also is a punishable offense,
because I would then be disloyal to God above.
Others' misfortune
29If I have rejoiced over my foes’ ruin
or was excited when evil found them,
30I didn’t let my mouth sin
by asking for their life with a curse.
31Surely those in my tent never said:
“Who has been filled by Job’s food?”
32A stranger didn’t spend the night in the street;
I opened my doors to the road.
Concealing sin
33If I have hidden my transgressions like Adam,#31.33 Or like a human
concealing my offenses inside me
34because I feared the large crowd;
the clan’s contempt frightened me;
I was quiet and didn’t venture outside.
Sealing the solemn pledge
35Oh, that I had someone to hear me!
Here’s my signature;#31.35 Heb tau, the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet
let the Almighty respond,
and let my accuser write an indictment.
36Surely I would bear it on my shoulder,
tie it around me like a wreath.
37I would give him an account of my steps,
approach him like a prince.
Abuse of the land
38If my land has cried out against me,
its rows wept together;
39if I have eaten its yield without payment
and caused its owners grief,
40may briars grow instead of wheat,
poisonous weeds instead of barley.
Job’s words are complete.
Currently Selected:
Job 31: CEB
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