Job 31
31
Job’s Final Defense Continued
1“I made a covenant with my eyes,
so#Hebrew “and” how could I look closely upon a virgin?
2And what is the portion of God from above
or#Hebrew “and” the heritage of Shaddai from on high?
3Is not disaster for the evil one
and ruin for the workers of mischief?
4Does he not see my ways
and count all my steps?
5“If I have walked with falseness,
and my foot has hastened to deceit,
6let him weigh me in the balance of justice,
and let God know my blamelessness.
7If my steps have turned aside from the way,
and my heart has walked after my eyes,
and my hand has clung to a spot,
8let me sow, and let another eat,
and let my crops be rooted out.
9“If my heart has been enticed by a woman,
and at my neighbor’s doorway I have lain in wait,
10let my wife grind for another,
and let other men kneel over her,
11for that is a shameful act,
and that is a criminal offense.#Literally “an iniquity of judges”
12Indeed, that is a fire that will consume up to Abaddon,
and it would uproot all my crop.
13“If I have rejected my male or#Hebrew “and” female slave’s case
when their complaint was against me,
14then#Hebrew “and” what shall I do when God rises up?
And when he enquires, how shall I answer him?
15Did not he who made me in the womb make them?
And did not one fashion us in the womb?
16“If I have withheld the desire of the poor from them,
or#Hebrew “and” I have caused the widow’s eyes to fail,
17or I have eaten my morsel alone,#Literally “to alone me”
and the orphan has not eaten from it
18(for from my childhood he#Probably referring to “the orphan” grew up with#Literally “reared” me like a father,
and from my mother’s womb I guided her#Probably referring to “the widow”),
19if I have seen the one who perishes because of no clothing
or#Hebrew “and” that there is no covering for the poor,
20if his loins have not blessed me,
or#Hebrew “and” by means of my sheep’s fleece he has warmed himself,
21if I have raised my hand against an orphan
because I saw my supporters at the gate,
22then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder,
and let my arm be broken from its socket.
23Indeed, the disaster from God was a dread for me,
and I was powerless#Literally “I was not able” because of his majesty.
24“If I have made gold my trust,
or#Hebrew “and” I have called fine gold my security,
25if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great
or#Hebrew “and” because my hand found a fortune,
26if I looked at the sun when it shone
or#Hebrew “and” at the moon moving in splendor,
27and I was secretly enticed,#Literally “it was gullible in the secrecy of my heart”
and my hand threw them a kiss,#Literally “my hand kissed for my mouth”
28this also is an iniquity to be judged,
for I have deceived God above.
29“If I have rejoiced at the ruin of the one who hated me
or#Hebrew “and” have exulted when evil overtook him—
30no,#Hebrew “and” I have not allowed my mouth to sin,
to ask his life with a curse.
31Have the people of my tent not said,#Literally “If the people of my tent have not said”
‘O that#Literally “who shall give” someone#Or “he” had not been satisfied with his meat’?
32An alien has not lodged in the street;
I have opened my door to the traveler.
33Have I concealed#Literally “If I have concealed” my transgressions as other human beings
to hide my iniquity in my bosom
34because I dreaded the great multitude,
and the contempt of clans terrified me,
so that I kept quiet, I did not go out of the doorway?
35O that#Literally “Who shall give” I had#Literally “for me” someone hearing me!
Here is my signature;
let Shaddai answer me!
As for#Hebrew “And,” or “But” the written communication that my adversary#Literally “the man of my indictment” has written,
36I would surely#Literally “if not” carry it on my shoulder;
I would bind it on me like a crown.
37I would give him an account of my steps;
I would approach him like a noble.
38If my land has cried out against me,
and its furrows have wept together,
39if I have eaten its yield without payment,
or#Hebrew “and” I have caused the breath of its owners to die,
40let thorns grow in place of wheat
and noxious weeds in place of barley.”
The words of Job are ended.
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Job 31: LEB
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