Job

The book of Job, chapter 31, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 31 New English Translation

Job Vindicates Himself

   1 "I made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I entertain thoughts against a virgin?
   2 What then would be one's lot from God above, one's heritage from the Almighty on high?
   3 Is it not misfortune for the unjust, and disaster for those who work iniquity?
   4 Does he not see my ways and count all my steps?
   5 If I have walked in falsehood, and if my foot has hastened to deceit -
   6 let him weigh me with honest scales; then God will discover my integrity.
   7 If my footsteps have strayed from the way, if my heart has gone after my eyes, or if anything has defiled my hands,
   8 then let me sow and let another eat, and let my crops be uprooted.
   9 If my heart has been enticed by a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door,
   10 then let my wife turn the millstone for another man, and may other men have sexual relations with her.
   11 For I would have committed a shameful act, an iniquity to be judged.
   12 For it is a fire that devours even to Destruction, and it would uproot all my harvest.
   13 "If I have disregarded the right of my male servants or my female servants when they disputed with me,
   14 then what will I do when God confronts me in judgment; when he intervenes, how will I respond to him?
   15 Did not the one who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us in the womb?
   16 If I have refused to give the poor what they desired, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
   17 If I ate my morsel of bread myself, and did not share any of it with orphans -
   18 but from my youth I raised the orphan like a father, and from my mother's womb I guided the widow!
   19 If I have seen anyone about to perish for lack of clothing, or a poor man without a coat,
   20 whose heart did not bless me as he warmed himself with the fleece of my sheep,
   21 if I have raised my hand to vote against the orphan, when I saw my support in the court,
   22 then let my arm fall from the shoulder, let my arm be broken off at the socket.
   23 For the calamity from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his majesty I was powerless.
   24 "If I have put my confidence in gold or said to pure gold, 'You are my security!'
   25 if I have rejoiced because of the extent of my wealth, or because of the great wealth my hand had gained,
   26 if I looked at the sun when it was shining, and the moon advancing as a precious thing,
   27 so that my heart was secretly enticed, and my hand threw them a kiss from my mouth,
   28 then this also would be iniquity to be judged, for I would have been false to God above.
   29 If I have rejoiced over the misfortune of my enemy or exulted because calamity found him -
   30 I have not even permitted my mouth to sin by asking for his life through a curse -
   31 if the members of my household have never said, 'If only there were someone who has not been satisfied from Job's meat!' -
   32 But no stranger had to spend the night outside, for I opened my doors to the traveler -
   33 if I have covered my transgressions as men do, by hiding iniquity in my heart,
   34 because I was terrified of the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I remained silent and would not go outdoors -

Job's Appeal

   35 "If only I had someone to hear me! ere is my signature - let the Almighty answer me! If only I had an indictment that my accuser had written.
   36 Surely I would wear it proudly on my shoulder, I would bind it on me like a crown;
   37 I would give him an accounting of my steps; like a prince I would approach him.

Job's Final Solemn Oath

   38 "If my land cried out against me and all its furrows wept together,
   39 if I have eaten its produce without paying, or caused the death of its owners,
   40 then let thorns sprout up in place of wheat, and in place of barley, weeds!" The words of Job are ended.

King James Version

   1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
   2 For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
   3 Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?
   4 Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?
   5 If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;
   6 Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.
   7 If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;
   8 Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.
   9 If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;
   10 Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.
   11 For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.
   12 For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.
   13 If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;
   14 What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?
   15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?
   16 If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
   17 Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;
   18 (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;)
   19 If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;
   20 If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
   21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:
   22 Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.
   23 For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.
   24 If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;
   25 If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;
   26 If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;
   27 And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:
   28 This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.
   29 If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:
   30 Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.
   31 If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.
   32 The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.
   33 If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:
   34 Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?
   35 Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.
   36 Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.
   37 I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.
   38 If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;
   39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:
   40 Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.