New American Standard Bible 1995

Job 31:13-40

13“If I have 1despised the claim of my male or female slaves When they filed a complaint against me,14What then could I do when God arises? And when He calls me to account, what will I answer Him?15Did not 2He who made me in the womb make him, And the same one fashion us in the womb?

16“If I have kept 3the poor from their desire, Or have caused the eyes of 4the widow to fail,17Or have 5eaten my morsel alone, And 6the orphan has not 7shared it18(But from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And from 8infancy I guided her),19If I have seen anyone perish 9for lack of clothing, Or that 10the needy had no covering,20If his loins have not 11thanked me, And if he has not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep,21If I have lifted up my hand against 12the orphan, Because I saw 13I had support 14in the gate,22Let my shoulder fall from the 15socket, And my 16arm be broken off 17at the elbow.23For 18calamity from God is a terror to me, And because of 19His 20majesty I can do nothing.

24“If I have put my confidence in 21gold, And called fine gold my trust,25If I have 22gloated because my wealth was great, And because my hand had secured so much;26If I have 23looked at the 24sun when it shone Or the moon going in splendor,27And my heart became secretly enticed, And my hand 25threw a kiss from my mouth,28That too would have been 26an iniquity calling for 27judgment, For I would have 28denied God above.

29“Have I 29rejoiced at the extinction of my enemy, Or 30exulted when evil befell him?30 31No, 32I have not 33allowed my mouth to sin By asking for his life in 34a curse.31Have the men of my tent not said, ‘Who can 35find one who has not been 36satisfied with his meat’?32The alien has not lodged outside, For I have opened my doors to the 37traveler.33Have I 38covered my transgressions like 39Adam, By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,34Because I 40feared the great multitude, And the contempt of families terrified me, And kept silent and did not go out of doors?35Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold, here is my 41signature; 42Let the Almighty answer me! And the indictment which my 43adversary has written,36Surely I would carry it on my shoulder, I would bind it to myself like a crown.37I would declare to Him 44the number of my steps; Like 45a prince I would approach Him.

38“If my 46land cries out against me, And its furrows weep together;39If I have 47eaten its 48fruit without money, Or have 49caused 50its owners to lose their lives,40Let 51briars 52grow instead of wheat, And stinkweed instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended.

Read all of Job 31

Notes

1. Job 31:13 Deut 24:14, 15 ↩
2. Job 31:15 Job 10:3 ↩
3. Job 31:16 Job 5:16; 20:19 ↩
4. Job 31:16 Ex 22:22-24; Job 22:9 ↩
5. Job 31:17 Job 22:7 ↩
6. Job 31:17 Job 29:12 ↩
7. Job 31:17 Lit eaten from it ↩
8. Job 31:18 Lit my mother’s womb ↩
9. Job 31:19 Job 22:6; 29:13 ↩
10. Job 31:19 Job 24:4 ↩
11. Job 31:20 Lit blessed ↩
12. Job 31:21 Job 29:12; 31:17 ↩
13. Job 31:21 Lit my help ↩
14. Job 31:21 Job 29:7 ↩
15. Job 31:22 Lit shoulder; or back ↩
16. Job 31:22 Job 38:15 ↩
17. Job 31:22 Lit from the bone of the upper arm ↩
18. Job 31:23 Job 31:3 ↩
19. Job 31:23 Job 13:11 ↩
20. Job 31:23 Lit exaltation ↩
21. Job 31:24 Job 22:24; Mark 10:23-25 ↩
22. Job 31:25 Job 1:3, 10; Ps 62:10 ↩
23. Job 31:26 Deut 4:19; 17:3; Ezek 8:16 ↩
24. Job 31:26 Lit light ↩
25. Job 31:27 Lit kissed my mouth ↩
26. Job 31:28 Deut 17:2-7; Job 31:11 ↩
27. Job 31:28 Lit judges ↩
28. Job 31:28 Josh 24:27; Is 59:13 ↩
29. Job 31:29 Prov 17:5; 24:17; Obad 12 ↩
30. Job 31:29 Lit lifted myself up ↩
31. Job 31:30 Lit And ↩
32. Job 31:30 Ps 7:4 ↩
33. Job 31:30 Lit given my palate ↩
34. Job 31:30 Job 5:3 ↩
35. Job 31:31 Lit give ↩
36. Job 31:31 Job 22:7 ↩
37. Job 31:32 M.T. way ↩
38. Job 31:33 Gen 3:10; Prov 28:13 ↩
39. Job 31:33 Or mankind ↩
40. Job 31:34 Ex 23:2 ↩
41. Job 31:35 Lit mark ↩
42. Job 31:35 Job 19:7; 30:20, 24, 28; 35:14 ↩
43. Job 31:35 Job 27:7 ↩
44. Job 31:37 Job 31:4 ↩
45. Job 31:37 Job 1:3; 29:25 ↩
46. Job 31:38 Job 24:2 ↩
47. Job 31:39 Job 24:6, 10-12; James 5:4 ↩
48. Job 31:39 Lit strength ↩
49. Job 31:39 1 Kin 21:19 ↩
50. Job 31:39 Lit the soul of its owners to expire ↩
51. Job 31:40 Job 32:13; Is 5:6 ↩
52. Job 31:40 Lit come forth ↩

Notes

Commentaries on Job 31