New American Standard Bible 2020

Job 31:13-40

13“If I have 1rejected 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, how am I to answer Him?15Did 2He who made me in the womb not make him, And the same one create 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 8my infancy I guided her),19If I have seen anyone perish 9for lack of clothing, Or that 10the needy had no covering,20If his waist has 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,22May my shoulder fall from its 15socket, And my 16arm be broken off 17at the elbow.23For 18disaster from God is a terror to me, And because of 19His majesty I can do nothing.

24“If I have put my confidence in 20gold, And called fine gold my trust,25If I have 21gloated because my wealth was great, And because my hand had obtained so much;26If I have 22looked at the 23sun when it shone, Or the moon going in splendor,27And my heart was secretly enticed, And my hand 24threw a kiss from my mouth,28That too would have been 25a guilty deed calling for 26judgment, For I would have 27denied God above.

29“Have I 28rejoiced at the misfortune of my enemy, Or become excited when evil found him?30 29No, 30I have not 31allowed my mouth to sin By asking for his life in 32a curse.31Have the people of my tent not said, ‘Who can 33find one who has not been 34satisfied with his meat’?32The stranger has not spent the night outside, For I have opened my doors to the 35traveler.33Have I 36covered my wrongdoings like a man, By hiding my guilt in my shirt pocket,34Because I 37feared the great multitude And the contempt of families terrified me, And I kept silent and did not go out of doors?35Oh that I had one to hear me! Here is my 38signature; 39Let the Almighty answer me! And the indictment which my 40adversary has written,36I would certainly carry it on my shoulder, I would tie it to myself like a garland.37I would declare to Him 41the number of my steps; Like 42a prince, I would approach Him.

38“If my 43land cries out against me, And its furrows weep together;39If I have 44eaten its 45fruit without money, Or have 46caused 47its owners to lose their lives,40May the 48thorn-bush 49grow 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; i.e., for clothing ↩
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 neck-joint ↩
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 31:24 Job 22:24; Mark 10:23-25 ↩
21. Job 31:25 Job 1:3, 10; Ps 62:10 ↩
22. Job 31:26 Deut 4:19; 17:3; Ezek 8:16 ↩
23. Job 31:26 Lit light ↩
24. Job 31:27 Lit kissed my mouth ↩
25. Job 31:28 Deut 17:2-7; Job 31:11 ↩
26. Job 31:28 Lit judges ↩
27. Job 31:28 Josh 24:27; Is 59:13 ↩
28. Job 31:29 Prov 17:5; 24:17; Obad 12 ↩
29. Job 31:30 Lit And ↩
30. Job 31:30 Ps 7:4 ↩
31. Job 31:30 Lit given my palate ↩
32. Job 31:30 Job 5:3 ↩
33. Job 31:31 Lit give ↩
34. Job 31:31 Job 22:7 ↩
35. Job 31:32 MT way ↩
36. Job 31:33 Gen 3:10; Prov 28:13 ↩
37. Job 31:34 Ex 23:2 ↩
38. Job 31:35 Lit mark ↩
39. Job 31:35 Job 19:7; 30:20, 24, 28; 35:14 ↩
40. Job 31:35 Job 27:7 ↩
41. Job 31:37 Job 31:4 ↩
42. Job 31:37 Job 1:3; 29:25 ↩
43. Job 31:38 Job 24:2 ↩
44. Job 31:39 Job 24:6, 10-12; James 5:4 ↩
45. Job 31:39 Lit strength ↩
46. Job 31:39 1 Kin 21:19 ↩
47. Job 31:39 Lit the soul of its owners to expire ↩
48. Job 31:40 Job 32:13; Is 5:6 ↩
49. Job 31:40 Lit come forth ↩

Notes

Commentaries on Job 31