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Job chapter 31

English Standard Version

1“I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin? 2What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high? 3Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity? 4Does not he see my ways and number all my steps? 5“If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit; 6(Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!) 7if my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has stuck to my hands, 8then let me sow, and another eat, and let what grows for me be rooted out. 9“If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor’s door, 10then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down on her. 11For that would be a heinous crime; that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges; 12for that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase. 13“If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me, 14what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him? 15Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb? 16“If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, 17or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it 18(for from my youth the fatherless grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow), 19if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering, 20if his body has not blessed me, and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep, 21if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate, 22then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket. 23For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty. 24“If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence, 25if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much, 26if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor, 27and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand, 28this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above. 29“If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him 30(I have not let my mouth sin by asking for his life with a curse), 31if the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who is there that has not been filled with his meat?’ 32(the sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler), 33if I have concealed my transgressions as others do by hiding my iniquity in my heart, 34because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors— 35Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary! 36Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown; 37I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him. 38“If my land has cried out against me and its furrows have wept together, 39if I have eaten its yield without payment and made its owners breathe their last, 40let thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended.
New International Version

1I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman. 2For what is our lot from God above, our heritage from the Almighty on high? 3Is it not ruin for the wicked, disaster for those who do wrong?
4Does he not see my ways and count my every step? 5If I have walked with falsehood or my foot has hurried after deceit-- 6let God weigh me in honest scales and he will know that I am blameless-- 7if my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has been led by my eyes, or if my hands have been defiled,
8then may others eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted. 9If my heart has been enticed by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbor's door, 10then may my wife grind another man's grain, and may other men sleep with her. 11For that would have been wicked, a sin to be judged.
12It is a fire that burns to Destruction; it would have uprooted my harvest. 13If I have denied justice to any of my servants, whether male or female, when they had a grievance against me, 14what will I do when God confronts me? What will I answer when called to account?
15Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers? 16If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary, 17if I have kept my bread to myself, not sharing it with the fatherless-- 18but from my youth I reared them as a father would, and from my birth I guided the widow-- 19if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing, or the needy without garments, 20and their hearts did not bless me for warming them with the fleece from my sheep, 21if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, knowing that I had influence in court, 22then let my arm fall from the shoulder, let it be broken off at the joint.
23For I dreaded destruction from God, and for fear of his splendor I could not do such things. 24If I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, 'You are my security,' 25if I have rejoiced over my great wealth, the fortune my hands had gained, 26if I have regarded the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor, 27so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand offered them a kiss of homage,
28then these also would be sins to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God on high. 29If I have rejoiced at my enemy's misfortune or gloated over the trouble that came to him-- 30I have not allowed my mouth to sin by invoking a curse against their life-- 31if those of my household have never said, 'Who has not been filled with Job's meat?'-- 32but no stranger had to spend the night in the street, for my door was always open to the traveler-- 33if I have concealed my sin as people do, by hiding my guilt in my heart
34because I so feared the crowd and so dreaded the contempt of the clans that I kept silent and would not go outside-- 35('Oh, that I had someone to hear me! I sign now my defense--let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser put his indictment in writing. 36Surely I would wear it on my shoulder, I would put it on like a crown.
37I would give him an account of my every step; I would present it to him as to a ruler.)-- 38if my land cries out against me and all its furrows are wet with tears, 39if I have devoured its yield without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants,
40then let briers come up instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley.' The words of Job are ended.
New American Standard Bible

1'I have made a covenant with my eyes; How then could I look at a virgin? 2And what is the portion of God from above, Or the inheritance of the Almighty from on high? 3Is it not disaster to the criminal, And misfortune to those who practice injustice? 4Does He not see my ways, And count all my steps? 5'If I have walked with deception, And my foot has hurried after deceit, 6Let Him weigh me with accurate scales, And let God know my integrity. 7If my step has turned from the way, Or my heart followed my eyes, Or if any spot has stuck to my hands, 8Let me sow and another eat, And let my crops be uprooted. 9'If my heart has been enticed by a woman, Or I have lurked at my neighbor’s doorway, 10May my wife grind grain for another, And let others kneel down over her. 11For that would be a lustful crime; Moreover, it would be wrongdoing punishable by judges. 12For it would be fire that consumes to Abaddon, And would uproot all my increase. 13'If I have rejected 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 He who made me in the womb not make him, And the same one create us in the womb? 16'If I have kept the poor from their desire, Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, 17Or have eaten my morsel alone, And the orphan has not shared it 18(But from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And from my infancy I guided her), 19If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, Or that the needy had no covering, 20If his waist has not thanked me, And if he has not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep, 21If I have lifted up my hand against the orphan, Because I saw I had support in the gate, 22May my shoulder fall from its socket, And my arm be broken off at the elbow. 23For disaster from God is a terror to me, And because of His majesty I can do nothing. 24'If I have put my confidence in gold, And called fine gold my trust, 25If I have gloated because my wealth was great, And because my hand had obtained so much; 26If I have looked at the sun when it shone, Or the moon going in splendor, 27And my heart was secretly enticed, And my hand threw a kiss from my mouth, 28That too would have been a guilty deed calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above. 29'Have I rejoiced at the misfortune of my enemy, Or become excited when evil found him? 30 No, I have not allowed my mouth to sin By asking for his life in a curse. 31Have the people of my tent not said, ‘Who can find one who has not been satisfied with his meat’? 32The stranger has not spent the night outside, For I have opened my doors to the traveler. 33Have I covered my wrongdoings like a man, By hiding my guilt in my shirt pocket, 34Because I feared 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 signature; Let the Almighty answer me! And the indictment which my adversary has written, 36I would certainly carry it on my shoulder, I would tie it to myself like a garland. 37I would declare to Him the number of my steps; Like a prince, I would approach Him. 38'If my land cries out against me, And its furrows weep together; 39If I have eaten its fruit without money, Or have caused its owners to lose their lives,
40May the thorn-bush grow instead of wheat, And stinkweed instead of barley.' The words of Job are ended.
Christian Standard Bible

1I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I look at a young woman? 2For what portion would I have from God above, or what inheritance from the Almighty on high? 3Doesn't disaster come to the unjust and misfortune to evildoers?
4Does he not see my ways and number all my steps? 5If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit,
6let God weigh me on accurate scales, and he will recognize my integrity. 7If my step has turned from the way, my heart has followed my eyes, or impurity has stained my hands,
8let someone else eat what I have sown, and let my crops be uprooted. 9If my heart has gone astray over a woman or I have lurked at my neighbor's door, 10let my own wife grind grain for another man, and let other men sleep with her. 11For that would be a disgrace; it would be an iniquity deserving punishment.
12For it is a fire that consumes down to Abaddon; it would destroy my entire harvest. 13If I have dismissed the case of my male or female servants when they made a complaint against me, 14what could I do when God stands up to judge? How should I answer him when he calls me to account?
15Did not the one who made me in the womb also make them? Did not the same God form us both in the womb? 16If I have refused the wishes of the poor or let the widow's eyes go blind, 17if I have eaten my few crumbs alone without letting the fatherless eat any of it -- 18for from my youth, I raised him as his father, and since the day I was born I guided the widow -- 19if I have seen anyone dying for lack of clothing or a needy person without a cloak, 20if he did not bless me while warming himself with the fleece from my sheep, 21if I ever cast my vote against a fatherless child when I saw that I had support in the city gate, 22then let my shoulder blade fall from my back, and my arm be pulled from its socket.
23For disaster from God terrifies me, and because of his majesty I could not do these things. 24If I placed my confidence in gold or called fine gold my trust, 25if I have rejoiced because my wealth is great or because my own hand has acquired so much, 26if I have gazed at the sun when it was shining or at the moon moving in splendor, 27so that my heart was secretly enticed and I threw them a kiss,
28this would also be an iniquity deserving punishment, for I would have denied God above. 29Have I rejoiced over my enemy's distress, or become excited when trouble came his way? 30I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse. 31Haven't the members of my household said, "Who is there who has not had enough to eat at Job's table? " 32No stranger had to spend the night on the street, for I opened my door to the traveler. 33Have I covered my transgressions as others do by hiding my iniquity in my heart
34because I greatly feared the crowds and because the contempt of the clans terrified me, so I grew silent and would not go outside? 35If only I had someone to hear my case! Here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me. Let my Opponent compose his indictment. 36I would surely carry it on my shoulder and wear it like a crown.
37I would give him an account of all my steps; I would approach him like a prince. 38If my land cries out against me and its furrows join in weeping, 39if I have consumed its produce without payment or shown contempt for its tenants,
40then let thorns grow instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley.The words of Job are concluded.
New Living Translation

1'I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman. 2For what has God above chosen for us? What is our inheritance from the Almighty on high? 3Isn’t it calamity for the wicked and misfortune for those who do evil? 4Doesn’t he see everything I do and every step I take?
5'Have I lied to anyone or deceived anyone? 6Let God weigh me on the scales of justice, for he knows my integrity. 7If I have strayed from his pathway, or if my heart has lusted for what my eyes have seen, or if I am guilty of any other sin, 8then let someone else eat the crops I have planted. Let all that I have planted be uprooted.
9'If my heart has been seduced by a woman, or if I have lusted for my neighbor’s wife, 10then let my wife serve another man; let other men sleep with her. 11For lust is a shameful sin, a crime that should be punished. 12It is a fire that burns all the way to hell. It would wipe out everything I own.
13'If I have been unfair to my male or female servants when they brought their complaints to me, 14how could I face God? What could I say when he questioned me? 15For God created both me and my servants. He created us both in the womb.
16'Have I refused to help the poor, or crushed the hopes of widows? 17Have I been stingy with my food and refused to share it with orphans? 18No, from childhood I have cared for orphans like a father, and all my life I have cared for widows. 19Whenever I saw the homeless without clothes and the needy with nothing to wear, 20did they not praise me for providing wool clothing to keep them warm?
21'If I raised my hand against an orphan, knowing the judges would take my side, 22then let my shoulder be wrenched out of place! Let my arm be torn from its socket! 23That would be better than facing God’s judgment. For if the majesty of God opposes me, what hope is there?
24'Have I put my trust in money or felt secure because of my gold? 25Have I gloated about my wealth and all that I own?
26'Have I looked at the sun shining in the skies, or the moon walking down its silver pathway, 27and been secretly enticed in my heart to throw kisses at them in worship? 28If so, I should be punished by the judges, for it would mean I had denied the God of heaven.
29'Have I ever rejoiced when disaster struck my enemies, or become excited when harm came their way? 30No, I have never sinned by cursing anyone or by asking for revenge.
31'My servants have never said, ‘He let others go hungry.’ 32I have never turned away a stranger but have opened my doors to everyone.
33'Have I tried to hide my sins like other people do, concealing my guilt in my heart? 34Have I feared the crowd or the contempt of the masses, so that I kept quiet and stayed indoors?
35'If only someone would listen to me! Look, I will sign my name to my defense. Let the Almighty answer me. Let my accuser write out the charges against me. 36I would face the accusation proudly. I would wear it like a crown. 37For I would tell him exactly what I have done. I would come before him like a prince.
38'If my land accuses me and all its furrows cry out together, 39or if I have stolen its crops or murdered its owners,
40then let thistles grow on that land instead of wheat, and weeds instead of barley.' Job’s words are ended.
King James Version

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

What does Job chapter 31 mean?

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