Chapter

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? 4 Does 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, 26 if 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, 39 if 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

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,
Christian Standard Bible

New Living Translation

King James Version

New King James Version

1“I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman? 2For what is the allotment of God from above, And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high? 3 Is it not destruction for the wicked, And disaster for the workers of iniquity? 4 Does He not see my ways, And count all my steps? 5“If I have walked with falsehood, Or if my foot has hastened to deceit, 6Let me be weighed on honest scales, That God may know my integrity. 7If my step has turned from the way, Or my heart walked after my eyes, Or if any spot adheres to my hands, 8 Then let me sow, and another eat; Yes, let my harvest be rooted out. 9“If my heart has been enticed by a woman, Or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door, 10 Then let my wife grind for another, And let others bow down over her. 11For that would be wickedness; Yes, it would be iniquity deserving of judgment. 12For that would be a fire that consumes to destruction, And would root out all my increase. 13“If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant When they complained against me, 14What then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him? 15 Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb? 16“If I have kept the poor from their desire, Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail, 17Or eaten my morsel by myself, So that the fatherless could not eat of it 18(But from my youth I reared him as a father, And from my mother’s womb I guided the widow); 19If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, Or any poor man without covering; 20If his heart 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, When I saw I had help in the gate; 22 Then let my arm fall from my shoulder, Let my arm be torn from the socket. 23For destruction from God is a terror to me, And because of His magnificence I cannot endure. 24“If I have made gold my hope, Or said to fine gold, ‘ You are my confidence’; 25 If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gained much; 26 If I have observed the sun when it shines, Or the moon moving in brightness, 27So that my heart has been secretly enticed, And my mouth has kissed my hand; 28This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment, For I would have denied God who is above. 29“If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, Or lifted myself up when evil found him 30 (Indeed I have not allowed my mouth to sin By asking for a curse on his soul); 31If the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who is there that has not been satisfied with his meat?’ 32 ( But no sojourner had to lodge in the street, For I have opened my doors to the traveler); 33If I have covered my transgressions as Adam, By hiding my iniquity in my bosom, 34Because I feared the great multitude, And dreaded the contempt of families, So that I kept silence And did not go out of the door— 35 Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my mark. Oh, that the Almighty would answer me, That my Prosecutor had written a book! 36Surely I would carry it on my shoulder, And bind it on me like a crown; 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 caused its owners to lose their lives;

What does Job chapter 31 mean?

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