Job 31:23-38
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 31
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;King James Version
Chapter 31
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;
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 31
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.
New Living Translation
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.
English Standard Version
Chapter 31
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,New International Version
Chapter 31
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.
New King James Version
