Job 31
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 31
Let God Weigh Me on Honest Scales[a]
1 “I have made a covenant with my eyes
not to look with desire upon a virgin.
2 For what is man’s lot prescribed by God above,
his inheritance from the Almighty on high?
3 Is it not destruction for the wicked
and disaster for wrongdoers?
4 Does not God see my ways
and number all my steps?
5 “If I have walked in falsehood
or hastened my steps toward deceit,
6 let God weigh me on honest scales;
then he will know that I am blameless.
If My Steps Have Wandered . . .[b]
7 “If my steps have wandered from the path of righteousness,
or if my eyes have led my heart astray,
or if any stain has besmirched my hands,
8 then let someone else eat what I sow,
and let my crops be uprooted.
9 “If my heart has been enticed by a woman
and I have lain in wait at my neighbor’s door,
10 then let my wife grind grain[c] for another
and let other men enjoy her.
11 For that would be a heinous crime
and judged as a criminal offense.
12 It would be a fire that leads to Destruction[d]
until it consumes all my possessions completely.
13 “If I have ever rejected the pleas of my male or female slaves
when they lodged a complaint against me,
14 what will I do when God confronts me?
What will I answer if he calls me to account?
15 Did not he who formed me in the womb also make them?
Did not the one God create all human beings?[e]
16 “Have I ignored the needs of the poor
or caused the eyes of widows to overflow with tears?
17 Did I ever eat my bread alone
without sharing it with an orphan,
18 I whom God has reared like a father
and guided ever since I left my mother’s womb?
19 “Have I ever seen a stranger in need of clothing,
or a poor wretch with nothing to cover him,
20 whose body has not blessed me
after being warmed with the fleece of my sheep?
21 Have I ever raised my hand against the innocent,
knowing that my friends would support me?
22 “If I have done any of these things,
then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder
and let my arm be torn from its socket.
23 For then the fear of God would overcome me
and I would be unable to stand in his presence.
24 “Have I placed my faith in gold
and regarded it as my security?
25 Have I rejoiced in my great wealth
and the abundance of riches in my possession?
26 [f]Have I beheld the sun when it shone
and the moon moving in its splendor
27 and ever found my heart to be secretly enticed
so that I blew them a kiss in homage?
28 Any of these would be a serious offense,
for I would have been unfaithful to God above.
29 [g]“Have I ever rejoiced at the ruin of my enemy
or exulted when evil overtook him—
30 I who would not allow my tongue to sin
by laying his life under a curse?
31 Have not those of my household said,
‘Who has not eaten his meat and been sated?’
32 No stranger has ever had to spend the night in the street;
my door has always been open to the traveler.
33 “Have I ever concealed my transgressions as others do,
keeping my guilt buried within my breast,
34 because I feared the gossip that would ensue,
and I was terrified at the scorn of the multitude?
If so, then I would have remained silent
and not ventured out of doors.
May God Respond[h]
35 [i]“Oh, if only I had someone to hear my defense
and my accuser would write out his indictment!
36 I would wear it on my shoulder
and place it on my head as a crown.
37 I would give him an account of my entire life,
and like a prince I would present myself before him.
Concluding Oath[j]
38 “If my land has cried out against me
and its furrows have joined in the weeping,
39 if I have eaten its produce without payment
and caused the death of its owners,
40 then let thistles grow instead of wheat
and noxious weeds instead of barley.”
The words of Job are ended.
Footnotes
- Job 31:1 If God recompenses everyone according to one’s deserts, he must render justice to Job.
- Job 31:7 Using the traditional formula for cursing (Num 5:20-22), Job examines his life in all the fundamental areas of religion and the law. In his actions, intentions, and most secret feelings, he is without fault.
- Job 31:10 Grind grain: slaves were used for grinding grain.
- Job 31:12 Destruction: literally, “Abaddon”; see note on Job 26:6.
- Job 31:15 Some scholars believe that verses 38-40 of this chapter should be placed after this verse instead of in their accustomed spot.
- Job 31:26 Job knows that to worship the sun or the moon is a sin (see Deut 4:19; 17:3; Ezek 8:16f), and he was careful not to do so. Blew them a kiss: a sign of respect that implied recognition of a divinity (the Latin word adorare [“adore”] came from ad os meaning “put the hand to the mouth”). Therefore, to blow a kiss to the stars meant to practice idolatry.
- Job 31:29 Job has never succumbed to gloating over enemies, which had been condemned by Moses (Ex 23:4f) and would later also be ruled out by Christ (Mt 5:43-47).
- Job 31:35 Job is ready to appear before God and certain to be able to refute every accusation in his presence.
- Job 31:35 The written indictment took the form of a lengthy papyrus scroll that Job would like to wear like a turban.
- Job 31:38 Job now offers a concluding oath to complete an earlier theme. He calls for a curse on his land if he has neglected social justice (see vv. 13-15). Some scholars place verses 38-40 after verse 15 in this chapter.
Job 31
Holman Christian Standard Bible
31 I have made a covenant with my eyes.(A)
How then could I look at a young woman?[a](B)
2 For what portion(C) would I have from God above,
or what inheritance from the Almighty on high?
3 Doesn’t disaster come to the unjust
and misfortune to evildoers?
4 Does He not see my ways
and number all my steps?(D)
5 If I have walked in falsehood
or my foot has rushed to deceit,
6 let God weigh me in accurate scales,(E)
and He will recognize my integrity.(F)
7 If my step has turned from the way,
my heart has followed my eyes,
or impurity has stained my hands,(G)
8 let someone else eat what I have sown,
and let my crops be uprooted.(H)
9 If my heart has been seduced by my neighbor’s wife
or I have lurked at his door,
10 let my own wife grind grain for another man,
and let other men sleep with[b] her.
11 For that would be a disgrace;
it would be a crime deserving punishment.[c](I)
12 For it is a fire that consumes down to Abaddon;
it would destroy my entire harvest.(J)
13 If I have dismissed the case of my male or female servants
when they made a complaint against me,
14 what could I do when God stands up to judge?
How should I answer Him when He calls me to account?
15 Did not the One who made me in the womb also make them?
Did not the same God form us both in the womb?(K)
16 If I have refused the wishes of the poor
or let the widow’s(L) eyes go blind,
17 if I have eaten my few crumbs alone
without letting the fatherless eat any of it—
18 for from my youth, I raised him as his father,
and since the day I was born[d] I guided the widow—
19 if I have seen anyone dying for lack of clothing
or a needy person without a cloak,(M)
20 if he[e] did not bless me
while warming himself with the fleece from my sheep,
21 if I ever cast my vote[f] against a fatherless child
when I saw that I had support in the city gate,(N)
22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my back,
and my arm be pulled from its socket.
23 For disaster from God terrifies me,
and because of His majesty I could not do these things.(O)
24 If I placed my confidence in gold
or called fine gold my trust,(P)
25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth is great
or because my own hand has acquired so much,
26 if I have gazed at the sun when it was shining
or at the moon moving in splendor,(Q)
27 so that my heart was secretly enticed
and I threw them a kiss,[g]
28 this would also be a crime deserving punishment,
for I would have denied God above.
29 Have I rejoiced over my enemy’s distress,
or become excited when trouble came his way?
30 I have not allowed my mouth to sin
by asking for his life with a curse.
31 Haven’t the members of my household said,
“Who is there who has not had enough to eat at Job’s table?”
32 No stranger had to spend the night on the street,
for I opened my door to the traveler.
33 Have I covered my transgressions(R) as others do[h]
by hiding my guilt in my heart,(S)
34 because I greatly feared the crowds,
and the contempt of the clans terrified me,
so I grew silent and would not go outside?
35 If only I had someone to hear my case!(T)
Here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me.
Let my Opponent compose His indictment.
36 I would surely carry it on my shoulder
and wear it like a crown.(U)
37 I would give Him an account of all my steps;
I would approach Him like a prince.
38 If my land cries out against me
and its furrows join in weeping,
39 if I have consumed its produce without payment
or shown contempt for its tenants,[i]
40 then let thorns(V) grow instead of wheat
and stinkweed(W) instead of barley.
The words of Job are concluded.
Footnotes
- Job 31:1 Or a virgin
- Job 31:10 Lit men kneel down over
- Job 31:11 Lit crime judges
- Job 31:18 Lit and from my mother’s womb
- Job 31:20 Lit his loins
- Job 31:21 Lit I raise my hand
- Job 31:27 Lit and my hand kissed my mouth
- Job 31:33 Or as Adam
- Job 31:39 Lit or caused the breath of its tenants to breathe out
Job 31
New King James Version
Job Defends His Righteousness
31 “I have made a covenant with my eyes;
Why then should I [a]look upon a (A)young woman?
2 For what is the (B)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 (C)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,
6 [b]Let me be weighed on honest scales,
That God may know my (D)integrity.
7 If my step has turned from the way,
Or (E)my heart walked after my eyes,
Or if any spot adheres to my hands,
8 Then (F)let me sow, and another eat;
Yes, let my harvest be [c]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 (G)another,
And let others bow down over her.
11 For that would be wickedness;
Yes, (H)it would be iniquity deserving of judgment.
12 For that would be a fire that consumes to destruction,
And would root out all my increase.
13 “If I have (I)despised the cause of my male or female servant
When they complained against me,
14 What then shall I do when (J)God rises up?
When He punishes, how shall I answer Him?
15 (K)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 (L)fail,
17 Or 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 [d]the widow);
19 If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,
Or any poor man without covering;
20 If his [e]heart has not (M)blessed me,
And if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
21 If I have raised my hand (N)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.
23 For (O)destruction from God is a terror to me,
And because of His magnificence I cannot endure.
24 “If(P) I have made gold my hope,
Or said to fine gold, ‘You are my confidence’;
25 (Q)If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great,
And because my hand had gained much;
26 (R)If I have observed the [f]sun when it shines,
Or the moon moving in brightness,
27 So that my heart has been secretly enticed,
And my mouth has kissed my hand;
28 This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment,
For I would have denied God who is above.
29 “If(S) I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me,
Or lifted myself up when evil found him
30 (T)(Indeed I have not allowed my mouth to sin
By asking for a curse on his [g]soul);
31 If the men of my tent have not said,
‘Who is there that has not been satisfied with his meat?’
32 (U)(But no sojourner had to lodge in the street,
For I have opened my doors to the [h]traveler);
33 If I have covered my transgressions (V)as[i] Adam,
By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,
34 Because I feared the great (W)multitude,
And dreaded the contempt of families,
So that I kept silence
And did not go out of the door—
35 (X)Oh, that I had one to hear me!
Here is my mark.
Oh, (Y)that the Almighty would answer me,
That my [j]Prosecutor had written a book!
36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder,
And bind it on me like a crown;
37 I 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;
39 If (Z)I have eaten its [k]fruit without money,
Or (AA)caused its owners to lose their lives;
40 Then let (AB)thistles grow instead of wheat,
And weeds instead of barley.”
The words of Job are ended.
Jobi 31
Albanian Bible
31 "Unë kisha bërë një besëlidhje me sytë e mi; si mund ta fiksoja, pra, shikimin mbi një virgjëreshë?
2 Cili është fati që më ka caktuar Perëndia nga atje lart dhe trashëgimia e të Plotfuqishmit nga vendet e larta?
3 A nuk është vallë fatkeqësia për njeriun e çoroditur dhe mjerimi për atë që kryen të keqen?
4 Nuk i shikon ai tërë rrugët e mia dhe nuk i numëron të gjitha hapat që bëj?
5 Në rast se kam vepruar me falsitet, ose në rast se këmba ime është shpejtuar të ndjekë mashtrimin,
6 le të më peshojë me një peshore të saktë, dhe Perëndia do ta njohë ndershmërinë time.
7 Në qoftë se hapat e mia kanë dalë nga rruga e drejtë, dhe në qoftë se zemra ime ka ndjekur sytë e mi, apo në se ndonjë njollë u është ngjitur duarve të mia,
8 le të mbjell unë dhe një tjetër të hajë, dhe pasardhësit e mi u çrrënjofshin.
9 Në rast se zemra ime është mashtruar nga një grua dhe kam përgjuar në portën e të afërmit tim,
10 gruaja ime le të bluajë për një tjetër dhe të tjerë u përkulshin mbi të.
11 Sepse kjo do të ishte një mbrapshti, një faj që duhet të dënohet nga gjyqtarët,
12 një zjarr që konsumon deri në Abadon, dhe do të kishte shkatërruar deri në rrënjë gjithë të korrat e mia.
13 Në rast se kam hedhur poshtë të drejtën e shërbëtorit tim dhe të shërbëtores sime, kur po grindeshin me mua,
14 çfarë do të bëja kur Perëndia të ngrihej kundër meje, dhe si do t’i përgjigjesha kur të më kërkonte llogari?
15 Ai që më ka bërë mua në barkun e nënës, a nuk e ka bërë edhe atë? A nuk ka qenë po ai Perëndi që na ka krijuar në bark?
16 Në rast se u kam refuzuar të varfërve atë që dëshironin dhe bëra të veniten sytë e gruas së ve,
17 në rast se e hëngra vetëm copën e bukës pa i dhënë një pjesë jetimit,
18 (por që në rininë time unë e rrita si një baba, dhe që në bark të nënës sime e kam ndihmuar gruan e ve)
19 në rast se kam parë dikë të vdesë për mungesë rrobash ose një të varfër që nuk kishte me se të mbulohej,
20 në rast se ijet e tij nuk më kanë bekuar, dhe nuk është ngrohur me leshin e qengjave të mi,
21 në qoftë se kam ngritur dorën kundër jetimit, sepse e dija që do të ndihmohesha tek porta,
22 supi im u ndaftë nga shpatulla, krahu im u theftë në bërryl!
23 Sepse fatkeqësia që vjen nga Perëndia më kall drithma, dhe për shkak të madhështisë së tij nuk mund të bëj asgjë.
24 Në qoftë se kam pasur besim tek ari, dhe arit të kulluar i kam thënë: Ti je shpresa ime,,"
25 në rast se jam gëzuar sepse pasuritë e mia ishin të mëdha, dhe sepse dora ime ka grumbulluar shumë pasuri,
26 në qoftë se kam shikuar diellin kur shkëlqen ose hënën që shkonte përpara duke ndritur, dhe zemra ime u mashtrua tinëz dhe goja ime puthi dorën time;
27 edhe ky do të ishte një faj që duhet të dënohet nga gjyqtarët, sepse do të kisha mohuar Perëndinë që rri aty lart.
28 Në rast se jam gëzuar për fatkeqësinë e armikut tim dhe u ngrita, sepse e kishte goditur fakeqësia
29 (por unë nuk e lejova gojën time të mëkatonte, duke i uruar të vdesë me një mallkim);
30 në qoftë se njerëzit e çadrës sime nuk kanë thënë: "Kush mund të gjejë një që nuk është ngopur me mishin e tij?".
31 (përveç kësaj asnjë i huaj nuk e kalonte natën jashtë, sepse i hapja portat e mia udhëtarit);
32 në rast se i kam mbuluar mëkatet e mia si Adami, duke e fshehur fajin tim në gji,
33 sepse kisha frikë nga turma e madhe dhe përbuzja e familjeve më tmerronte, kështu që rrija i heshtur pa dalë nga shtëpia.
34 Ah, sikur të kisha një që të më dëgjonte! Ja firma ime! I Plotfuqishmi të më përgjigjet! Kundërshtari im të shkruajë një dokument,
35 dhe unë do ta mbaja me siguri mbi shpatullat e mia, dhe do ta mbaja si një diademë
36 do t’i jepja llogari për të gjitha hapat e mia, duke iu paraqitur si një princ.
37 Në qoftë se toka ime bërtet kundër meje dhe brazdat e saj qajnë bashkë me të,
38 në rast se kam ngrënë frytin e saj pa paguar, në rast se u kam nxjerrë frymën e fundit zotërve të saj,
39 në vend të grurit u rritshin ferra dhe barëra të këqija në vend të elbit".
40 Këtu mbarojnë fjalët e Jobit.
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
