Job 31
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
31 “I have made a covenant with my eyes;
how, then, could I look upon a virgin?(A)
2 What would be my portion from God above
and my heritage from the Almighty[a] on high?
3 Does not calamity befall the unrighteous
and disaster the workers of iniquity?
4 Does he not see my ways
and number all my steps?(B)
5 “If I have walked with falsehood,
and my foot has hurried to deceit—(C)
6 let me be weighed in a just balance,
and let God know my integrity!—(D)
7 if my step has turned aside from the way,
and my heart has followed my eyes,
and if any spot has clung to my hands,(E)
8 then let me sow and another eat,
and let what grows for me be rooted out.(F)
9 “If my heart has been enticed by a woman
and I have lain in wait at my neighbor’s door,(G)
10 then let my wife grind for another,
and let other men kneel over her.(H)
11 For that would be a heinous crime;
that would be a criminal offense;(I)
12 for that would be a fire consuming down to Abaddon,
and it would burn to the root all my harvest.(J)
13 “If I have rejected the cause of my male or female slaves,
when they brought a complaint against me,(K)
14 what then shall I do when God rises up?
When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?
15 Did not he who made me in the womb make them?
And did not one fashion us in the womb?(L)
16 “If I have withheld anything that the poor desired
or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail(M)
17 or have eaten my morsel alone
and the orphan has not eaten from it—(N)
18 for from my youth I reared the orphan[b] like a father,
and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow[c]—
19 if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing
or a poor person without covering,
20 whose loins have not blessed me,
and who was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;(O)
21 if I have raised my hand against the orphan
because I saw I had supporters at the gate;(P)
22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder,
and let my arm be broken from its socket.(Q)
23 For I was in terror of calamity from God,
and I could not have faced his majesty.(R)
24 “If I have made gold my trust
or called fine gold my confidence,(S)
25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great
or because my hand had gotten much,(T)
26 if I have looked at the sun[d] when it shone
or the moon moving in splendor,(U)
27 and my heart has been secretly enticed,
and my mouth has kissed my hand,
28 this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges,
for I should have been false to God above.(V)
29 “If I have rejoiced at the ruin of those who hated me
or exulted when evil overtook them—(W)
30 I have not let my mouth sin
by asking for their lives with a curse—(X)
31 if those of my tent ever said,
‘O that we might be sated with his flesh!’[e]—(Y)
32 the stranger has not lodged in the street;
I have opened my doors to the traveler—(Z)
33 if I have concealed my transgressions as others do,[f]
by hiding my iniquity in my bosom,(AA)
34 because 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—(AB)
35 O that I had one to hear me!
(Here is my signature! Let the Almighty[g] answer me!)
O that I had the indictment written by my adversary!(AC)
36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder;
I would bind it on me like a crown;
37 I would give him an account of all my steps;
like a prince I would approach him.(AD)
38 “If my land has cried out against me
and its furrows have wept together,(AE)
39 if I have eaten its yield without payment
and caused the death of its owners,(AF)
40 let thorns grow instead of wheat
and foul weeds instead of barley.”
The words of Job are ended.(AG)
Job 31
Common English Bible
Lust
31 I’ve made a covenant with my eyes;
how could I look at a virgin?
2 What is God’s portion for me[a] from above,
the Almighty’s inheritance from on high?
3 Isn’t it disaster for the wicked,
destruction for workers of iniquity?
4 Doesn’t he see my ways,
count all my steps?
Deceit
5 If I have walked with frauds
or my feet have hurried to deceit,
6 let him weigh me on accurate scales;
let God know my integrity.
7 If my step has turned from the way,
if my heart has followed my eyes
or a blemish has clung to my hands,
8 then let me sow and another reap;
let my offspring be uprooted.
Adultery
9 If my heart has been drawn to a woman
and I have lurked at my neighbor’s door,
10 then may my wife grind for another
and others kneel over her;
11 for that’s a crime;
it’s a punishable offense;
12 indeed, it’s a fire that consumes to the underworld,[b]
uprooting all my harvest.
Slaves
13 If I’ve rejected the just cause of my male or female servant
when they contended with me,
14 what could I do when God rises;
when he requires an account, what could I answer?
15 Didn’t the one who made me in the belly make them;
didn’t the same one fashion us in the womb?
The defenseless
16 If I have denied what the poor wanted,
made a widow’s eyes tired,
17 eaten my morsel alone,
and not shared any with an orphan
(18 for from my youth I raised the orphan as a father,
and from my mother’s womb I led the widow);[c]
19 if I ever saw someone dying without clothes, the needy naked;
20 if they haven’t blessed me fervently,[d]
or if they weren’t warmed by the wool from my sheep;
21 if I have lifted my hand against the orphans,
when I saw that I had help in the city gate—
22 may my arm fall from my shoulder,
my forearm be broken at the elbow—
23 for God’s calamity is terror to me;
I couldn’t endure his splendor.
False worship
24 If I’ve made gold my trust,
said to fine gold: “My security!”
25 if I’ve rejoiced because my wealth was great,
when my hand found plenty;
26 if I’ve looked at the sun when it shone,
the moon, splendid as it moved;
27 and my mind has been secretly enticed,
and threw a kiss with my hand,
28 that also is a punishable offense,
because I would then be disloyal to God above.
Others' misfortune
29 If I have rejoiced over my foes’ ruin
or was excited when evil found them,
30 I didn’t let my mouth sin
by asking for their life with a curse.
31 Surely those in my tent never said:
“Who has been filled by Job’s food?”
32 A stranger didn’t spend the night in the street;
I opened my doors to the road.
Concealing sin
33 If I have hidden my transgressions like Adam,[e]
concealing my offenses inside me
34 because I feared the large crowd;
the clan’s contempt frightened me;
I was quiet and didn’t venture outside.
Sealing the solemn pledge
35 Oh, that I had someone to hear me!
Here’s my signature;[f]
let the Almighty respond,
and let my accuser write an indictment.
36 Surely I would bear it on my shoulder,
tie it around me like a wreath.
37 I would give him an account of my steps,
approach him like a prince.
Abuse of the land
38 If my land has cried out against me,
its rows wept together;
39 if I have eaten its yield without payment
and caused its owners grief,
40 may briars grow instead of wheat,
poisonous weeds instead of barley.
Job’s words are complete.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible