31
Job Asserts His Integrity
1 “I have made a covenant with my AMatt 5:28eyes;
How then could I gaze at a virgin?
2 “And what is AJob 20:29the portion of God from above
Or the heritage of the Almighty from on high?
3 “Is it not AJob 18:12; 21:30calamity to the unjust
And disaster to BJob 34:22those who work iniquity?
4 “Does He not A2 Chr 16:9; Job 24:23; 28:24; 34:21; 36:7; Prov 5:21; 15:3see my ways
And BJob 14:16; 31:37number all my steps?
5 “If I have AJob 15:31; Mic 2:11walked with falsehood,
And my foot has hastened after deceit,
And let God know BJob 23:10; 27:5, 6my integrity.
7 “If my step has AJob 23:11turned from the way,
Or my heart 1Lit walked afterfollowed my eyes,
Or if any BJob 9:30spot has stuck to my hands,
8 Let me ALev 26:16; Job 20:18; Mic 6:15sow and another eat,
And let my 1Or offspringBJob 31:12crops be uprooted.
9 “If my heart has been AJob 24:15; 31:1enticed by a woman,
Or I have lurked at my neighbor’s doorway,
10 May my wife AIs 47:2grind for another,
And let BDeut 28:30; Jer 8:10others 1I.e. sexual relationskneel down over her.
11 “For that would be a ALev 20:10; Deut 22:24lustful crime;
Moreover, it would be BJob 31:28an iniquity punishable by judges.
And would CJob 20:28; 31:8uproot all my 2Or yieldincrease.
13 “If I have ADeut 24:14, 15despised the claim of my male or female slaves
When they filed a complaint against me,
14 What then could I do when God arises?
And when He calls me to account, what will I answer Him?
15 “Did not AJob 10:3He who made me in the womb make him,
And the same one fashion us in the womb?
Or have caused the eyes of BEx 22:22-24; Job 22:9the widow to fail,
17 Or have AJob 22:7eaten my morsel alone,
And BJob 29:12the orphan has not 1Lit eaten from itshared it
18 (But from my youth he grew up with me as with a father,
And from 1Lit my mother’s wombinfancy I guided her),
19 If I have seen anyone perish AJob 22:6; 29:13for lack of clothing,
Or that BJob 24:4the needy had no covering,
20 If his loins have not 1Lit blessedthanked me,
And if he has not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep,
21 If I have lifted up my hand against AJob 29:12; 31:17the orphan,
Because I saw 1Lit my helpI had support BJob 29:7in the gate,
22 Let my shoulder fall from the 1Lit shoulder; or backsocket,
And my AJob 38:15arm be broken off 2Lit from the bone of the upper armat the elbow.
23 “For AJob 31:3calamity from God is a terror to me,
And because of BJob 13:11His 1Lit exaltationmajesty I can do nothing.
And called fine gold my trust,
25 If I have AJob 1:3, 10; Ps 62:10gloated because my wealth was great,
And because my hand had secured so much;
Or the moon going in splendor,
27 And my heart became secretly enticed,
And my hand 1Lit kissed my mouththrew a kiss from my mouth,
For I would have BJosh 24:27; Is 59:13denied God above.
29 “Have I AProv 17:5; 24:17; Obad 12rejoiced at the extinction of my enemy,
Or 1Lit lifted myself upexulted when evil befell him?
By asking for his life in BJob 5:3a curse.
31 “Have the men of my tent not said,
32 “The alien has not lodged outside,
For I have opened my doors to the 1M.T. waytraveler.
By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,
34 Because I AEx 23:2feared the great multitude,
And the contempt of families terrified me,
And kept silent and did not go out of doors?
35 “Oh that I had one to hear me!
Behold, here is my 1Lit marksignature;
AJob 19:7; 30:20, 24, 28; 35:14Let the Almighty answer me!
And the indictment which my BJob 27:7adversary has written,
36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder,
I would bind it to myself like a crown.
37 “I would declare to Him AJob 31:4the number of my steps;
Like BJob 1:3; 29:25a prince I would approach Him.
38 “If my AJob 24:2land cries out against me,
And its furrows weep together;
Or have B1 Kin 21:19caused 2Lit the soul of its owners to expireits owners to lose their lives,
And stinkweed instead of barley.”
The words of Job are ended.
A31:4 2 Chr 16:9; Job 24:23; 28:24; 34:21; 36:7; Prov 5:21; 15:3
131:6 Lit just
131:7 Lit walked after
A31:8 Lev 26:16; Job 20:18; Mic 6:15
131:8 Or offspring
131:10 I.e. sexual relations
131:12 I.e. place of destruction
231:12 Or yield
A31:13 Deut 24:14, 15
131:17 Lit eaten from it
131:18 Lit my mother’s womb
131:20 Lit blessed
131:21 Lit my help
131:22 Lit shoulder; or back
231:22 Lit from the bone of the upper arm
131:23 Lit exaltation
A31:24 Job 22:24; Mark 10:23-25
A31:26 Deut 4:19; 17:3; Ezek 8:16
131:26 Lit light
131:27 Lit kissed my mouth
131:28 Lit judges
A31:29 Prov 17:5; 24:17; Obad 12
131:29 Lit lifted myself up
131:30 Lit And
231:30 Lit given my palate
131:31 Lit give
131:32 M.T. way
131:33 Or mankind
131:35 Lit mark
A31:35 Job 19:7; 30:20, 24, 28; 35:14
A31:39 Job 24:6, 10-12; James 5:4
131:39 Lit strength
231:39 Lit the soul of its owners to expire
131:40 Lit come forth