YouVersion Logo
Search Icon

Job 31

31
Job’s Final Appeal
1“I have made a covenant with my #[Isa. 33:15; Matt. 5:28]eyes;
how then could I gaze at a virgin?
2What would be #See ch. 20:29my portion from God above
and #See ch. 20:29my heritage from the Almighty on high?
3Is not calamity for the unrighteous,
and disaster for the workers of iniquity?
4 # ch. 14:16; 34:21; 2 Chr. 16:9; Prov. 5:21; 15:3; Jer. 16:17; 32:19; Zech. 4:10 Does not he see my ways
and #ch. 14:16number all my steps?
5“If I have walked with falsehood
and my foot has hastened to deceit;
6(Let me be #Dan. 5:27weighed in a just balance,
and let God know my integrity!)
7if my step has turned aside from the way
and #Num. 15:39; Eccles. 11:9 my heart has gone after my eyes,
and if any #[ch. 11:15]spot has stuck to my hands,
8then let me #Lev. 26:16; Deut. 28:30, 38; [John 4:37]sow, and another eat,
and let what grows for me#31:8 Or let my descendants be rooted out.
9“If my heart has been enticed toward a woman,
and I have #[ch. 24:15]lain in wait at my neighbor’s door,
10then let my wife #[Ex. 11:5; Isa. 47:2] grind for another,
and let others #[2 Sam. 12:11; Jer. 8:10]bow down on her.
11For that would be a heinous crime;
that would be an iniquity #ver. 28; [Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:22]to be punished by the judges;
12for that would be a fire #See Prov. 6:27-29that 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 #Ps. 17:3makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?
15Did #ch. 34:19; Prov. 14:31; 22:2; [Eph. 6:9]not he who made me in the womb make him?
And did not one fashion us in the womb?
16“If I have #[ch. 22:7] withheld anything that the poor desired,
or have #ch. 11:20; 17:5caused 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#31:18 Hebrew he grew up with me as with a father,
and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow#31:18 Hebrew her),
19if I have seen anyone #ch. 29:13 perish for #ch. 24:7, 10lack of clothing,
or the needy without #ch. 24:7, 10covering,
20if his body has not #ch. 29:13; Deut. 24:13blessed me,#31:20 Hebrew if his loins have not blessed me
and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,
21if I have raised my hand against #ch. 22:9 the fatherless,
because I saw my help in #See ch. 5:4the gate,
22then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder,
and let my arm be broken from its socket.
23For I was #ch. 13:11in terror of calamity from God,
and I could not have faced his #ch. 13:11majesty.
24 # Mark 10:24, 25 “If I have made gold my #ch. 4:6 trust
or called #ch. 28:16fine gold my confidence,
25if I have #Ps. 62:10 rejoiced because my wealth was abundant
or because #Deut. 8:17my hand had found much,
26 # Deut. 4:19; [Deut. 17:3; 2 Kgs. 23:5, 11; Ezek. 8:16] if I have looked at the sun#31:26 Hebrew the light when it shone,
or #See Jer. 44:17-19the moon moving in splendor,
27and my heart has been secretly enticed,
and my mouth has kissed my hand,
28this also would be #ver. 11an iniquity to be punished by the judges,
for I would have been false to God above.
29“If I have #Prov. 17:5rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me,
or exulted when evil overtook him
30(#[Matt. 5:44; Rom. 12:14]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 #Ex. 16:12; 1 Sam. 25:11meat?’
32(#[Gen. 19:2, 3; Judg. 19:20, 21; Matt. 25:35; Heb. 13:2]the sojourner has not lodged in the street;
I have opened my doors to the traveler),
33if I #Prov. 28:13 have concealed my transgressions #Gen. 3:8, 12as others do#31:33 Or as Adam did
by hiding my iniquity in my heart,
34because I stood in great fear of #[Ex. 23:2]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 #ch. 13:22 answer me!)
Oh, that I had #[ch. 19:23]the indictment written by my adversary!
36Surely I would carry it on my #Isa. 9:6; 22:22 shoulder;
I would #Prov. 6:21 bind it on me as #Zech. 6:11a 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 # [ch. 22:6-9; Luke 10:7; 2 Tim. 2:6; James 5:4] if I have eaten its yield without payment
and made its owners #[1 Kgs. 21:16, 19]breathe their last,
40let #Gen. 3:18thorns grow instead of wheat,
and foul weeds instead of barley.”
The words of Job are ended.

Currently Selected:

Job 31: ESV

Highlight

Share

Copy

None

Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in

YouVersion uses cookies to personalize your experience. By using our website, you accept our use of cookies as described in our Privacy Policy