Job 31 ESV | WeDevote Bible

Job’s Final Appeal

1“I have made a covenant with my 31:1 [Isa. 33:15; Matt. 5:28]eyes;

how then could I gaze at a virgin?

2What would be 31:2 See ch. 20:29my portion from God above

and 31:2 See ch. 20:29my heritage from the Almighty on high?

3Is not calamity for the unrighteous,

and disaster for the workers of iniquity?

431:4 ch. 14:16; 34:21; 2 Chr. 16:9; Prov. 5:21; 15:3; Jer. 16:17; 32:19; Zech. 4:10Does not he see my ways

and 31:4 ch. 14:16number all my steps?

5“If I have walked with falsehood

and my foot has hastened to deceit;

6(Let me be 31:6 Dan. 5:27weighed in a just balance,

and let God know my integrity!)

7if my step has turned aside from the way

and 31:7 Num. 15:39; Eccles. 11:9my heart has gone after my eyes,

and if any 31:7 [ch. 11:15]spot has stuck to my hands,

8then let me 31:8 Lev. 26:16; Deut. 28:30, 38; [John 4:37]sow, and another eat,

and let what grows for me31:8 Or let my descendants be rooted out.

9“If my heart has been enticed toward a woman,

and I have 31:9 [ch. 24:15]lain in wait at my neighbor’s door,

10then let my wife 31:10 [Ex. 11:5; Isa. 47:2] grind for another,

and let others 31:10 [2 Sam. 12:11; Jer. 8:10]bow down on her.

11For that would be a heinous crime;

that would be an iniquity 31:11 ver. 28; [Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:22]to be punished by the judges;

12for that would be a fire 31:12 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 31:14 Ps. 17:3makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?

15Did 31:15 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 31:16 [ch. 22:7] withheld anything that the poor desired,

or have 31:16 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 fatherless31:18 Hebrew he grew up with me as with a father,

and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow31:18 Hebrew her),

19if I have seen anyone 31:19 ch. 29:13perish for 31:19 ch. 24:7, 10lack of clothing,

or the needy without 31:19 ch. 24:7, 10covering,

20if his body has not 31:20 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 31:21 ch. 22:9the fatherless,

because I saw my help in 31:21 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 31:23 ch. 13:11in terror of calamity from God,

and I could not have faced his 31:23 ch. 13:11majesty.

2431:24 Mark 10:24, 25“If I have made gold my 31:24 ch. 4:6trust

or called 31:24 ch. 28:16fine gold my confidence,

25if I have 31:25 Ps. 62:10rejoiced because my wealth was abundant

or because 31:25 Deut. 8:17my hand had found much,

2631:26 Deut. 4:19; [Deut. 17:3; 2 Kgs. 23:5, 11; Ezek. 8:16] if I have looked at the sun31:26 Hebrew the light when it shone,

or 31:26 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 31:28 ver. 11an iniquity to be punished by the judges,

for I would have been false to God above.

29“If I have 31:29 Prov. 17:5rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me,

or exulted when evil overtook him

30(31:30 [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 31:31 Ex. 16:12; 1 Sam. 25:11meat?’

32(31:32 [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 31:33 Prov. 28:13have concealed my transgressions 31:33 Gen. 3:8, 12as others do31:33 Or as Adam did

by hiding my iniquity in my heart,

34because I stood in great fear of 31:34 [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 31:35 ch. 13:22answer me!)

Oh, that I had 31:35 [ch. 19:23]the indictment written by my adversary!

36Surely I would carry it on my 31:36 Isa. 9:6; 22:22shoulder;

I would 31:36 Prov. 6:21bind it on me as 31:36 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,

3931:39 [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 31:39 [1 Kgs. 21:16, 19]breathe their last,

40let 31:40 Gen. 3:18thorns grow instead of wheat,

and foul weeds instead of barley.”

The words of Job are ended.

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