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  • Job 31

    Lust

    31 I’ve made a covenant with my eyes;
        how could I look at a virgin?
    What is God’s portion for me from above,
        the Almighty’s inheritance from on high?
    Isn’t it disaster for the wicked,
        destruction for workers of iniquity?
    Doesn’t he see my ways,
        count all my steps?

    Deceit

    If I have walked with frauds
            or my feet have hurried to deceit,
        let him weigh me on accurate scales;
            let God know my integrity.
    If my step has turned from the way,
            if my heart has followed my eyes
            or a blemish has clung to my hands,
        then let me sow and another reap;
            let my offspring be uprooted.

    Adultery

    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,
            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);
    19     if I ever saw someone dying without clothes, the needy naked;
    20     if they haven’t blessed me fervently,
            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,
            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;
        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.