USB ~ Job 31

1 I made a covenant with my eyes not to gaze upon a virgin.

2 What portion comes from God above, what heritage from the Almighty on high?

3 Is it not calamity for the unrighteous, and woe for evildoers?

4 Does he not see my ways, and number all my steps? a

5 If I have walked in falsehood† and my foot has hastened to deceit,

6 Let God weigh me in the scales of justice; thus will he know my innocence! b

7 If my steps have turned out of the way, and my heart has followed my eyes, or any stain clings to my hands,

8 Then may I sow, but another eat, and may my produce be rooted up!

9 If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor’s door;

10 Then may my wife grind for another, and may others kneel over her!

11 For that would be heinous, a crime to be condemned, c

12 A fire that would consume down to Abaddon† till it uprooted all my crops. d

13 Had I refused justice to my manservant or to my maidservant, when they had a complaint against me,

14 What then should I do when God rises up? What could I answer when he demands an account?

15 Did not he who made me in the belly make him? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?

16 If I have denied anything that the poor desired, e or allowed the eyes of the widow to languish

17 While I ate my portion alone, with no share in it for the fatherless,

18 Though like a father he† has reared me from my youth, guiding me even from my mother’s womb—

19 If I have seen a wanderer without clothing, or a poor man without covering,

20 Whose limbs have not blessed me when warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

21 If I have raised my hand against the innocent because I saw that I had supporters at the gate—†

22 Then may my arm fall from the shoulder, my forearm be broken at the elbow!

23 For I dread calamity from God, and his majesty will overpower me.

24 Had I put my trust in gold or called fine gold my security;

25 Or had I rejoiced that my wealth was great, or that my hand had acquired abundance—

26 Had I looked upon the light† as it shone, f or the moon in the splendor of its progress,

27 And had my heart been secretly enticed to blow them a kiss with my hand,

28 This too would be a crime for condemnation, for I should have denied God above. g

29 Had I rejoiced at the destruction of my enemy or exulted when evil came upon him, h

30 Even though I had not allowed my mouth to sin by invoking a curse against his life—

31 Had not the men of my tent exclaimed, “Who has not been filled with his meat!”†

32 No stranger lodged in the street, for I opened my door to wayfarers—

33 † Had I, all too human, hidden my sins and buried my guilt in my bosom

34 Because I feared the great multitude and the scorn of the clans terrified me— then I should have remained silent, and not come out of doors!

35 † Oh, that I had one to hear my case: here is my signature:† let the Almighty answer me! Let my accuser write out his indictment! i

36 Surely, I should wear it on my shoulder† or put it on me like a diadem;

37 Of all my steps I should give him an account; like a prince† I should present myself before him.

38 If my land has cried out against me till its furrows wept together;

39 If I have eaten its strength without payment and grieved the hearts of its tenants;

40 Then let the thorns grow instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley! The words of Job are ended.

Footnotes

†. 31:5-34 In a series of purificatory oaths, Job protests his innocence.

†. 31:12 Abaddon: see note on 26:6.

†. 31:18 He: presumably God.

†. 31:21 Gate: cf. notes on 5:4; Ru 4:1.

†. 31:26-28 Light: of the sun. Job never sinned by worshiping the sun or the moon. Blow them a kiss: an act of idolatrous worship.

†. 31:31 The members of his extended family will testify to his hospitality.

†. 31:33-34 Job’s present protest is made, not in spite of hidden sins which he had been unwilling to disclose, but out of genuine innocence. All too human: can also be translated “like Adam.”

†. 31:35-37 This concluding bravado fits better after v. 40a.

†. 31:35 My signature: lit., “tau,” the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, shaped like a cross. Job issues a subpoena to God, and challenges him to follow proper legal procedure as well.

†. 31:36 On my shoulder: i.e., boldly, proudly.

†. 31:37 Like a prince: not as a frightened criminal.

31:4 Jb 14:16; 34:21; Ps 139:3; Prv 5:21.
31:6 Jb 23:10.
31:11 Ex 20:14; Lv 20:10; Dt 22:22.
31:12 Sir 9:8-9.
31:16-23 Jb 29:12-16.
31:26-27 Dt 4:19.
31:28 Dt 17:2-7.
31:29 Prv 24:17.
31:35 Jb 19:23; 23:3-7.

Footnotes

VI. ELIHU’S SPEECHES