Job 31

Chapter 31

Job’s Final Protest of Innocence

1 “I made a covenant with my eyes
not to look with lust at a young woman.2 For what has God above chosen for us?
What is our inheritance from the Almighty on high?3 Isn’t it calamity for the wicked
and misfortune for those who do evil?4 Doesn’t he see everything I do
and every step I take?5 “Have I lied to anyone
or deceived anyone?6 Let God weigh me on the scales of justice,
for he knows my integrity.7 If I have strayed from his pathway,
or if my heart has lusted for what my eyes have seen,
or if I am guilty of any other sin,8 then let someone else eat the crops I have planted.
Let all that I have planted be uprooted.9 “If my heart has been seduced by a woman,
or if I have lusted for my neighbor’s wife,10 then let my wife belong tot another man;
let other men sleep with her.11 For lust is a shameful sin,
a crime that should be punished.12 It is a fire that burns all the way to hell.t
It would wipe out everything I own.13 “If I have been unfair to my male or female servants
when they brought their complaints to me,14 how could I face God?
What could I say when he questioned me?15 For God created both me and my servants.
He created us both in the womb.16 “Have I refused to help the poor,
or crushed the hopes of widows?17 Have I been stingy with my food
and refused to share it with orphans?18 No, from childhood I have cared for orphans like a father,
and all my life I have cared for widows.19 Whenever I saw the homeless without clothes
and the needy with nothing to wear,20 did they not praise me
for providing wool clothing to keep them warm?21 “If I raised my hand against an orphan,
knowing the judges would take my side,22 then let my shoulder be wrenched out of place!
Let my arm be torn from its socket!23 That would be better than facing God’s judgment.
For if the majesty of God opposes me, what hope is there?24 “Have I put my trust in money
or felt secure because of my gold?25 Have I gloated about my wealth
and all that I own?26 “Have I looked at the sun shining in the skies,
or the moon walking down its silver pathway,27 and been secretly enticed in my heart
to throw kisses at them in worship?28 If so, I should be punished by the judges,
for it would mean I had denied the God of heaven.29 “Have I ever rejoiced when disaster struck my enemies,
or become excited when harm came their way?30 No, I have never sinned by cursing anyone
or by asking for revenge.31 “My servants have never said,
‘He let others go hungry.’32 I have never turned away a stranger
but have opened my doors to everyone.33 “Have I tried to hide my sins like other people do,
concealing my guilt in my heart?34 Have I feared the crowd
or the contempt of the masses,
so that I kept quiet and stayed indoors?35 “If only someone would listen to me!
Look, I will sign my name to my defense.
Let the Almighty answer me.
Let my accuser write out the charges against me.36 I would face the accusation proudly.
I would wear it like a crown.37 For I would tell him exactly what I have done.
I would come before him like a prince.38 “If my land accuses me
and all its furrows cry out together,39 or if I have stolen its crops
or murdered its owners,

40 then let thistles grow on that land instead of wheat,
and weeds instead of barley.”
Job’s words are ended.

JOB 31

Job Continues

I Promised Myself

1 I promised myself
never to stare with desire
at a young woman.

2 God All-Powerful punishes
men who do that.

3 In fact, God sends disaster
on all who sin,

4 and he keeps a close watch
on everything I do.

5 I am not dishonest or deceitful,

6 and I beg God to prove
my innocence.

7 If I have disobeyed him
or even wanted to,

8 then others can eat my harvest
and uproot my crops.

9 If I have desired someone's wife
and chased after her,

10 then let some stranger
steal my wife from me.

11 If I took someone's wife,
it would be a horrible crime,

12 sending me to destruction
and my crops to the flames.t

13 When my servants
complained against me,
I was fair to them.

14 Otherwise, what answer
would I give to God
when he judges me?

15 After all, God is the one
who gave life to each of us
before we were born.

I Have Never Cheated Anyone

16  t I have never cheated widows
or others in need,

17 and I have always shared
my food with orphans.

18 Since the time I was young,
I have cared for orphans
and helped widows.t

19 I provided clothes for the poor,

20 and I was praised
for supplying woolen garments
to keep them warm.

21 If I have ever raised my arm
to threaten an orphan
when the power was mine,

22 I hope that arm will fall
from its socket.

23 I could not have been abusive;
I was terrified at the thought
that God might punish me.

24  t I have never trusted
the power of wealth,

25 or taken pride in owning
many possessions.
*

26 I have never openly or secretly

27 worshiped the sun or moon.

28 Such horrible sins
would have deserved
punishment from God.

29 I have never laughed
when my enemies
were struck by disaster.

30 Neither have I sinned
by asking God
to send down on them
the curse of death.

31 No one ever went hungryt
at my house,

32 and travelers
were always welcome.

33 Many have attempted to hide
their sins from others—
but I refused.

34 And the fear of public disgrace
never forced me to keep silent
about what I had done.

Why Doesn't God Listen?

35 Why doesn't God All-Powerful
listen and answer?
If God has something against me,
let him speak up
or put it in writing!

36 Then I would wear his charges
on my clothes and forehead.

37 And with my head held high,
I would tell him everything
I have ever done.

38 I have never mistreated
the land I farmed
and made it mourn.t

39 Nor have I cheated
my workers
and caused them pain.t

40 If I had, I would pray
for weeds instead of wheat
to grow in my fields.
After saying these things,
Job was silent.