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Job 31 :: Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

Job 31:1

I have made a covenant with my eyes.

How then could I look at a young woman?[fn]

Job 31:2

For what portion would I have from God above,

or what inheritance from the Almighty on high?

Job 31:3

Doesn’t disaster come to the unjust

and misfortune to evildoers?

Job 31:4

Does he not see my ways

and number all my steps?

Job 31:5

If I have walked in falsehood

or my foot has rushed to deceit,

Job 31:6

let God weigh me on accurate scales,

and he will recognize my integrity.

Job 31:7

If my step has turned from the way,

my heart has followed my eyes,

or impurity has stained my hands,

Job 31:8

let someone else eat what I have sown,

and let my crops be uprooted.

Job 31:9

If my heart has gone astray over a woman

or I have lurked at my neighbor’s door,

Job 31:10

let my own wife grind grain for another man,

and let other men sleep with[fn] her.

Job 31:11

For that would be a disgrace;

it would be an iniquity deserving punishment.

Job 31:12

For it is a fire that consumes down to Abaddon;

it would destroy my entire harvest.

Job 31:13

If I have dismissed the case of my male or female servants

when they made a complaint against me,

Job 31:14

what could I do when God stands up to judge?

How should I answer him when he calls me to account?

Job 31:15

Did not the one who made me in the womb also make them?

Did not the same God form us both in the womb?

Job 31:16

If I have refused the wishes of the poor

or let the widow’s eyes go blind,

Job 31:17

if I have eaten my few crumbs alone

without letting the fatherless eat any of it —

Job 31:18

for from my youth, I raised him as his father,

and since the day I was born[fn] I guided the widow —

Job 31:19

if I have seen anyone dying for lack of clothing

or a needy person without a cloak,

Job 31:20

if he[fn] did not bless me

while warming himself with the fleece from my sheep,

Job 31:21

if I ever cast my vote[fn] against a fatherless child

when I saw that I had support in the city gate,

Job 31:22

then let my shoulder blade fall from my back,

and my arm be pulled from its socket.

Job 31:23

For disaster from God terrifies me,

and because of his majesty I could not do these things.

Job 31:24

If I placed my confidence in gold

or called fine gold my trust,

Job 31:25

if I have rejoiced because my wealth is great

or because my own hand has acquired so much,

Job 31:26

if I have gazed at the sun when it was shining

or at the moon moving in splendor,

Job 31:27

so that my heart was secretly enticed

and I threw them a kiss,[fn]

Job 31:28

this would also be an iniquity deserving punishment,

for I would have denied God above.

Job 31:29

Have I rejoiced over my enemy’s distress,

or become excited when trouble came his way?

Job 31:30

I have not allowed my mouth to sin

by asking for his life with a curse.

Job 31:31

Haven’t the members of my household said,

“Who is there who has not had enough to eat at Job’s table? ”

Job 31:32

No stranger had to spend the night on the street,

for I opened my door to the traveler.

Job 31:33

Have I covered my transgressions as others do[fn]

by hiding my iniquity in my heart

Job 31:34

because I greatly feared the crowds

and because the contempt of the clans terrified me,

so I grew silent and would not go outside?

Job 31:35

If only I had someone to hear my case!

Here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me.

Let my Opponent compose his indictment.

Job 31:36

I would surely carry it on my shoulder

and wear it like a crown.

Job 31:37

I would give him an account of all my steps;

I would approach him like a prince.

Job 31:38

If my land cries out against me

and its furrows join in weeping,

Job 31:39

if I have consumed its produce without payment

or shown contempt for its tenants,[fn]

Job 31:40

then let thorns grow instead of wheat

and stinkweed instead of barley.

The words of Job are concluded.

CSB Footnotes
Or a virgin
Lit men kneel down over
Lit and from my mother’s womb
Lit his loins
Lit I raise my hand
Lit and my hand kissed my mouth
Or as Adam
Lit or caused the breath of its tenants to breathe out
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