Parallel Bible results for "job 31"

Job 31

Common English Bible CEB

1 I've made a covenant with my eyes; how could I look at a virgin?

2 What is God's portion for me from above, the Almighty's inheritance from on high?

3 Isn't it disaster for the wicked, destruction for workers of iniquity?

4 Doesn't he see my ways, count all my steps?

5 If I have walked with frauds or my feet have hurried to deceit,

6 let him weigh me on accurate scales; let God know my integrity.

7 If my step has turned from the way, if my heart has followed my eyes or a blemish has clung to my hands,

8 then let me sow and another reap; let my offspring be uprooted.

9 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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Message Bible MSG

1 "I made a solemn pact with myself never to undress a girl with my eyes.

2 So what can I expect from God? What do I deserve from God Almighty above?

3 Isn't calamity reserved for the wicked? Isn't disaster supposed to strike those who do wrong?

4 Isn't God looking, observing how I live? Doesn't he mark every step I take?

5 "Have I walked hand in hand with falsehood, or hung out in the company of deceit?

6 Weigh me on a set of honest scales so God has proof of my integrity.

7 If I've strayed off the straight and narrow, wanted things I had no right to, messed around with sin,

8 Go ahead, then - give my portion to someone who deserves it.

9 "If I've let myself be seduced by a woman and conspired to go to bed with her,

10 Fine, my wife has every right to go ahead and sleep with anyone she wants to.

11 For disgusting behavior like that, I'd deserve the worst punishment you could hand out.

12 Adultery is a fire that burns the house down; I wouldn't expect anything I count dear to survive it.

13 "Have I ever been unfair to my employees when they brought a complaint to me?

14 What, then, will I do when God confronts me? When God examines my books, what can I say?

15 Didn't the same God who made me, make them? Aren't we all made of the same stuff, equals before God?

16 "Have I ignored the needs of the poor, turned my back on the indigent,

17 Taken care of my own needs and fed my own face while they languished?

18 Wasn't my home always open to them? Weren't they always welcome at my table?

19 "Have I ever left a poor family shivering in the cold when they had no warm clothes?

20 Didn't the poor bless me when they saw me coming, knowing I'd brought coats from my closet?

21 "If I've ever used my strength and influence to take advantage of the unfortunate,

22 Go ahead, break both my arms, cut off all my fingers!

23 The fear of God has kept me from these things - how else could I ever face him? If Only Someone Would Give Me a Hearing!

24 "Did I set my heart on making big money or worship at the bank?

25 Did I boast about my wealth, show off because I was well-off?

26 Was I ever so awed by the sun's brilliance and moved by the moon's beauty

27 That I let myself become seduced by them and worshiped them on the sly?

28 If so, I would deserve the worst of punishments, for I would be betraying God himself.

29 "Did I ever crow over my enemy's ruin? Or gloat over my rival's bad luck?

30 No, I never said a word of detraction, never cursed them, even under my breath.

31 "Didn't those who worked for me say, 'He fed us well. There were always second helpings'?

32 And no stranger ever had to spend a night in the street; my doors were always open to travelers.

33 Did I hide my sin the way Adam did, or conceal my guilt behind closed doors

34 Because I was afraid what people would say, fearing the gossip of the neighbors so much That I turned myself into a recluse? You know good and well that I didn't.

35 "Oh, if only someone would give me a hearing! I've signed my name to my defense - let the Almighty One answer! I want to see my indictment in writing.

36 Anyone's welcome to read my defense; I'll write it on a poster and carry it around town.

37 I'm prepared to account for every move I've ever made - to anyone and everyone, prince or pauper.

38 "If the very ground that I farm accuses me, if even the furrows fill with tears from my abuse,

39 If I've ever raped the earth for my own profit or dispossessed its rightful owners,

40 Then curse it with thistles instead of wheat, curse it with weeds instead of barley." The words of Job to his three friends were finished. Elihu Speaks