Parallel Bible results for "job 31"

Job 31

English Standard Version ESV

1 "I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?

2 What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high?

3 Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity?

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

5 "If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit;

6 (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!)

7 if my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has stuck to my hands,

8 then let me sow, and another eat, and let what grows for me be rooted out.

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

10 then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down on her.

11 For that would be a heinous crime; that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges;

12 for that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase.

13 "If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me,

14 what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?

15 Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?

16 "If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

17 or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it

18 (for from my youth the fatherless grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother's womb I guided the widow),

19 if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering,

20 if his body has not blessed me, and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,

21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate,

22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket.

23 For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty.

24 "If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence,

25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much,

26 if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor,

27 and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand,

28 this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above.

29 "If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him

30 (I have not let my mouth sin by asking for his life with a curse),

31 if the men of my tent have not said, 'Who is there that has not been filled with his meat?'

32 (the sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler),

33 if I have concealed my transgressions as others do by hiding my iniquity in my bosom,

34 because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors--

35 Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!

36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown;

37 I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him.

38 "If my land has cried out against me and its furrows have wept together,

39 if I have eaten its yield without payment and made its owners breathe their last,

40 let thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley."The words of Job are ended.

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