Parallel Bible results for "job 31"

Job 31

New International Version NIV

1 “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.

2 For what is our lot from God above, our heritage from the Almighty on high?

3 Is it not ruin for the wicked, disaster for those who do wrong?

4 Does he not see my ways and count my every step?

5 “If I have walked with falsehood or my foot has hurried after deceit—

6 let God weigh me in honest scales and he will know that I am blameless—

7 if my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has been led by my eyes, or if my hands have been defiled,

8 then may others eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted.

9 “If my heart has been enticed by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door,

10 then may my wife grind another man’s grain, and may other men sleep with her.

11 For that would have been wicked, a sin to be judged.

12 It is a fire that burns to Destruction ; it would have uprooted my harvest.

13 “If I have denied justice to any of my servants, whether male or female, when they had a grievance against me,

14 what will I do when God confronts me? What will I answer when called to account?

15 Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?

16 “If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary,

17 if I have kept my bread to myself, not sharing it with the fatherless—

18 but from my youth I reared them as a father would, and from my birth I guided the widow—

19 if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing, or the needy without garments,

20 and their hearts did not bless me for warming them with the fleece from my sheep,

21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, knowing that I had influence in court,

22 then let my arm fall from the shoulder, let it be broken off at the joint.

23 For I dreaded destruction from God, and for fear of his splendor I could not do such things.

24 “If I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security,’

25 if I have rejoiced over my great wealth, the fortune my hands had gained,

26 if I have regarded the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor,

27 so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand offered them a kiss of homage,

28 then these also would be sins to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.

29 “If I have rejoiced at my enemy’s misfortune or gloated over the trouble that came to him—

30 I have not allowed my mouth to sin by invoking a curse against their life—

31 if those of my household have never said, ‘Who has not been filled with Job’s meat?’—

32 but no stranger had to spend the night in the street, for my door was always open to the traveler—

33 if I have concealed my sin as people do,by hiding my guilt in my heart

34 because I so feared the crowd and so dreaded the contempt of the clans that I kept silent and would not go outside—

35 (“Oh, that I had someone to hear me! I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser put his indictment in writing.

36 Surely I would wear it on my shoulder, I would put it on like a crown.

37 I would give him an account of my every step; I would present it to him as to a ruler.)—

38 “if my land cries out against me and all its furrows are wet with tears,

39 if I have devoured its yield without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants,

40 then let briers come up instead of wheat and stinkweed 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