Job 31 | LEB | STEP | “I made a covenant with my eyes, so how could I look closely upon a virgin?

‏ Job 31

Job’s Final Defense Continued

1 “I made a covenant with my eyes,
so ^{▼▼Hebrew “and”} how could I look closely upon a virgin?
2 And what is the portion of God from above
or ^{▼▼Hebrew “and”} the heritage of Shaddai from on high?
3 Is not disaster for the evil one
and ruin for the workers of mischief?
4 Does he not see my ways
and count all my steps?
5 “If I have walked with falseness,
and my foot has hastened to deceit,
6 let him weigh me in the balance of justice,
and let God know my blamelessness.
7 If my steps have turned aside from the way,
and my heart has walked after my eyes,
and my hand has clung to a spot,
8 let me sow, and let another eat,
and let my crops be rooted out.
9 “If my heart has been enticed by a woman,
and at my neighbor’s doorway I have lain in wait,
10 let my wife grind for another,
and let other men kneel over her,
11 for that is a shameful act,
and that is ⌞a criminal offense⌟. ^{▼▼Literally “an iniquity of judges”}
12 Indeed, that is a fire that will consume up to Abaddon,
and it would uproot all my crop.
13 “If I have rejected my male or ^{▼▼Hebrew “and”} female slave’s case
when their complaint was against me,
14 then ^{▼▼Hebrew “and”} what shall I do when God rises up?
And when he enquires, how shall I answer him?
15 Did not he who made me in the womb make them?
And did not one fashion us in the womb?
16 “If I have withheld the desire of the poor from them,
or ^{▼▼Hebrew “and”} I have caused the widow’s eyes to fail,
17 or I have eaten my morsel ⌞alone⌟, ^{▼▼Literally “to alone me”}
and the orphan has not eaten from it
18 (for from my childhood he ^{▼▼Probably referring to “the orphan”} ⌞grew up with⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “reared”} me like a father,
and from my mother’s womb I guided her ^{▼▼Probably referring to “the widow”}),
19 if I have seen the one who perishes because of no clothing
or ^{▼▼Hebrew “and”} that there is no covering for the poor,
20 if his loins have not blessed me,
or ^{▼▼Hebrew “and”} by means of my sheep’s fleece he has warmed himself,
21 if I have raised my hand against an orphan
because I saw my supporters at the gate,
22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder,
and let my arm be broken from its socket.
23 Indeed, the disaster from God was a dread for me,
and ⌞I was powerless⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “I was not able”} because of his majesty.
24 “If I have made gold my trust,
or ^{▼▼Hebrew “and”} I have called fine gold my security,
25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great
or ^{▼▼Hebrew “and”} because my hand found a fortune,
26 if I looked at the sun when it shone
or ^{▼▼Hebrew “and”} at the moon moving in splendor,
27 and ⌞I was secretly enticed⌟, ^{▼▼Literally “it was gullible in the secrecy of my heart”}
and ⌞my hand threw them a kiss⌟, ^{▼▼Literally “my hand kissed for my mouth”}
28 this also is an iniquity to be judged,
for I have deceived God above.
29 “If I have rejoiced at the ruin of the one who hated me
or ^{▼▼Hebrew “and”} have exulted when evil overtook him—
30 no, ^{▼▼Hebrew “and”} I have not allowed my mouth to sin,
to ask his life with a curse.
31 ⌞Have the people of my tent not said⌟, ^{▼▼Literally “If the people of my tent have not said”}
‘⌞O that⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “who shall give”} someone ^{▼▼Or “he”} had not been satisfied with his meat’?
32 An alien has not lodged in the street;
I have opened my door to the traveler.
33 ⌞Have I concealed⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “If I have concealed”} my transgressions as other human beings
to hide my iniquity in my bosom
34 because I dreaded the great multitude,
and the contempt of clans terrified me,
so that I kept quiet, I did not go out of the doorway?
35 ⌞O that⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “Who shall give”} ⌞I had⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “for me”} someone hearing me!
Here is my signature;
let Shaddai answer me!
⌞As for⌟ ^{▼▼Hebrew “And,” or “But”} the written communication that ⌞my adversary⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “the man of my indictment”} has written,
36 I would ⌞surely⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “if not”} carry it on my shoulder;
I would bind it on me like a crown.
37 I would give him an account of my steps;
I would approach him like a noble.
38 If my land has cried out against me,
and its furrows have wept together,
39 if I have eaten its yield without payment,
or ^{▼▼Hebrew “and”} I have caused the breath of its owners to die,
40 let thorns grow in place of wheat
and noxious weeds in place of barley.”
The words of Job are ended.