Job 31:24-35 - Compare All Versions

Share

“If I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security,’ if I have rejoiced over my great wealth, the fortune my hands had gained, if I have regarded the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor, so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand offered them a kiss of homage, then these also would be sins to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God on high. “If I have rejoiced at my enemy’s misfortune or gloated over the trouble that came to him— I have not allowed my mouth to sin by invoking a curse against their life— if those of my household have never said, ‘Who has not been filled with Job’s meat?’— but no stranger had to spend the night in the street, for my door was always open to the traveler— if I have concealed my sin as people do, by hiding my guilt in my heart because I so feared the crowd and so dreaded the contempt of the clans that I kept silent and would not go outside— (“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.

“If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence, if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much, if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor, and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand, this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above. “If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him (I have not let my mouth sin by asking for his life with a curse), if the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who is there that has not been filled with his meat?’ (the sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler), if I have concealed my transgressions as others do by hiding my iniquity in my heart, 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— 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!

“Have I put my trust in money or felt secure because of my gold? Have I gloated about my wealth and all that I own? “Have I looked at the sun shining in the skies, or the moon walking down its silver pathway, and been secretly enticed in my heart to throw kisses at them in worship? If so, I should be punished by the judges, for it would mean I had denied the God of heaven. “Have I ever rejoiced when disaster struck my enemies, or become excited when harm came their way? No, I have never sinned by cursing anyone or by asking for revenge. “My servants have never said, ‘He let others go hungry.’ I have never turned away a stranger but have opened my doors to everyone. “Have I tried to hide my sins like other people do, concealing my guilt in my heart? Have I feared the crowd or the contempt of the masses, so that I kept quiet and stayed indoors? “If only someone would listen to me! Look, I will sign my name to my defense. Let the Almighty answer me. Let my accuser write out the charges against me.

If I placed my confidence in gold or called fine gold my trust,  if I have rejoiced because my wealth is great or because my own hand has acquired so much, if I have gazed at the sun when it was shining or at the moon moving in splendor,  so that my heart was secretly enticed and I threw them a kiss,  this would also be an iniquity deserving punishment, for I would have denied God above. Have I rejoiced over my enemy’s distress, or become excited when trouble came his way? I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse. Haven’t the members of my household said, “Who is there who has not had enough to eat at Job’s table? ” No stranger had to spend the night on the street, for I opened my door to the traveler. Have I covered my transgressions  as others do  by hiding my iniquity in my heart  because I greatly feared the crowds and because the contempt of the clans terrified me, so I grew silent and would not go outside? If only I had someone to hear my case!  Here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me. Let my Opponent compose his indictment.

If I have made gold my hope, Or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence; If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because mine hand had gotten much; If I beheld the sun when it shined, Or the moon walking in brightness; And my heart hath been secretly enticed, Or my mouth hath kissed my hand: This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: For I should have denied the God that is above. If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, Or lifted up myself when evil found him: Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin By wishing a curse to his soul. If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied. The stranger did not lodge in the street: But I opened my doors to the traveller. If I covered my transgressions as Adam, By hiding mine iniquity in my bosom: Did I fear a great multitude, Or did the contempt of families terrify me, That I kept silence, and went not out of the door? Oh that one would hear me! Behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, And that mine adversary had written a book.

“If I have made gold my hope, Or said to fine gold, ‘You are my confidence’; If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gained much; If I have observed the sun when it shines, Or the moon moving in brightness, So that my heart has been secretly enticed, And my mouth has kissed my hand; This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment, For I would have denied God who is above. “If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, Or lifted myself up when evil found him (Indeed I have not allowed my mouth to sin By asking for a curse on his soul); If the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who is there that has not been satisfied with his meat?’ (But no sojourner had to lodge in the street, For I have opened my doors to the traveler); If I have covered my transgressions as Adam, By hiding my iniquity in my bosom, Because I feared the great multitude, And dreaded the contempt of families, So that I kept silence And did not go out of the door— Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my mark. Oh, that the Almighty would answer me, That my Prosecutor had written a book!

“Did I set my heart on making big money or worship at the bank? Did I boast about my wealth, show off because I was well-off? Was I ever so awed by the sun’s brilliance and moved by the moon’s beauty That I let myself become seduced by them and worshiped them on the sly? If so, I would deserve the worst of punishments, for I would be betraying God himself. “Did I ever gloat over my enemy’s ruin? Or get excited over my rival’s bad luck? No, I never said a word of detraction, never cursed them, even under my breath. “Didn’t those who worked for me say, ‘He fed us well. There were always second helpings’? And no stranger ever had to spend a night in the street; my doors were always open to travelers. Did I hide my sin the way Adam did, or conceal my guilt behind closed doors 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. “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. Anyone’s welcome to read my defense; I’ll write it on a poster and carry it around town. I’m prepared to account for every move I’ve ever made— to anyone and everyone, prince or pauper.

¶“If I have put my confidence in gold, And called fine gold my trust, If I have gloated because my wealth was great, And because my hand had obtained so much; If I have looked at the sun when it shone, Or the moon going in splendor, And my heart was secretly enticed, And my hand threw a kiss from my mouth, That too would have been a guilty deed calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above. ¶“Have I rejoiced at the misfortune of my enemy, Or become excited when evil found him? “No, I have not allowed my mouth to sin By asking for his life in a curse. “Have the people of my tent not said, ‘Who can find one who has not been satisfied with his meat’? “The stranger has not spent the night outside, For I have opened my doors to the traveler. “Have I covered my wrongdoings like a man, By hiding my guilt in my shirt pocket, Because I feared the great multitude And the contempt of families terrified me, And I kept silent and did not go out of doors? “Oh that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature; Let the Almighty answer me! And the indictment which my adversary has written

¶“If I have put my trust and confidence in gold, Or have declared fine gold my hope and assurance, If I gloated and rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my [powerful] hand [alone] had obtained so much, If I beheld the sun [as an object of worship] when it shone Or the moon going in its splendor, And my heart became secretly enticed [by them], And my hand threw a kiss from my mouth [in respect to them], This also would have been [a heinous] sin calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above. [Deut 4:19; 17:2-7] ¶“Have I rejoiced at the destruction of the enemy [who hated me], Or exulted [in malicious triumph] when evil overtook him? “No, I have not allowed my mouth to sin By cursing my enemy and asking for his life. “I assure you, the men of my tent have said, ‘Who can find one [in need] who has not been satisfied with his meat’? “The stranger has not lodged in the street, Because I have opened my door to the traveler. “Have I concealed my transgressions like Adam or like other men, By hiding my wickedness in my bosom, Because I feared the great multitude, And the contempt of families terrified me, So that I kept silence and did not acknowledge my sin and did not go out of the door? “Oh, that I had one to listen to me! Look, here is my signature (mark); Let the Almighty answer me! Let my adversary write out His indictment [and put His vague accusations in tangible form].

“If I have put my confidence in gold or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security!’ if I have rejoiced because of the extent of my wealth, or because of the great wealth my hand had gained, if I looked at the sun when it was shining, and the moon advancing as a precious thing, so that my heart was secretly enticed, and my hand threw them a kiss from my mouth, then this also would be iniquity to be judged, for I would have been false to God above. If I have rejoiced over the misfortune of my enemy or exulted because calamity found him – I have not even permitted my mouth to sin by asking for his life through a curse – if the members of my household have never said, ‘If only there were someone who has not been satisfied from Job’s meat!’ – But no stranger had to spend the night outside, for I opened my doors to the traveler – if I have covered my transgressions as men do, by hiding iniquity in my heart, because I was terrified of the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I remained silent and would not go outdoors – “If only I had someone to hear me! Here is my signature – let the Almighty answer me! If only I had an indictment that my accuser had written.