King James Bible

New King James Version

Job's Final Appeal

I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

1

Job Defends His Righteousness

“I have made a covenant with my eyes;
Why then should I [a]look upon a young woman?

2

For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

2

For what is the allotment of God from above,
And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

3

Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?

3

Is it not destruction for the wicked,
And disaster for the workers of iniquity?

4

Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?

4

Does He not see my ways,
And count all my steps?

5

If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;

5

“If I have walked with falsehood,
Or if my foot has hastened to deceit,

6

Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.

6

[b]Let me be weighed on honest scales,
That God may know my integrity.

7

If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;

7

If my step has turned from the way,
Or my heart walked after my eyes,
Or if any spot adheres to my hands,

8

Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.

8

Then let me sow, and another eat;
Yes, let my harvest be [c]rooted out.

9

If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;

9

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

10

Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.

10

Then let my wife grind for another,
And let others bow down over her.

11

For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.

11

For that would be wickedness;
Yes, it would be iniquity deserving of judgment.

12

For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

12

For that would be a fire that consumes to destruction,
And would root out all my increase.

13

If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;

13

“If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant
When they complained against me,

14

What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?

14

What then shall I do when God rises up?
When He punishes, how shall I answer Him?

15

Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?

15

Did not He who made me in the womb make them?
Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?

16

If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

16

“If I have kept the poor from their desire,
Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

17

Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;

17

Or eaten my morsel by myself,
So that the fatherless could not eat of it

18

(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;)

18

(But from my youth I reared him as a father,
And from my mother’s womb I guided [d]the widow);

19

If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;

19

If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,
Or any poor man without covering;

20

If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

20

If his [e]heart has not blessed me,
And if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

21

If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:

21

If I have raised my hand against the fatherless,
When I saw I had help in the gate;

22

Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.

22

Then let my arm fall from my shoulder,
Let my arm be torn from the socket.

23

For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.

23

For destruction from God is a terror to me,
And because of His magnificence I cannot endure.

24

If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;

24

“If I have made gold my hope,
Or said to fine gold, ‘You are my confidence’;

25

If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;

25

If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great,
And because my hand had gained much;

26

If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;

26

If I have observed the [f]sun when it shines,
Or the moon moving in brightness,

27

And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:

27

So that my heart has been secretly enticed,
And my mouth has kissed my hand;

28

This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.

28

This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment,
For I would have denied God who is above.

29

If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:

29

“If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me,
Or lifted myself up when evil found him

30

Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.

30

(Indeed I have not allowed my mouth to sin
By asking for a curse on his [g]soul);

31

If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.

31

If the men of my tent have not said,
‘Who is there that has not been satisfied with his meat?’

32

The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.

32

(But no sojourner had to lodge in the street,
For I have opened my doors to the [h]traveler);

33

If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:

33

If I have covered my transgressions as[i] Adam,
By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,

34

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?

34

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 —

35

Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.

35

Oh, that I had one to hear me!
Here is my mark.
Oh, that the Almighty would answer me,
That my [j]Prosecutor had written a book!

36

Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.

36

Surely I would carry it on my shoulder,
And bind it on me like a crown;

37

I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.

37

I would declare to Him the number of my steps;
Like a prince I would approach Him.

38

If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;

38

“If my land cries out against me,
And its furrows weep together;

39

If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:

39

If I have eaten its [k]fruit without money,
Or caused its owners to lose their lives;

40

Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.

40

Then let thistles grow instead of wheat,
And weeds instead of barley.”
The words of Job are ended.

Parallel

King James Bible

New King James Version

Job 31

Job 31