Job 31:1 - Forerunner Commentary

Job 31:1

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1 “I have made a covenant with my eyes;
Why then should I¹ look upon a ^ayoung woman?

2 For what is the ^aallotment of God from above,
And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

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

4 ^aDoes He not see my ways,
And count all my steps?

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

6 ¹Let me be weighed on honest scales,
That God may know my ^aintegrity.

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

8 Then ^alet me sow, and another eat;
Yes, let my harvest be¹ rooted out.

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 for ^aanother,
And let others bow down over her.

11 For that would be wickedness;
Yes, ^ait would be iniquity deserving of judgment.

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

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

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

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

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

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

18 (But from my youth I reared him as a father,
And from my mother’s womb I guided¹ the widow);

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

20 If his¹ heart has not ^ablessed me,
And if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

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

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

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

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

25 ^aIf I have rejoiced because my wealth was great,
And because my hand had gained much;

26 ^aIf I have observed the¹ sun when it shines,
Or the moon moving in brightness,

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

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

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

30 ^a(Indeed I have not allowed my mouth to sin
By asking for a curse on his¹ soul);

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

32 ^a(But no sojourner had to lodge in the street,
For I have opened my doors to the¹ traveler);

33 If I have covered my transgressions ^aas Adam,
By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,

34 Because I feared the great ^amultitude,
And dreaded the contempt of families,
So that I kept silence
And did not go out of the door—

35 ^aOh, that I had one to hear me!
Here is my mark.
Oh, ^bthat the Almighty would answer me,
That my¹ Prosecutor had written a book!

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

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

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

39 If ^aI have eaten its fruit without money,
Or ^bcaused its owners to lose their lives;

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

Verse Comparison: Job 31:1

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Job 31:2 >>

American Standard Version
I made a covenant with mine eyes; How then should I look upon a virgin?

Amplified® Bible
I DICTATED a covenant (an agreement) to my eyes; how then could I look [lustfully] upon a girl?

Contemporary English Version
I promised myself never to stare with desire at a young woman.

Darby English Version
I made a covenant with mine eyes; and how should I fix my regard upon a maid?

Good News Bible
I have made a solemn promise never to look with lust at a woman.

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

New American Standard Bible
"I have made a covenant with my eyes; How then could I gaze at a virgin?

New International Version
"I made a covenant with my eyes
not to look lustfully at a girl.

New King James Version
“I have made a covenant with my eyes;
Why then should I look upon a young woman?

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
"I have made a covenant with my eyes; How then could I gaze at a virgin?

Revised Standard Version
"I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I look upon a virgin?

Young's Literal Translation
A covenant I made for mine eyes, And what -- do I attend to a virgin?

New English Translation
“I made a covenant with¹ my eyes; how then could I entertain thoughts against a virgin?²

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Job 31:2 >>

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