Job's Final Appeal

Job 31

1 "I have made a covenant with my b eyes;
how then could I gaze at a virgin?
 2 What would be c my portion from God above
and c my heritage from the Almighty on high?
 3 Is not calamity for the unrighteous,
and disaster for the workers of iniquity?
 4 d Does not he see my ways
and e number all my steps?

5 "If I have walked with falsehood
and my foot has hastened to deceit;
 6 (Let me be f weighed in a just balance,
and let God know my integrity!)
 7 if my step has turned aside from the way
and g my heart has gone after my eyes,
and if any h spot has stuck to my hands,
 8 then let me i sow, and another eat,
and let what grows for me 1 be rooted out.

9 "If my heart has been enticed toward a woman,
and I have j lain in wait at my neighbor's door,
 10 then let my wife k grind for another,
and let others l bow down on her.
 11 For that would be a heinous crime;
that would be an iniquity m to be punished by the judges;
 12 for that would be a fire n that consumes as far as Abaddon,
and it would burn to the root all my increase.

13 "If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant,
when they brought a complaint against me,
 14 what then shall I do when God rises up?
When he o makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?
 15 Did p not he who made me in the womb make him?
And did not one fashion us in the womb?

16 "If I have q withheld anything that the poor desired,
or have r caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
 17 or have eaten my morsel alone,
and the fatherless has not eaten of it
 18 (for from my youth the fatherless 2 grew up with me as with a father,
and from my mother's womb I guided the widow 3 ),
 19 if I have seen anyone s perish for t lack of clothing,
or the needy without t covering,
 20 if his body has not u blessed me, 4
and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,
 21 if I have raised my hand against v the fatherless,
because I saw my help in w the gate,
 22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder,
and let my arm be broken from its socket.
 23 For I was x in terror of calamity from God,
and I could not have faced his x majesty.

24 y "If I have made gold my z trust
or called a fine gold my confidence,
 25 if I have b rejoiced because my wealth was abundant
or because c my hand had found much,
 26 d if I have looked at the sun 5 when it shone,
or e the moon moving in splendor,
 27 and my heart has been secretly enticed,
and my mouth has kissed my hand,
 28 this also would be f an iniquity to be punished by the judges,
for I would have been false to God above.

29 "If I have g rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me,
or exulted when evil overtook him
 30 ( h I have not let my mouth sin
by asking for his life with a curse),
 31 if the men of my tent have not said,
'Who is there that has not been filled with his i meat?'
 32 ( j the sojourner has not lodged in the street;
I have opened my doors to the traveler),
 33 if I k have concealed my transgressions l as others do 6
by hiding my iniquity in my bosom,
 34 because I stood in great fear of m the multitude,
and the contempt of families terrified me,
so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors -
35 Oh, that I had one to hear me!
(Here is my signature! Let the Almighty n answer me!)
Oh, that I had o the indictment written by my adversary!
 36 Surely I would carry it on my p shoulder;
I would q bind it on me as r a crown;
 37 I would give him an account of all my steps;
like a prince I would approach him.

38 "If my land has cried out against me
and its furrows have wept together,
 39 s if I have eaten its yield without payment
and made its owners t breathe their last,

40 let u thorns grow instead of wheat,
and foul weeds instead of barley."
The words of Job are ended.

  1. Cross References
    Isaiah 33:15
    He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes from looking on evil.
    Matthew 5:28
    But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
  2. Cross References
    Job 20:29
    This is the wicked man's portion from God, the heritage decreed for him by God.
  3. Cross References
    Job 20:29
    This is the wicked man's portion from God, the heritage decreed for him by God.
  4. Cross References
    Job 14:16
    For then you would number my steps; you would n...
    Job 34:21
    For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he s...
    2 Chronicles 16:9
    For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro through...
    Proverbs 5:21
    For a man's ways are before the eyes of the Lor...
    Proverbs 15:3
    The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keepin...
    Jeremiah 16:17
    For my eyes are on all their ways. They are not...
    Jeremiah 32:19
    Great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes...
    Zechariah 4:10
    For whoever has despised the day of small thing...
  5. Cross References
    Job 14:16
    For then you would number my steps; you would not keep watch over my sin.
  6. Cross References
    Daniel 5:27
    Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting.
  7. Cross References
    Numbers 15:39
    And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after.
    Ecclesiastes 11:9
    Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
  8. Cross References
    Job 11:15
    Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure and will not fear.
  9. Cross References
    Leviticus 26:16
    Then I will do this to you: I will visit you with panic, with wasting disease and fever that consume the eyes and make the heart ache. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.
    Deuteronomy 28:30
    You shall betroth a wife, but another man shall ravish her. You shall build a house, but you shall not dwell in it. You shall plant a vineyard, but you shall not enjoy its fruit.
    Deuteronomy 28:38
    You shall carry much seed into the field and shall gather in little, for the locust shall consume it.
    John 4:37
    For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.
  10. Cross References
    Job 24:15
    The eye of the adulterer also waits for the twilight, saying, 'No eye will see me'; and he veils his face.
  11. Cross References
    Exodus 11:5
    And every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle.
    Isaiah 47:2
    Take the millstones and grind flour, put off your veil, strip off your robe, uncover your legs, pass through the rivers.
  12. Cross References
    2 Samuel 12:11
    Thus says the Lord, 'Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.
    Jeremiah 8:10
    Therefore I will give their wives to others and their fields to conquerors, because from the least to the greatest everyone is greedy for unjust gain; from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely.
  13. Cross References
    Job 31:28
    This also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above.
    Leviticus 20:10
    If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
    Deuteronomy 22:22
    If a man is found lying with the wife of another man, both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.
  14. Cross References
    Proverbs 6:27 - 29
    Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned?
  15. Cross References
    Psalms 17:3
    You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
  16. Cross References
    Job 34:19
    Who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?
    Proverbs 14:31
    Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
    Proverbs 22:2
    The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the maker of them all.
    Ephesians 6:9
    Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.
  17. Cross References
    Job 22:7
    You have given no water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.
  18. Cross References
    Job 11:20
    But the eyes of the wicked will fail; all way of escape will be lost to them, and their hope is to breathe their last.
    Job 17:5
    He who informs against his friends to get a share of their property - the eyes of his children will fail.
  19. Cross References
    Job 29:13
    The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
  20. Cross References
    Job 24:7
    They lie all night naked, without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.
    Job 24:10
    They go about naked, without clothing; hungry, they carry the sheaves.
  21. Cross References
    Job 24:7
    They lie all night naked, without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.
    Job 24:10
    They go about naked, without clothing; hungry, they carry the sheaves.
  22. Cross References
    Job 29:13
    The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
    Deuteronomy 24:13
    You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.
  23. Cross References
    Job 22:9
    You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless were crushed.
  24. Cross References
    Job 5:4
    His children are far from safety; they are crushed in the gate, and there is no one to deliver them.
  25. Cross References
    Job 13:11
    Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you?
  26. Cross References
    Job 13:11
    Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you?
  27. Cross References
    Mark 10:24 - 25
    And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!
  28. Cross References
    Job 4:6
    Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?
  29. Cross References
    Job 28:16
    It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.
  30. Cross References
    Psalms 62:10
    Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them.
  31. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 8:17
    Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.
  32. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 4:19
    And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.
    Deuteronomy 17:3
    And has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun or the moon or any of the host of heaven, which I have forbidden.
    2 Kings 23:5
    And he deposed the priests whom the kings of Judah had ordained to make offerings in the high places at the cities of Judah and around Jerusalem; those also who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and the moon and the constellations and all the host of the heavens.
    2 Kings 23:11
    And he removed the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun, at the entrance to the house of the Lord, by the chamber of Nathan-melech the chamberlain, which was in the precincts. And he burned the chariots of the sun with fire.
    Ezekiel 8:16
    And he brought me into the inner court of the house of the Lord. And behold, at the entrance of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men, with their backs to the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east, worshiping the sun toward the east.
  33. Cross References
    Jeremiah 44:17 - 19
    But we will do everything that we have vowed, make offerings to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her, as we did, both we and our fathers, our kings and our officials, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, and prospered, and saw no disaster.
  34. Cross References
    Job 31:11
    For that would be a heinous crime; that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges.
  35. Cross References
    Proverbs 17:5
    Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
  36. Cross References
    Matthew 5:44
    But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
    Romans 12:14
    Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
  37. Cross References
    Exodus 16:12
    "I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, 'At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.'"
    1 Samuel 25:11
    Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers and give it to men who come from I do not know where?
  38. Cross References
    Genesis 19:2 - 3
    And said, "My lords, please turn aside to your servant's house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way." They said, "No; we will spend the night in the town square.
    Judges 19:20 - 21
    And the old man said, "Peace be to you; I will care for all your wants. Only, do not spend the night in the square.
    Matthew 25:35
    For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.
    Hebrews 13:2
    Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
  39. Cross References
    Proverbs 28:13
    Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
  40. Cross References
    Genesis 3:8
    And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
    Genesis 3:12
    The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.
  41. Cross References
    Exodus 23:2
    You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice.
  42. Cross References
    Job 13:22
    Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you reply to me.
  43. Cross References
    Job 19:23
    Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
  44. Cross References
    Isaiah 9:6
    For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
    Isaiah 22:22
    And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
  45. Cross References
    Proverbs 6:21
    Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck.
  46. Cross References
    Zechariah 6:11
    Take from them silver and gold, and make a crown, and set it on the head of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest.
  47. Cross References
    Job 22:6 - 9
    For you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing and stripped the naked of their clothing.
    Luke 10:7
    And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.
    2 Timothy 2:6
    It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.
    James 5:4
    Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
  48. Cross References
    1 Kings 21:16
    And as soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab arose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.
    1 Kings 21:19
    And you shall say to him, 'Thus says the Lord, "Have you killed and also taken possession?"' And you shall say to him, 'Thus says the Lord : "In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your own blood."'
  49. Cross References
    Genesis 3:18
    Thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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