Job 31-33 Expanded Bible
31 “But I ·made an agreement [L cut a covenant] with my eyes
not to ·look with desire [leer] at a ·girl [L virgin].
2 What ·has God above promised for people [L would be my portion with God above]?
What ·has the Almighty planned from [would be my inheritance/heritage with the Almighty/Shaddai] on high?
3 ·It is ruin [L Isn’t calamity reserved…?] for evil people
and ·disaster [misfortune] for those who do wrong.
4 ·God sees [L Does he not see…?] my ways
and counts every step I take.
5 “If I have ·been dishonest [L walked with falsehood]
or ·lied to others [L my feet hasten to fraud],
6 then let God weigh me on ·honest [just] scales [Prov. 11:1].
Then he will know I ·have done nothing wrong [am blameless/innocent].
7 If ·I have turned away from doing what is right [L my feet have wandered off the path; Prov. 2:20],
or my heart has ·been led by my eyes to do wrong [L followed my eyes],
or ·my hands have been made unclean [L blemish has clung to my hand],
8 then let ·other people eat what I have planted [L me sow and not eat],
and let my crops be ·plowed up [uprooted].
9 “If ·I have desired [L my heart has been enticed/seduced by] another woman [Prov. 5–7]
or have waited at my ·neighbor’s [or friend’s] door for his wife,
10 then let my wife grind ·another man’s grain [L another man; C a euphemism for sexual intercourse],
and let other men ·have sexual relations with [L kneel over] her.
11 That would be ·shameful [a foul deed],
a ·sin to be punished [a criminal offense; L a guilty thing before the judges].
12 It is like a fire that burns ·and destroys [L down to Abaddon; 26:6; 28:22];
all I have done would be ·plowed up [L burned to the root].
13 “If I ·have been unfair to [L reject proper judgment for] my male and female slaves
when they had a ·complaint [case] against me,
14 ·how could I tell God what I did [or what would I do when God rises against me]?
What will I answer when he asks me to explain what I’ve done?
15 God made me in my mother’s womb, and he also made them;
the same God formed both of us in our mothers’ wombs.
16 “I have never ·refused the appeals of the poor [or deprived the poor of some pleasure]
or ·let widows give up hope while looking for help [L caused the eyes of the widow to fail].
17 I have not ·kept my food to myself [eaten my morsel alone]
·but have given it to the orphans [L or not let orphans eat it].
18 Since I was young, ·I have been like a father to the orphans [L I have raised them like a father; or he (God) raised me like a father].
From ·my birth [L the womb of my mother] I guided the widows.
19 I have not let anyone ·die [L perish] for lack of clothes
or let a needy person go without ·a coat [L covering].
20 That person’s ·heart [L loins] blessed me,
because I warmed him with the ·wool [fleece] of my sheep.
21 I have never ·hurt [L raised my hand threateningly against] an orphan
even when I knew I ·could win in court [L had allies in the gate; C the city gate was where court was held].
22 If I have, then let my ·arm [L shoulder blade] fall off my shoulder
and [L my arm] be broken at the ·joint [socket].
23 I fear ·destruction [calamity] from God,
and I fear his ·majesty [ruin], so I could not do such things.
24 “I have not put my trust in gold
or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security.’
25 I have not ·celebrated [exulted in] my great wealth
or the ·riches [substance] my hands had gained.
26 I have not thought about worshiping the sun in its brightness
nor admired the moon moving in glory
27 so that my heart was ·pulled away from God [L enticed in secret].
My hand has never ·offered the sun and moon a kiss of worship [L passed a kiss from my mouth].
28 If I had, these also would have been ·sins to be punished [a criminal offense; L a guilty thing before the judges],
because I would have ·been unfaithful to [deceived; defrauded] God [L above].
29 “I have not been happy ·when my enemies fell [L in the disaster of those who hate me]
or ·laughed when they had trouble [L become excited when evil found them out].
30 I have not let my mouth sin
by cursing my enemies’ life.
31 The servants of my house have always said,
‘All have eaten what they want of Job’s food.’
32 No stranger ever had to ·spend the night [lodge] in the street,
because I ·always let travelers stay in my home [L opened the door to the traveler; C hospitality was highly valued in the ancient Near East].
33 I have not hidden my ·sin [transgression] ·as others do [or like Adam did; Gen. 3],
·secretly keeping my guilt to myself [L concealing my guilt in my bosom].
34 I was not so afraid of the crowd [large multitude]
that I kept quiet and ·stayed inside [L did not go out the door]
because I feared being ·hated [held in contempt] by other families.
35 (“How I wish ·a court would hear my case [L someone would listen to me]!
Here ·I sign my name to show I have told the truth [is my signature].
Now let ·the Almighty [Shaddai] answer me;
let the one who accuses me write ·it [an indictment/writ] down.
36 I would wear ·the writing [L it] on my shoulder;
I would ·put [L bind] it on like a crown.
37 I would ·explain to God [L give him an account of] every step I took,
and I would ·come near to [approach] him like a prince.)
38 “If my land cries out against me
and its ·plowed rows [furrows] ·are wet with tears [L have wept together],
39 if I have taken the land’s harvest without paying
or have broken the spirit of those who ·worked [or own] the land,
40 then let ·thorns [brambles] come up instead of wheat,
and let ·weeds [stinkweed] come up instead of barley.”
The words of Job are ·finished [ended].
Elihu Speaks
32 These three men stopped trying to answer Job, because he was ·so sure he was right [right/righteous in his own eyes]. 2 But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, from the family of Ram, became very angry with Job, because Job ·claimed he was right instead of [or he was more right/righteous than] God. 3 Elihu was also angry with Job’s three friends who had no answer to show that Job was wrong, yet continued to ·blame him [treat him as wrong]. 4 Elihu had waited before speaking to Job, because the three friends were older than he was. 5 But when Elihu saw that the three men had nothing more to say, he became very angry.
6 So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said this:
“I am young,
and you are ·old [aged].
That is why I was ·afraid [L timid and afraid]
to tell you ·what I know [my opinion].
7 I thought, ‘·Older people should [L Let days] speak,
and those who have lived many years should ·teach [make known; reveal] wisdom.’
8 But it is the spirit in a person,
the breath of ·the Almighty [Shaddai], that gives understanding.
9 It is not just ·older people [L the many] who are wise;
·they [L the elders] are not the only ones who understand ·what is right [justice].
10 So I say, listen to me.
I too will ·tell [show] you ·what I know [my opinion].
11 I waited ·while you three spoke [L for your words],
and ·listened [bent an ear] to your ·explanations [or arguments].
While you ·looked for words to use,
12 I paid close attention to you.
But not one of you has proved Job wrong;
none of you has answered his arguments.
13 Don’t say, ‘We have found wisdom;
only God will show Job to be wrong, not people.’
14 Job has not spoken his words against me,
so I will not use your arguments to answer Job.
15 “·These three friends [L They] are ·defeated [dismayed; discouraged] and ·have no more to say [cannot answer];
words have failed them.
16 Now they are standing there with no answers for Job.
·Now that they are quiet [L If they don’t speak], must I wait to speak?
17 No, I too will speak
and ·tell what I know [share my opinion].
18 I am full of words,
and the spirit in me ·causes me to speak [compels me].
19 I am like wine that has ·been bottled up [no vent/opening];
I am ready to burst like a new leather wine bag.
20 I must speak so I will feel relief;
I must open my ·mouth [L lips] and answer.
21 I will ·be fair to everyone [L not favor anyone]
and not flatter anyone.
22 I don’t know how to flatter,
and if I did, my Maker would quickly take me away.
33 “Now, Job, ·listen to [hear] my words.
Pay attention to ·everything I say [L all my words].
2 I open my mouth
and ·am ready to speak [L the tongue in my mouth speaks].
3 My words come from an ·honest [virtuous] heart,
and ·I am sincere in saying what I know [L what my lips know they speak with sincerity].
4 The Spirit of God ·created [has made] me,
and the breath of ·the Almighty [Shaddai] gave me life.
5 Answer me if you can;
get yourself ready and stand before me.
6 I am just like you before God;
I too ·am made [was formed] out of clay.
7 ·Don’t be afraid of me [L Dread of me should not scare you];
·I will not be hard on you [L My pressure will not be too heavy on you].
8 “But ·I heard what you have said [L you have spoken in my ear];
I heard ·every word [L the sound of your words].
9 You said, ‘I am pure and without ·sin [transgression];
I am ·innocent [L clean] and free from guilt.
10 But God has found ·fault [reason to be upset] with me;
he ·considers me [thinks I am] his enemy.
11 He ·locks [places] my feet in ·chains [shackles]
and ·closely watches everywhere I go [L guards all my paths].’
12 “But I tell you, you are not ·right in saying this [L correct],
I will answer you, for God is greater than ·we are [L any human being].
13 Why do you ·accuse [contend with] God
·of not answering anyone [or for no one can answer all his words]?
14 God does speak—sometimes ·one way and sometimes another [or once and sometimes twice]—
even though people may not ·understand [perceive] it.
15 He speaks in a dream or a vision of the night
when people are in a deep sleep,
lying on their beds in slumber.
16 He ·speaks in [L opens] their ears
and frightens them with warnings
17 to turn them away from doing wrong
and to keep them from being proud.
18 God does this to ·save people [L keep them] from ·death [L the Pit; C a reference to the grave and the underworld],
to keep them from ·dying [L the water channel; C another reference to the grave and the underworld].
19 People may be ·corrected [reprimanded; reproved] while in bed in great pain;
they may have continual pain in their very bones.
20 ·They may be in such pain that they even hate [L Their lives loathe] food,
even ·the very best meal [choice food].
21 ·Their body becomes so thin [L Their flesh wastes away so that] ·there is almost nothing left of it [L it cannot be seen],
and their bones that were hidden now stick out.
22 ·They are [L Their souls draw] near ·death [L the Pit; 33:18],
and their life ·is almost over [L comes near those who bring death].
23 “·But there may be [L If there is] an angel to speak for him,
one out of a thousand, ·who will tell him what to do [a mediator who declares a person virtuous].
24 The angel will ·beg for mercy [or be gracious to him] and say:
‘·Save [Redeem] him from ·death [L going down to the Pit; 33:18].
I have found a ·way to pay for his life [ransom].’
25 Then his body is made new like a ·child’s [youth’s].
It will return to the way it was when he was ·young [vigorous].
26 That person will pray to God, and God will ·listen to [L accept] him.
He will see God’s face and will shout with happiness.
And ·God will set things right for him again [or he will repeat to others that he has been vindicated].
27 Then he will ·say [L sing] to others,
‘I sinned and ·twisted what was right [perverted/sullied virtue],
but I did not receive the punishment I should have received.
28 God ·bought [redeemed] my life ·back from death [L from crossing over to the Pit; 33:18],
and ·I will continue to enjoy life [L my life will yet see the light].’
29 “God does all these things to a person
two or even three times
30 ·so he won’t die as punishment for his sins [L to bring back his life from the Pit; 33:18]
and so he may ·still enjoy life [L be illuminated with the light of life].
31 “Job, pay attention and listen to me;
be quiet, and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me;
speak up, because I want to ·prove you right [vindicate you].
33 But if you have nothing to say, then listen to me;
be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.”
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
