Job 31:9–15

9 “If my heart has been enticed by a woman,

or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door,

10 then may my wife grind another man’s grain,

and may other men sleep with her.

11 For that would have been wicked,

a sin to be judged.

12 It is a fire that burns to Destruction;

it would have uprooted my harvest.

13 “If I have denied justice to any of my servants,

whether male or female,

when they had a grievance against me,

14 what will I do when God confronts me?

What will I answer when called to account?

15 Did not he who made me in the womb make them?

Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?

9 If mine heart have been deceived by a woman,

Or if I have laid wait at my neighbour’s door;

10 Then let my wife grind unto another,

And let others bow down upon her.

11 For this is an heinous crime;

Yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.

12 For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction,

And would root out all mine increase.

13 If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant,

When they contended with me;

14 What then shall I do when God riseth up?

And when he visiteth, what 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?

9 “If my heart has been seduced by a woman,

or if I have lusted for my neighbor’s wife,

10 then let my wife serve another man;

let other men sleep with her.

11 For lust is a shameful sin,

a crime that should be punished.

12 It is a fire that burns all the way to hell.

It would wipe out everything I own.

13 “If I have been unfair to my male or female servants

when they brought their complaints to me,

14 how could I face God?

What could I say when he questioned me?

15 For God created both me and my servants.

He created us both in the womb.

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 another,

And let others bow down over her.

11 For that would be wickedness;

Yes, it 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 despised the cause of my male or female servant

When they complained against me,

14 What then shall I do when God rises up?

When He punishes, how shall I answer Him?

15 Did not He who made me in the womb make them?

Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?

9 “If I have desired another woman

or have waited at my neighbor’s door for his wife,

10 then let my wife grind another man’s grain,

and let other men have sexual relations with her.

11 That would be shameful,

a sin to be punished.

12 It is like a fire that burns and destroys;

all I have done would be plowed up.

13 “If I have been unfair to my male and female slaves

when they had a complaint against me,

14 how could I tell God what I did?

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.

9 If my heart hath been enticed unto a woman,

And I have laid wait at my neighbor’s door;

10 Then let my wife grind unto another,

And let others bow down upon her.

11 For that were a heinous crime;

Yea, it were an iniquity to be punished by the judges:

12 For it is a fire that consumeth unto Destruction,

And would root out all mine increase.

13 If I have despised the cause of my man-servant or of my maid-servant,

When they contended with me;

14 What then shall I do when God riseth up?

And when he visiteth, what 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?

9 If my heart have been enticed unto a woman, so that I laid wait at my neighbour’s door, 10 Let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down upon her. 11 For this is an infamy; yea, it is an iniquity to be judged by the judges: 12 For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase. 13 If I have despised the cause of my bondman or of my bondmaid, when they contended with me, 14 What then should I do when •God riseth up? and if he visited, what should I answer him? 15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not One fashion us in the womb?

9 “If I have been seduced by a woman 

or I have secretly waited near my neighbor’s door, 

10 ⸤then⸥ let my wife grind for another ⸤man⸥, 

and let other ⸤men⸥ kneel over her. 

11 That would be a scandal, 

and that would be a criminal offense. 

12 It would be a fire that burns even in Abaddon. 

It would uproot my entire harvest. 

13 “If I have abused the rights of my servants, male or female, 

when they have disagreed with me, 

14 then what could I do if God rises up? 

If he examines me, how could I answer him? 

15 Didn’t he who made me in my mother’s belly make them? 

Didn’t the same God form us in the womb? 

9 If my heart has been seduced by my neighbor’s wife

or I have lurked at his door,

10 let my own wife grind grain for another man,

and let other men sleep with her.

11 For that would be a disgrace;

it would be a crime deserving punishment.

12 For it is a fire that consumes down to Abaddon;

it would destroy my entire harvest.

13 If I have dismissed the case of my male or female servants

when they made a complaint against me,

14 what could I do when God stands up to judge?

How should I answer Him when He calls me to account?

15 Did not the One who made me in the womb also make them?

Did not the same God form us both in the womb?

9 “If my heart has been enticed by a woman

and I have lain in wait at my neighbor’s door,

10 then let my wife grind for another,

and let other men kneel over her.

11 For that would be a heinous crime;

that would be a criminal offense;

12 for that would be a fire consuming down to Abaddon,

and it would burn to the root all my harvest.

13 “If I have rejected the cause of my male or female slaves,

when they brought a complaint against me,

14 what then shall I do when God rises up?

When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?

15 Did not he who made me in the womb make them?

And did not one fashion us in the womb?

9 “If my heart has been enticed by a woman,

and at my neighbor’s doorway I have lain in wait,

10 let my wife grind for another,

and let other men kneel over her,

11 for that is a shameful act,

and that is a criminal offense.

12 Indeed, that is a fire that will consume up to Abaddon,

and it would uproot all my crop.

13 “If I have rejected my male or female slave’s case

when their complaint was against me,

14 then what shall I do when God rises up?

And when he enquires, how shall I answer him?

15 Did not he who made me in the womb make them?

And did not one fashion us in the womb?

9 “Suppose my heart has been tempted by a woman.

Or suppose I’ve prowled around my neighbor’s door.

10 Then may my wife grind another man’s grain.

May other men have sex with her.

11 Wanting another woman would have been a shameful thing.

It would have been a sin that should be judged.

12 It’s like a fire that burns down to the grave.

It would have caused my crops to be pulled up by the roots.

13 “Suppose I haven’t treated my male and female servants fairly

when they’ve brought charges against me.

14 Then what will I do when God opposes me?

What answer will I give him

when he asks me to explain myself?

15 Didn’t he who made me make my servants also?

Didn’t the same God form us inside our mothers?

9 “If my heart has been enticed by a woman,

Or I have lurked at my neighbor’s doorway,

10 May my wife grind for another,

And let others kneel down over her.

11 “For that would be a lustful crime;

Moreover, it would be an iniquity punishable by judges.

12 “For it would be fire that consumes to Abaddon,

And would uproot all my increase.

13 “If I have despised the claim of my male or female slaves

When they filed a complaint against me,

14 What then could I do when God arises?

And when He calls me to account, what will I answer Him?

15 “Did not He who made me in the womb make him,

And the same one fashion us in the womb?