Job 31:31–37

31 if those of my household have never said,

‘Who has not been filled with Job’s meat?’—

32 but no stranger had to spend the night in the street,

for my door was always open to the traveler—

33 if I have concealed my sin as people do,

by hiding my guilt in my heart

34 because I so feared the crowd

and so dreaded the contempt of the clans

that I kept silent and would not go outside—

35 (“Oh, that I had someone to hear me!

I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me;

let my accuser put his indictment in writing.

36 Surely I would wear it on my shoulder,

I would put it on like a crown.

37 I would give him an account of my every step;

I would present it to him as to a ruler.)—

31 If the men of my tabernacle said not,

Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.

32 The stranger did not lodge in the street:

But I opened my doors to the traveller.

33 If I covered my transgressions as Adam,

By hiding mine 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?

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.

36 Surely I would take it upon my shoulder,

And bind it as a crown to me.

37 I would declare unto him the number of my steps;

As a prince would I go near unto him.

31 “My servants have never said,

‘He let others go hungry.’

32 I have never turned away a stranger

but have opened my doors to everyone.

33 “Have I tried to hide my sins like other people do,

concealing my guilt in my heart?

34 Have I feared the crowd

or the contempt of the masses,

so that I kept quiet and stayed indoors?

35 “If only someone would listen to me!

Look, I will sign my name to my defense.

Let the Almighty answer me.

Let my accuser write out the charges against me.

36 I would face the accusation proudly.

I would wear it like a crown.

37 For I would tell him exactly what I have done.

I would come before him like a prince.

31 If the men of my tent have not said,

‘Who is there that has not been satisfied with his meat?’

32 (But no sojourner had to lodge in the street,

For I have opened my doors to the traveler);

33 If I have covered my transgressions as Adam,

By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,

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 I had one to hear me!

Here is my mark.

Oh, that the Almighty would answer me,

That my 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.

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 in the street,

because I always let travelers stay in my home.

33 I have not hidden my sin as others do,

secretly keeping my guilt to myself.

34 I was not so afraid of the crowd

that I kept quiet and stayed inside

because I feared being hated by other families.

35 (“How I wish a court would hear my case!

Here I sign my name to show I have told the truth.

Now let the Almighty answer me;

let the one who accuses me write it down.

36 I would wear the writing on my shoulder;

I would put it on like a crown.

37 I would explain to God every step I took,

and I would come near to him like a prince.)

31 If the men of my tent have not said,

Who can find one that hath not been filled with his meat?

32 (The sojourner hath not lodged in the street;

But I have opened my doors to the traveller);

33 If like Adam I have covered my transgressions,

By hiding mine iniquity in my bosom,

34 Because I feared the great multitude,

And the contempt of families terrified me,

So that I kept silence, and went not out of the door—

35 Oh that I had one to hear me!

(Lo, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me)

And that I had the indictment which mine adversary hath written!

36 Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder;

I would bind it unto me as a crown:

37 I would declare unto him the number of my steps;

As a prince would I go near unto him.

31 If the men of my tent said not, Who shall find one that hath not been satisfied with his meat? — 32 The stranger did not lodge without; I opened my doors to the pathway.

33 If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom, 34 Because I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and went not out of the door, … 35 Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold my signature: let the Almighty answer me! And let mine opponent write an accusation! 36 Would I not take it upon my shoulder? I would bind it on to me as a crown; 37 I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I come near to him.

31 “If the people who were in my tent had said, 

‘We wish we had never filled ⸤our stomachs⸥ with his food’.… 

32 (The visitor never spent the night outside, 

because I opened my door to the traveler.) 

33 “If I have covered my disobedience like Adam 

and kept my sin to myself, 

34 because I dreaded the large, noisy crowd 

and because the contempt of the ⸤local⸥ mobs terrified me 

so that I kept quiet and didn’t go outside.… 

35 “If only I had someone who would listen to me! 

Look, here is my signature! 

Let the Almighty answer me. 

Let the prosecutor write ⸤his complaint⸥ on a scroll. 

36 I would certainly carry it on my shoulder 

and place it on my head like a crown. 

37 I would tell him the number of my steps 

and approach him like a prince. 

31 Haven’t the members of my household said,

“Who is there who has not had enough to eat at Job’s table?”

32 No stranger had to spend the night on the street,

for I opened my door to the traveler.

33 Have I covered my transgressions as others do

by hiding my guilt in my heart,

34 because I greatly feared the crowds,

and the contempt of the clans terrified me,

so I grew silent and would not go outside?

35 If only I had someone to hear my case!

Here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me.

Let my Opponent compose His indictment.

36 I would surely carry it on my shoulder

and wear it like a crown.

37 I would give Him an account of all my steps;

I would approach Him like a prince.

31 if those of my tent ever said,

‘O that we might be sated with his flesh!’—

32 the stranger has not lodged in the street;

I have opened my doors to the traveler—

33 if I have concealed my transgressions as others do,

by hiding my iniquity in my bosom,

34 because I stood in great fear of the multitude,

and the contempt of families terrified me,

so that I kept silence and did not go out of doors—

35 O that I had one to hear me!

(Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!)

O that I had the indictment written by my adversary!

36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder;

I would bind it on me like a crown;

37 I would give him an account of all my steps;

like a prince I would approach him.

31 Have the people of my tent not said,

‘O that someone had not been satisfied with his meat’?

32 An alien has not lodged in the street;

I have opened my door to the traveler.

33 Have I concealed my transgressions as other human beings

to hide my iniquity in my bosom

34 because I dreaded the great multitude,

and the contempt of clans terrified me,

so that I kept quiet, I did not go out of the doorway?

35 O that I had someone hearing me!

Here is my signature;

let Shaddai answer me!

As for the written communication that my adversary has written,

36 I would surely carry it on my shoulder;

I would bind it on me like a crown.

37 I would give him an account of my steps;

I would approach him like a noble.

31 The workers in my house always said,

‘Job always gives plenty of food to everyone.’

32 No stranger ever had to spend the night in the street.

My door was always open to travelers.

33 I didn’t hide my sin as others do.

I didn’t hide my guilt in my heart.

34 I was never afraid of the crowd.

I never worried that my relatives might hate me.

I didn’t have to keep quiet or stay inside.

35 “I wish someone would listen to me!

I’m signing my name to everything I’ve said.

I hope the Mighty One will give me his answer.

I hope the one who brings charges against me will write them down.

36 I’ll wear them on my shoulder.

I’ll put them on my head like a crown.

37 I’ll give that person a report of every step I take.

I’ll approach him like a prince.

31 “Have the men of my tent not said,

‘Who can find one who has not been satisfied with his meat’?

32 “The alien has not lodged outside,

For I have opened my doors to the traveler.

33 “Have I covered my transgressions like Adam,

By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,

34 Because I feared the great multitude,

And the contempt of families terrified me,

And kept silent and did not go out of doors?

35 “Oh that I had one to hear me!

Behold, here is my signature;

Let the Almighty answer me!

And the indictment which my adversary has written,

36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder,

I would bind it to myself like a crown.

37 “I would declare to Him the number of my steps;

Like a prince I would approach Him.