1 I made a covenant with my eyes, that I would not so much as think upon a virgin. 2 For what part should God from above have in me, and what inheritance the Almighty from on high? 3 Is not destruction to the wicked, and aversion to them that work iniquity? 4 Doth not he consider my ways, and number all my steps? 5 If I have walked in vanity, and my foot hath made haste to deceit: 6 Let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity. 7 If my step hath turned out of the way, and if my heart hath followed my eyes, and if a spot hath cleaved to my hands: 8 Then let me sow and let another eat: and let my offspring be rooted out. 9 If my heart hath been deceived upon a woman, and if I have laid wait at my friend’s door: 10 Let my wife be the harlot of another, and let other men lie with her. 11 For this is a heinous crime, and a most grievous iniquity. 12 It is a fire that devoureth even to destruction, and rooteth up all things that spring. 13 If I have despised to abide judgment with my manservant, or my maidservant, when they had any controversy against me: 14 For what shall I do when God shall rise to judge? and when he shall examine, what shall I answer him? 15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him also: and did not one and the same form me in the womb? 16 If I have denied to the poor what they desired, and have made the eyes of the widow wait: 17 If I have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof: 18 (For from my infancy mercy grew up with me: and it came out with me from my mother’s womb:) 19 If I have despised him that was perishing for want of clothing, and the poor man that had no covering: 20 If his sides have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep: 21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, even when I saw myself superior in the gate: 22 Let my shoulder fall from its joint, and let my arm with its bones be broken. 23 For I have always feared God as waves swelling over me, and his weight I was not able to bear. 24 If I have thought gold my strength, and have said to fine gold: My confidence: 25 If I have rejoiced over my great riches, and because my hand had gotten much. 26 If I beheld the sun when it shined, and the moon going in brightness: 27 And my heart in secret hath rejoiced, and I have kissed my hand with my mouth: 28 Which is a very great iniquity, and a denial against the most high God. 29 If I have been glad at the downfall of him that hated me, and have rejoiced that evil had found him. 30 For I have not given my mouth to sin, by wishing a curse to his soul. 31 If the men of my tabernacle have not said: Who will give us of his flesh that we may be filled? 32 The stranger did not stay without, my door was open to the traveller. 33 If as a man I have hid my sin, and have concealed my iniquity in my bosom. 34 If I have been afraid at a very great multitude, and the contempt of kinsmen hath terrified me: and I have not rather held my peace, and not gone out of the door. 35 Who would grant me a hearer, that the Almighty may hear my desire; and that he himself that judgeth would write a book, 36 That I may carry it on my shoulder, and put it about me as a crown? 37 At every step of mine I would pronounce it, and offer it as to a prince. 38 If my land cry against me, and with it the furrows thereof mourn: 39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have afflicted the soul of the tillers thereof: 40 Let thistles grow up to me instead of wheat, and thorns instead of barley.
Job · Douay-Rheims (Challoner), American Edition 1899
Job 31 Douay-Rheims (Challoner), American Edition 1899
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Cross references (39)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 James 1:14–15; Matthew 5:28–29; Psalm 119:37; 1 John 2:16; Proverbs 6:25
- 2 Job 20:29; Job 27:13; Hebrews 13:4
- 3 Job 21:30; Job 34:22; Matthew 7:13; Isaiah 28:21; Psalm 55:23
- 4 Job 34:21; Proverbs 5:21; 2 Chronicles 16:9; Job 14:16; Proverbs 15:3
- 5 Psalm 44:20–21; Proverbs 12:11; Psalm 12:2; Jeremiah 2:5; Ezekiel 13:8
- 6 Psalm 7:8–9; Daniel 5:27; 1 Samuel 2:3; Matthew 7:23; Isaiah 26:7
- 7 Numbers 15:39; Ecclesiastes 11:9; Matthew 5:29; Job 23:11; Psalm 44:20–21
- 8 Leviticus 26:16; Micah 6:15; Deuteronomy 28:38; Judges 6:3–6; Job 18:19
- 9 1 Kings 11:4; Judges 16:5; Ecclesiastes 7:26; Proverbs 2:16–19; Jeremiah 5:8
- 10 Jeremiah 8:10; Deuteronomy 28:30; 2 Samuel 12:11; Isaiah 47:2; Exodus 11:5
- 11 Leviticus 20:10; Job 31:28; Deuteronomy 22:22–24; Genesis 38:24; Ezekiel 16:38
- 12 Proverbs 6:27; Jeremiah 5:7–9; Hebrews 13:4; Job 26:6; Job 20:28
- 13 Leviticus 25:43; Deuteronomy 24:14–15; Exodus 21:20–21; Jeremiah 34:14–17; Leviticus 25:46
- 14 James 2:13; Psalm 44:21; Psalm 9:12; Zechariah 2:13; Psalm 10:12–15
- 15 Proverbs 14:31; Proverbs 22:2; Malachi 2:10; Job 34:19; Job 10:8–12
- 16 Deuteronomy 15:7–10; Isaiah 38:14; Lamentations 4:17; Deuteronomy 28:32; Galatians 2:10
- 17 Ezekiel 18:16; Nehemiah 8:10; Acts 4:32; Luke 11:41; James 1:27
- 19 Job 22:6; 1 John 3:18; Acts 9:39; Matthew 25:36; 2 Chronicles 28:15
- 20 Deuteronomy 24:13; Job 29:11
- 21 Job 22:9; Job 29:12; Ezekiel 22:7; Micah 7:3; Jeremiah 5:28
- 22 Job 31:40; Job 31:10; Psalm 137:6; Job 38:15; Joshua 22:22–23
- 23 Job 13:11; Psalm 119:120; 2 Corinthians 5:11; Psalm 76:7; Isaiah 13:6
- 24 Psalm 52:7; Deuteronomy 8:12–14; Proverbs 11:28; Psalm 49:6–7; 1 Timothy 6:10
- 25 Psalm 62:10; Deuteronomy 8:17–18; Jeremiah 9:23; Luke 12:19; Ezekiel 28:5
- 26 Ezekiel 8:16; Deuteronomy 4:19; Deuteronomy 17:3; 2 Kings 23:11; Jeremiah 8:2
- 27 Deuteronomy 13:6; Deuteronomy 11:16; Psalm 2:12; Isaiah 44:20; 1 Kings 19:18
- 28 Deuteronomy 17:2–7; Job 31:11; Psalm 50:6; Job 9:15; Joshua 24:27
- 29 Proverbs 24:17–18; Proverbs 17:5; Psalm 35:13–14; Obadiah 12; Psalm 35:25–26
- 30 1 Peter 3:9; Romans 12:14; Matthew 5:43–44; Matthew 5:22; James 3:9–10
- 31 1 Samuel 24:10; 1 Samuel 26:8; 2 Samuel 19:21–22; Job 19:22; Proverbs 1:18
- 32 Hebrews 13:2; Genesis 19:2–3; Judges 19:20–21; Romans 12:13; Matthew 25:35
- 33 Proverbs 28:13; Acts 5:8; Genesis 3:12; Hosea 6:7; 1 John 1:8–10
- 34 Exodus 23:2; Proverbs 29:25; Proverbs 24:11–12; Nehemiah 13:28; Exodus 32:27
- 35 Job 40:4–5; Job 13:21–22; Job 23:3–7; Job 13:3; Job 35:14
- 36 Isaiah 22:22; Isaiah 62:3; Exodus 28:12; Job 29:14; Philippians 4:1
- 37 Job 13:15; Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 4:15–16; Job 29:25; Job 42:3–6
- 38 Habakkuk 2:11; Psalm 65:13; James 5:4; Job 20:27
- 39 1 Kings 21:19; James 5:4; 1 Kings 21:13–16; Ezekiel 22:6; Isaiah 26:21
- 40 Genesis 3:17–18; Malachi 1:3; Psalm 72:20; Isaiah 7:23; Zephaniah 2:9
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
And what is more, when he had them they were no joy to him: so he also declared, saying, "If I did so much as rejoice when my wealth waxed great:" wherefore neither did he grieve when it was gone.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
And if thou wouldest also hear of his strivings after continence, hearken to him when he saith, "I made a covenant with mine eyes, that I should not think upon a maid." For this cause his wife did not break his spirit, for he loved her even before this, not however immoderately, but as is due to a wife.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)