Job's Catalogue of Innocence

Job 31

Job lists many possible sins, from lust and deceit to neglect of the poor, the orphan, and the stranger, to trust in wealth or reverence toward the sun and moon, calling down curses on himself should he be found guilty of any. With this defense Job ceases speaking.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonI MADE a covenant with mine eyes, that I would not gaze on a virgin:

BrentonI made a covenant with mine eyes, and I will not think upon a virgin.

GreekΔιαθήκην ἐθέμην τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς μου, καὶ οὐ συνήσω ἐπὶ παρθένον.

KJVI made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

JPSI made a covenant with mine eyes; How then should I look upon a maid?

Thomsonyet what portion hath God dealt out from above?

BrentonNow what portion has God given from above? and is there an inheritance given of the Mighty One from the highest?

GreekΚαὶ τί ἐμέρισεν ὁ Θεὸς ἄνωθεν, καὶ κληρονομία ἱκανοῦ ἐξ ὑψίστων;

KJVFor what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

JPSFor what would be the portion of God from above, And the heritage of the Almighty from on high?

ThomsonAnd what, alas, the lasting portion from on high? ’Destruction is for the wicked and banishment for transgressors.’

BrentonAlas! destruction to the unrighteous, and rejection to them that do iniquity.

GreekΟὐαί, ἀπώλεια τῷ ἀδίκῳ, καὶ ἀπαλλοτρίωσις τοῖς ποιοῦσιν ἀνομίαν.

KJVIs not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?

JPSIs it not calamity to the unrighteous, And disaster to the workers of iniquity?

ThomsonWhy will He not behold my way and number all my steps?

BrentonWill he not see my way, and number all my steps?

GreekΟὐχὶ αὐτὸς ὄψεται ὁδόν μου, καὶ πάντα τὰ διαβήματά μου ἐξαριθμήσεται;

KJVDoth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?

JPSDoth not He see my ways, And count all my steps?

Thomson—

BrentonBut if I had gone with scorners, and if too my foot has hasted to deceit:

GreekΕἰ δὲ ἤμην πεπορευμένος μετὰ γελοιαστῶν, εἰ δὲ καὶ ἐσπούδασεν ὁ πούς μου εἰς δόλον·

KJVIf I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;

JPSIf I have walked with vanity, And my foot hath hasted to deceit—

ThomsonFor I have been weighed in a just balance; and the Lord knoweth mine integrity.

Brenton(for I am weighed in a just balance, and the Lord knows my innocence:)

GreekἝσταμαι γὰρ ἐν ζυγῷ δικαίῳ, οἶδε δὲ ὁ Κύριος τὴν ἀκακίαν μου·

KJVLet me be weighed in an even balance that God may know mine integrity.

JPSLet me be weighed in a just balance, That God may know mine integrity—

ThomsonIf my foot hath deviated from the way or my heart gone astray after mine eyes; or if with my hands I have touched bribes:

Brentonif my foot has turned aside out of the way, or if mine heart has followed mine eye, and if too I have touched gifts with my hands;

GreekΕἰ ἐξέκλινεν ὁ πούς μου ἐκ τῆς ὁδοῦ, εἰ δὲ καὶ τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ ἐπηκολούθησεν ἡ καρδία μου, εἰ δὲ καὶ ταῖς χερσί μου ἡψάμην δώρων,

KJVIf my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;

JPSIf my step hath turned out of the way, And my heart walked after mine eyes, And if any spot hath cleaved to my hands;

Thomsonmay I sow and others eat; and let me have no root in the land.

Brentonthen let me sow, and let others eat; and let me be uprooted on the earth.

Greekσπείραιμι ἄρα καὶ ἄλλοι φάγοισαν, ἄῤῥιζος δὲ γενοίμην ἐπὶ γῆς.

KJVThen let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.

JPSThen let me sow, and let another eat; Yea, let the produce of my field be rooted out.

ThomsonIf my heart hath gone after another man’s wife, or if I have lain in wait at her gates;

BrentonIf my heart has gone forth after another man's wife, and if I laid wait at her doors;

GreekΕἰ ἐξηκολούθησεν ἡ καρδία μου γυναικὶ ἀνδρὸς ἑτέρου, εἰ καὶ ἐγκάθετος ἐγενόμην ἐπὶ θύραις αὐτῆς,

KJVIf mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour’s door;

JPS—

Thomsonlet my wife gratify another, and mine infant children be dishonoured.

Brentonthen let my wife also please another, and let my children be brought low.

Greekἀρέσαι ἄρα καὶ ἡ γυνή μου ἑτέρῳ, τὰ δὲ νήπιά μου ταπεινωθείη.

KJVThen let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.

JPSThen let my wife grind unto another, And let others bow down upon her. .

ThomsonFor the defiling of another man’s wife exciteth a fury of wrath not to be restrained.

BrentonFor the rage of anger is not to be controlled, in the case of defiling another man's wife.

GreekΘυμὸς γὰρ ὀργῆς ἀκατάσχετος, τὸ μιᾶναι ἀνδρὸς γυναῖκα.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonFor it is a fire burning in all the limbs; which will not go out, till it hath utterly consumed.

BrentonFor it is a fire burning on every side, and whomsoever it attacks, it utterly destroys.

GreekΠῦρ γάρ ἐστι καιόμενον ἐπὶ πάντων τῶν μερῶν, οὗδʼ ἂν ἐπέλθῃ ἐκ ῥιζῶν ἀπώλεσεν.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonAnd if too I despised the judgment of my servant or my handmaid, when they pleaded with me;

GreekΕἰ δὲ καὶ ἐφαύλισα κρίμα θεράποντός μου ἢ θεραπαίνης, κρινομένων αὐτῶν πρὸς μὲ,

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonwhat shall I do when the Lord maketh inquest? And when He visiteth, what answer shall I make?

Brentonwhat then shall I do if the Lord should try me? and if also he should at all visit me, can I make an answer?

Greekτί γὰρ ποιήσω ἐὰν ἔτασίν μου ποιῆται ὁ Κύριος; ἐὰν δὲ καὶ ἐπισκοπήν τινα, ἀπόκρισιν ποιήσομαι;

KJVWhat then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?

JPSWhat then shall I do when God riseth up? And when He remembereth, what shall I answer Him?

ThomsonWas not I formed in the womb as they were? And were we not alike fashioned in the belly?

BrentonWere not they too formed as I also was formed in the womb? yea, we were formed in the same womb.

GreekΠότερον οὐχ ὡς καὶ ἐγὼ ἐγενόμην ἐν γαστρὶ, καὶ ἐκεῖνοι γεγόνασι; γεγόναμεν δὲ ἐν τῇ αὐτῇ κοιλίᾳ.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonFar from depriving the poor of what they had, or causing the heart of a widow to fail;

BrentonBut the helpless missed not whatever need they had, and I did not cause the eye of the widow to fail.

GreekἈδύνατοι δὲ χρείαν ἥν ποτε εἶχον οὐκ ἀπέτυχον, χήρας δὲ τὸν ὀφθαλμὸν οὐκ ἐξέτηξα·

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonif I have eaten my morsel alone, and have not shared it with the orphan;

BrentonAnd if too I ate my morsel alone, and did not impart of it to the orphan;

GreekΕἰ δὲ καὶ τὸν ψωμόν μου ἔφαγον μόνος, καὶ οὐχὶ ὀρφανῷ μετέδωκα·

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson(for from my youth I as a father nourished them, and was their guide from my mother’s womb)

Brenton(for I nourished them as a father from my youth, and guided them from my mother's womb.)

GreekὍτι ἐκ νεότητός μου ἐξέτρεφον ὡς πατὴρ, καὶ ἐκ γαστρὸς μητρός μου ὡδήγησα·

KJV(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother’s womb;)

JPSNay, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And I have been her guide from my mother’s womb.

ThomsonIf I have seen the naked perishing and have not clothed them;

BrentonAnd if too I overlooked the naked as he was perishing, and did not clothe him;

GreekΕἰ δὲ καὶ ὑπερεῖδον γυμνὸν ἀπολλύμενον, καὶ οὐκ ἠμφίασα αὐτόν·

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonand if the poor have not blessed me, and their shoulders been warmed with the fleece of my lambs;

Brentonand if the poor did not bless me, and their shoulders were not warmed with the fleece of my lambs;

GreekἈδύνατοι δὲ εἰ μὴ εὐλόγησάν με, ἀπὸ δὲ κουρᾶς ἀμνῶν μοῦ ἐθερμάνθησαν οἱ ὦμοι αὐτῶν·

KJVIf his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

JPSIf his loins have not blessed me, And if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

Thomson—

Brentonif I lifted my hand against an orphan, trusting that my strength was far superior to his:

GreekΕἰ ἐπῆρα ὀρφανῷ χεῖρα, πεποιθὼς ὅτι πολλή μοι βοήθεια περίεστιν·

KJVIf I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:

JPSIf I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, Because I saw my help in the gate;

Thomsonmay my shoulder bone be dislocated, and my arm broken at the elbow.

Brentonlet then my shoulder start from the blade-bone, and my arm be crushed off from the elbow.

GreekἈποσταίη ἄρα ὁ ὦμός μου ἀπὸ τῆς κλειδός, ὁ δὲ βραχίων μου ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀγκῶνος συντριβείη.

KJVThen let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.

JPSThen let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, And mine arm be broken from the bone.

ThomsonFor the fear of the Lord restrained me, and the burden of that I could not endure.

BrentonFor the fear of the Lord constrained me, and I cannot bear up by reason of his burden.

GreekΦόβος γὰρ Κυρίου συνέσχε με, ἀπὸ τοῦ λήμματος αὐτοῦ οὐχ ὑποίσω.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonIf I have made gold my measure, or placed my confidence in precious stones:

BrentonIf I made gold my treasure, and if too I trusted the precious stone;

GreekΕἰ ἔταξα χρυσίον εἰς χοῦν μου, εἰ δὲ καὶ λίθῳ πολυτελεῖ ἐπεποίθησα,

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonor if I have exulted because my wealth was great, or laid my hand on what was not counted out to me:

Brentonand if too I rejoiced when my wealth was abundant, and if too I laid my hand on innumerable treasures:

Greekεἰ δὲ καὶ εὐφράνθην πολλοῦ πλούτου μου γενομένου, εἰ δὲ καὶ ἐπʼ ἀναριθμήτοις ἐθέμην χεῖρά μου·

KJVIf I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;

JPSIf I rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gotten much;

Thomson(do we not see the refulgent sun sometimes eclipsed, and the moon continually changing? for it is not in them to be steadfast):

Brenton(do we not see the shining sun eclipsed, and the moon waning? for they have not power to continue:)

GreekἪ οὐχ ὁρῶμεν ἥλιον τὸν ἐπιθαύσκοντα ἐκλείποντα, σελήνην δὲ φθίνουσαν; οὐ γὰρ ἐπʼ αὐτοῖς ἐστί·

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonor if then my heart hath been secretly enticed, and I have laid my hand on my mouth and kissed it;

Brentonand if my heart was secretly deceived, and if I have laid my hand upon my mouth and kissed it:

GreekΚαὶ εἰ ἠπατήθη λάθρα ἡ καρδία μου, εἰ δὲ χεῖρά μου ἐπιθεὶς ἐπὶ στόματί μου ἐφίλησα.

KJVAnd my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:

JPSAnd my heart hath been secretly enticed, And my mouth hath kissed my hand;

Thomsonlet this be reckoned to me as the greatest transgression, that I have lied in the presence of the Lord, the Most High.

Brentonlet this also then be reckoned to me as the greatest iniquity: for I should have lied against the Lord Most High.

GreekΚαὶ τοῦτό μοι ἄρα ἀνομία ἡ μεγίστη λογισθείη, ὅτι ἐψευσάμην ἐναντίον Κυρίου τοῦ ὑψίστου.

KJVThis also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.

JPSThis also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have lied to God that is above.

ThomsonIf I have rejoiced at the downfall of mine enemies, and my heart hath said, Aha!

BrentonAnd if too I was glad at the fall of mine enemies, and mine heart said, Aha!

GreekΕἰ δὲ καὶ ἐπιχαρὴς ἐγενόμην πτώματι ἐχθρῶν μου, καὶ εἶπεν ἡ καρδία μου, εὖγε.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonLet mine ear hear myself cursed, and let me be a by-word among the people, when I am afflicted.

Brentonlet then mine ear hear my curse, and let me be a by-word among my people in my affliction.

GreekἈκούσαι ἄρα τὸ οὖς μου τὴν κατάραν μου, θρυληθείην δὲ ἄρα ὑπὸ λαοῦ μου κακούμενος.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonIf my maid servants have often said, O that we had some of his flesh-meat to eat! while I was living luxuriously:

BrentonAnd if too my handmaids have often said, Oh that we might be satisfied with his flesh; (whereas I was very kind:

GreekΕἰ δὲ καὶ πολλάκις εἶπον αἱ θεράπαιναί μου, τίς ἄν δῴη ἡμῖν τῶν σαρκῶν αὐτοῦ πλησθῆναι; λίαν μου χρηστοῦ ὄντος·

KJVIf the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.

JPS—

Thomson(indeed the stranger lodged not in the street, and my door was open to every comer:)

Brentonfor the stranger did not lodge without, and my door was opened to every one that came:)

GreekἜξω δὲ οὐκ ηὐλίζετο ξένος, ἡ δὲ θύρα μου παντὶ ἐλθόντι ἀνέῳκτο·

KJVThe stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.

JPSThe stranger did not lodge in the street; My doors I opened to the roadside.

ThomsonIf when I sinned inadvertently, I concealed my sin;

Brentonor if too having sinned unintentionally, I hid my sin;

GreekΕἰ δὲ καὶ ἁμαρτὼν ἀκουσίως ἔκρυψα τὴν ἁμαρτίαν μου·

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonfor I was not so awed by the multitude as not to mention it before them—(now if I had suffered a poor man to go from my door with an empty pocket,

Brenton(for I did not stand in awe of a great multitude, so as not to declare boldly before them:) and if too I permitted a poor man to go out of my door with an empty bosom:

GreekΟὐ γὰρ διετράπην πολυοχλίαν πλήθους, τοῦ μὴ ἐξαγορεῦσαι ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν· εἰ δὲ καὶ εἴασα ἀδύνατον ἐξελθεῖν θύραν μου κόλπῳ κενῷ·

KJVDid I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?

JPS—

Thomsonwho could have heard me with patience?). And if I had not feared the hand of the Lord

Brenton(Oh that I had a hearer,) and if I had not feared the hand of the Lord; and as to the written charge which I had against any one,

GreekΤίς δῴη ἀκούοντά μου; χεῖρα δὲ Κυρίου εἰ μὴ ἐδεδοίκειν· συγγραφὴν δὲ ἣν εἶχον κατά τινος,

KJVOh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.

JPSOh 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!

ThomsonI would have put on my shoulders the writing which I had against anyone, and have acknowledged it as a crown:

BrentonI would place it as a chaplet on my shoulders, and read it.

Greekἐπʼ ὤμοις ἂν περιθέμενος στέφανον ἀνεγίνωσκον,

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonBut if I did not tear it in pieces and give it up, without taking any thing from the debtor:

BrentonAnd if I did not read it and return it, having taken nothing from the debtor:

Greekκαὶ εἰ μὴ ῥῆξας αὐτὴν ἀπέδωκα, οὐθὲν λαβὼν παρὰ χρεωφειλέτου·

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonIf at any time the land groaned against me, and if its furrows mourned together;

GreekΕἰ ἐπʼ ἐμοί ποτε ἡ γῆ ἐστέναξεν, εἰ δὲ καὶ οἱ αὔλακες αὐτῆς ἔκλαυσαν ὁμοθυμαδόν·

KJVIf my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;

JPSIf my land cry out against me, And the furrows thereof weep together;

Thomsonif I have eaten alone the strength thereof without money, and by rapine caused the heart of the owner of the soil to grieve:

Brentonand if I ate its strength alone without price, and if too I grieved the heart of the owner of the soil, by taking aught from him:

GreekΕἰ δὲ καὶ τὴν ἰσχὺν αὐτῆς ἔφαγον μόνος ἄνευ τιμῆς, εἰ δὲ καὶ ψυχὴν κυρίου τῆς γῆς ἐκλαβὼν ἐλύπησα·

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonlet nettles spring up for me instead of wheat, and bramble bushes instead of barley.

Brentonthen let the nettle come up to me instead of wheat, and a bramble instead of barley. And Job ceased speaking.

GreekἈντὶ πυροῦ ἄρα ἐξέλθοι μοι κνίδη, ἀντὶ δὲ κριθῆς βάτος. Καὶ ἐπαύσατο Ἰὼβ ῥήμασιν.

KJVLet thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.

JPSLet thistles grow instead of wheat, And noisome weeds instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.