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Tuesday, August 26th, 2025
the Week of Proper 16 / Ordinary 21
the Week of Proper 16 / Ordinary 21
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THE MESSAGE
Job 31:28
This verse is not available in the MSG!
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- InternationalParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
this would also be an iniquity deserving punishment,for I would have denied God above.
this would also be an iniquity deserving punishment,for I would have denied God above.
Hebrew Names Version
This also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have denied the God who is above.
This also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have denied the God who is above.
King James Version
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.
English Standard Version
this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above.
this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above.
New Century Version
If I had, these also would have been sins to be punished, because I would have been unfaithful to God.
If I had, these also would have been sins to be punished, because I would have been unfaithful to God.
New English Translation
then this also would be iniquity to be judged, for I would have been false to God above.
then this also would be iniquity to be judged, for I would have been false to God above.
Amplified Bible
This also would have been [a heinous] sin calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above.
This also would have been [a heinous] sin calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above.
New American Standard Bible
That too would have been a guilty deed calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above.
That too would have been a guilty deed calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above.
World English Bible
This also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have denied the God who is above.
This also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have denied the God who is above.
Geneva Bible (1587)
(This also had bene an iniquitie to be condemned: for I had denied the God aboue)
(This also had bene an iniquitie to be condemned: for I had denied the God aboue)
Legacy Standard Bible
That too would have been an iniquity calling for judgment,For I would have denied God above.
That too would have been an iniquity calling for judgment,For I would have denied God above.
Berean Standard Bible
this would also be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have denied God on high.
this would also be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have denied God on high.
Contemporary English Version
Such horrible sins would have deserved punishment from God.
Such horrible sins would have deserved punishment from God.
Complete Jewish Bible
then this too would be a criminal offense, for I would have been lying to God on high.
then this too would be a criminal offense, for I would have been lying to God on high.
Darby Translation
This also would be an iniquity for the judge, for I should have denied the God who is above.
This also would be an iniquity for the judge, for I should have denied the God who is above.
Easy-to-Read Version
This is also a sin that must be punished. If I had worshiped them, I would have been unfaithful to God All-Powerful.
This is also a sin that must be punished. If I had worshiped them, I would have been unfaithful to God All-Powerful.
George Lamsa Translation
Then God has seen my crafty ways, and I have lied before him.
Then God has seen my crafty ways, and I have lied before him.
Good News Translation
Such a sin should be punished by death; it denies Almighty God.
Such a sin should be punished by death; it denies Almighty God.
Lexham English Bible
this also is an iniquity to be judged, for I have deceived God above.
this also is an iniquity to be judged, for I have deceived God above.
Literal Translation
this also would be an iniquity for the judges; for I would have denied God above.
this also would be an iniquity for the judges; for I would have denied God above.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
(that were a wickednesse worthy to be punyshed, for then shulde I haue denyed the God that is aboue.)
(that were a wickednesse worthy to be punyshed, for then shulde I haue denyed the God that is aboue.)
American Standard Version
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have denied the God that is above.
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have denied the God that is above.
Bible in Basic English
That would have been another sin to be rewarded with punishment by the judges; for I would have been false to God on high.
That would have been another sin to be rewarded with punishment by the judges; for I would have been false to God on high.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges; for I should have lied to God that is above.
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges; for I should have lied to God that is above.
King James Version (1611)
This also were an iniquitie to be punished by the Iudge: For I should haue denied the God that is aboue.
This also were an iniquitie to be punished by the Iudge: For I should haue denied the God that is aboue.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
(That were a wickednesse worthy to be punished: for then shoulde I haue denyed the God that is aboue.)
(That were a wickednesse worthy to be punished: for then shoulde I haue denyed the God that is aboue.)
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
let this also then be reckoned to me as the greatest iniquity: for I should have lied against the Lord Most High.
let this also then be reckoned to me as the greatest iniquity: for I should have lied against the Lord Most High.
English Revised Version
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges: for I should have lied to God that is above.
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges: for I should have lied to God that is above.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
which is the moost wickidnesse, and deniyng ayens hiyeste God;
which is the moost wickidnesse, and deniyng ayens hiyeste God;
Update Bible Version
This also was an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have denied the God that is above.
This also was an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have denied the God that is above.
Webster's Bible Translation
This also [were] an iniquity [to be punished by] the judge: for I should have denied the God [that is] above.
This also [were] an iniquity [to be punished by] the judge: for I should have denied the God [that is] above.
New King James Version
This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment, For I would have denied God who is above.
This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment, For I would have denied God who is above.
New Living Translation
If so, I should be punished by the judges, for it would mean I had denied the God of heaven.
If so, I should be punished by the judges, for it would mean I had denied the God of heaven.
New Life Bible
these also would be sins to be judged. It would say I did not know the God above.
these also would be sins to be judged. It would say I did not know the God above.
New Revised Standard
this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I should have been false to God above.
this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I should have been false to God above.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
That too, had been a judicial iniquity, For I should have been false to GOD, above.
That too, had been a judicial iniquity, For I should have been false to GOD, above.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Which is a very great iniquity, and a denial against the most high God.
Which is a very great iniquity, and a denial against the most high God.
Revised Standard Version
this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I should have been false to God above.
this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I should have been false to God above.
Young's Literal Translation
It also [is] a judicial iniquity, For I had lied to God above.
It also [is] a judicial iniquity, For I had lied to God above.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
That too would have been an iniquity calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above.
That too would have been an iniquity calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above.
Contextual Overview
24"Did I set my heart on making big money or worship at the bank? Did I boast about my wealth, show off because I was well-off? Was I ever so awed by the sun's brilliance and moved by the moon's beauty That I let myself become seduced by them and worshiped them on the sly? If so, I would deserve the worst of punishments, for I would be betraying God himself. 29"Did I ever crow over my enemy's ruin? Or gloat over my rival's bad luck? No, I never said a word of detraction, never cursed them, even under my breath. 31"Didn't those who worked for me say, ‘He fed us well. There were always second helpings'? And no stranger ever had to spend a night in the street; my doors were always open to travelers. Did I hide my sin the way Adam did, or conceal my guilt behind closed doors Because I was afraid what people would say, fearing the gossip of the neighbors so much That I turned myself into a recluse? You know good and well that I didn't.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
an: Job 31:11, Job 9:15, Job 23:7, Genesis 18:25, Deuteronomy 17:2-7, Deuteronomy 17:9, Judges 11:27, Psalms 50:6, Hebrews 12:23
for: Joshua 24:23, Joshua 24:27, Proverbs 30:9, Titus 1:16, 2 Peter 2:1, 1 John 2:23, Jude 1:4
Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 3:32 - lifted
Cross-References
Genesis 31:3
That's when God said to Jacob, "Go back home where you were born. I'll go with you."
That's when God said to Jacob, "Go back home where you were born. I'll go with you."
Genesis 31:55
Jacob learned that Laban's sons were talking behind his back: "Jacob has used our father's wealth to make himself rich at our father's expense." At the same time, Jacob noticed that Laban had changed toward him. He wasn't treating him the same. That's when God said to Jacob, "Go back home where you were born. I'll go with you." So Jacob sent word for Rachel and Leah to meet him out in the field where his flocks were. He said, "I notice that your father has changed toward me; he doesn't treat me the same as before. But the God of my father hasn't changed; he's still with me. You know how hard I've worked for your father. Still, your father has cheated me over and over, changing my wages time and again. But God never let him really hurt me. If he said, ‘Your wages will consist of speckled animals' the whole flock would start having speckled lambs and kids. And if he said, ‘From now on your wages will be streaked animals' the whole flock would have streaked ones. Over and over God used your father's livestock to reward me. "Once, while the flocks were mating, I had a dream and saw the billy goats, all of them streaked, speckled, and mottled, mounting their mates. In the dream an angel of God called out to me, ‘Jacob!' "I said, ‘Yes?' "He said, ‘Watch closely. Notice that all the goats in the flock that are mating are streaked, speckled, and mottled. I know what Laban's been doing to you. I'm the God of Bethel where you consecrated a pillar and made a vow to me. Now be on your way, get out of this place, go home to your birthplace.'" Rachel and Leah said, "Has he treated us any better? Aren't we treated worse than outsiders? All he wanted was the money he got from selling us, and he's spent all that. Any wealth that God has seen fit to return to us from our father is justly ours and our children's. Go ahead. Do what God told you." Jacob did it. He put his children and his wives on camels and gathered all his livestock and everything he had gotten, everything acquired in Paddan Aram, to go back home to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan. Laban was off shearing sheep. Rachel stole her father's household gods. And Jacob had concealed his plans so well that Laban the Aramean had no idea what was going on—he was totally in the dark. Jacob got away with everything he had and was soon across the Euphrates headed for the hill country of Gilead. Three days later, Laban got the news: "Jacob's run off." Laban rounded up his relatives and chased after him. Seven days later they caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead. That night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream and said, "Be careful what you do to Jacob, whether good or bad." When Laban reached him, Jacob's tents were pitched in the Gilead mountains; Laban pitched his tents there, too. "What do you mean," said Laban, "by keeping me in the dark and sneaking off, hauling my daughters off like prisoners of war? Why did you run off like a thief in the night? Why didn't you tell me? Why, I would have sent you off with a great celebration—music, timbrels, flutes! But you wouldn't permit me so much as a kiss for my daughters and grandchildren. It was a stupid thing for you to do. If I had a mind to, I could destroy you right now, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, ‘Be careful what you do to Jacob, whether good or bad.' I understand. You left because you were homesick. But why did you steal my household gods?" Jacob answered Laban, "I was afraid. I thought you would take your daughters away from me by brute force. But as far as your gods are concerned, if you find that anybody here has them, that person dies. With all of us watching, look around. If you find anything here that belongs to you, take it." Jacob didn't know that Rachel had stolen the gods. Laban went through Jacob's tent, Leah's tent, and the tents of the two maids but didn't find them. He went from Leah's tent to Rachel's. But Rachel had taken the household gods, put them inside a camel cushion, and was sitting on them. When Laban had gone through the tent, searching high and low without finding a thing, Rachel said to her father, "Don't think I'm being disrespectful, my master, that I can't stand before you, but I'm having my period." So even though he turned the place upside down in his search, he didn't find the household gods. Now it was Jacob's turn to get angry. He lit into Laban: "So what's my crime, what wrong have I done you that you badger me like this? You've ransacked the place. Have you turned up a single thing that's yours? Let's see it—display the evidence. Our two families can be the jury and decide between us. "In the twenty years I've worked for you, ewes and she-goats never miscarried. I never feasted on the rams from your flock. I never brought you a torn carcass killed by wild animals but that I paid for it out of my own pocket—actually, you made me pay whether it was my fault or not. I was out in all kinds of weather, from torrid heat to freezing cold, putting in many a sleepless night. For twenty years I've done this: I slaved away fourteen years for your two daughters and another six years for your flock and you changed my wages ten times. If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not stuck with me, you would have sent me off penniless. But God saw the fix I was in and how hard I had worked and last night rendered his verdict." Laban defended himself: "The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flock is my flock—everything you see is mine. But what can I do about my daughters or for the children they've had? So let's settle things between us, make a covenant—God will be the witness between us." Jacob took a stone and set it upright as a pillar. Jacob called his family around, "Get stones!" They gathered stones and heaped them up and then ate there beside the pile of stones. Laban named it in Aramaic, Yegar-sahadutha (Witness Monument); Jacob echoed the naming in Hebrew, Galeed (Witness Monument). Laban said, "This monument of stones will be a witness, beginning now, between you and me." (That's why it is called Galeed—Witness Monument.) It is also called Mizpah (Watchtower) because Laban said, " God keep watch between you and me when we are out of each other's sight. If you mistreat my daughters or take other wives when there's no one around to see you, God will see you and stand witness between us." Laban continued to Jacob, "This monument of stones and this stone pillar that I have set up is a witness, a witness that I won't cross this line to hurt you and you won't cross this line to hurt me. The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor (the God of their ancestor) will keep things straight between us." Jacob promised, swearing by the Fear, the God of his father Isaac. Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and worshiped, calling in all his family members to the meal. They ate and slept that night on the mountain. Laban got up early the next morning, kissed his grandchildren and his daughters, blessed them, and then set off for home.
Jacob learned that Laban's sons were talking behind his back: "Jacob has used our father's wealth to make himself rich at our father's expense." At the same time, Jacob noticed that Laban had changed toward him. He wasn't treating him the same. That's when God said to Jacob, "Go back home where you were born. I'll go with you." So Jacob sent word for Rachel and Leah to meet him out in the field where his flocks were. He said, "I notice that your father has changed toward me; he doesn't treat me the same as before. But the God of my father hasn't changed; he's still with me. You know how hard I've worked for your father. Still, your father has cheated me over and over, changing my wages time and again. But God never let him really hurt me. If he said, ‘Your wages will consist of speckled animals' the whole flock would start having speckled lambs and kids. And if he said, ‘From now on your wages will be streaked animals' the whole flock would have streaked ones. Over and over God used your father's livestock to reward me. "Once, while the flocks were mating, I had a dream and saw the billy goats, all of them streaked, speckled, and mottled, mounting their mates. In the dream an angel of God called out to me, ‘Jacob!' "I said, ‘Yes?' "He said, ‘Watch closely. Notice that all the goats in the flock that are mating are streaked, speckled, and mottled. I know what Laban's been doing to you. I'm the God of Bethel where you consecrated a pillar and made a vow to me. Now be on your way, get out of this place, go home to your birthplace.'" Rachel and Leah said, "Has he treated us any better? Aren't we treated worse than outsiders? All he wanted was the money he got from selling us, and he's spent all that. Any wealth that God has seen fit to return to us from our father is justly ours and our children's. Go ahead. Do what God told you." Jacob did it. He put his children and his wives on camels and gathered all his livestock and everything he had gotten, everything acquired in Paddan Aram, to go back home to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan. Laban was off shearing sheep. Rachel stole her father's household gods. And Jacob had concealed his plans so well that Laban the Aramean had no idea what was going on—he was totally in the dark. Jacob got away with everything he had and was soon across the Euphrates headed for the hill country of Gilead. Three days later, Laban got the news: "Jacob's run off." Laban rounded up his relatives and chased after him. Seven days later they caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead. That night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream and said, "Be careful what you do to Jacob, whether good or bad." When Laban reached him, Jacob's tents were pitched in the Gilead mountains; Laban pitched his tents there, too. "What do you mean," said Laban, "by keeping me in the dark and sneaking off, hauling my daughters off like prisoners of war? Why did you run off like a thief in the night? Why didn't you tell me? Why, I would have sent you off with a great celebration—music, timbrels, flutes! But you wouldn't permit me so much as a kiss for my daughters and grandchildren. It was a stupid thing for you to do. If I had a mind to, I could destroy you right now, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, ‘Be careful what you do to Jacob, whether good or bad.' I understand. You left because you were homesick. But why did you steal my household gods?" Jacob answered Laban, "I was afraid. I thought you would take your daughters away from me by brute force. But as far as your gods are concerned, if you find that anybody here has them, that person dies. With all of us watching, look around. If you find anything here that belongs to you, take it." Jacob didn't know that Rachel had stolen the gods. Laban went through Jacob's tent, Leah's tent, and the tents of the two maids but didn't find them. He went from Leah's tent to Rachel's. But Rachel had taken the household gods, put them inside a camel cushion, and was sitting on them. When Laban had gone through the tent, searching high and low without finding a thing, Rachel said to her father, "Don't think I'm being disrespectful, my master, that I can't stand before you, but I'm having my period." So even though he turned the place upside down in his search, he didn't find the household gods. Now it was Jacob's turn to get angry. He lit into Laban: "So what's my crime, what wrong have I done you that you badger me like this? You've ransacked the place. Have you turned up a single thing that's yours? Let's see it—display the evidence. Our two families can be the jury and decide between us. "In the twenty years I've worked for you, ewes and she-goats never miscarried. I never feasted on the rams from your flock. I never brought you a torn carcass killed by wild animals but that I paid for it out of my own pocket—actually, you made me pay whether it was my fault or not. I was out in all kinds of weather, from torrid heat to freezing cold, putting in many a sleepless night. For twenty years I've done this: I slaved away fourteen years for your two daughters and another six years for your flock and you changed my wages ten times. If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not stuck with me, you would have sent me off penniless. But God saw the fix I was in and how hard I had worked and last night rendered his verdict." Laban defended himself: "The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flock is my flock—everything you see is mine. But what can I do about my daughters or for the children they've had? So let's settle things between us, make a covenant—God will be the witness between us." Jacob took a stone and set it upright as a pillar. Jacob called his family around, "Get stones!" They gathered stones and heaped them up and then ate there beside the pile of stones. Laban named it in Aramaic, Yegar-sahadutha (Witness Monument); Jacob echoed the naming in Hebrew, Galeed (Witness Monument). Laban said, "This monument of stones will be a witness, beginning now, between you and me." (That's why it is called Galeed—Witness Monument.) It is also called Mizpah (Watchtower) because Laban said, " God keep watch between you and me when we are out of each other's sight. If you mistreat my daughters or take other wives when there's no one around to see you, God will see you and stand witness between us." Laban continued to Jacob, "This monument of stones and this stone pillar that I have set up is a witness, a witness that I won't cross this line to hurt you and you won't cross this line to hurt me. The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor (the God of their ancestor) will keep things straight between us." Jacob promised, swearing by the Fear, the God of his father Isaac. Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and worshiped, calling in all his family members to the meal. They ate and slept that night on the mountain. Laban got up early the next morning, kissed his grandchildren and his daughters, blessed them, and then set off for home.
Exodus 4:27
God spoke to Aaron, "Go and meet Moses in the wilderness." He went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him. Moses told Aaron the message that God had sent him to speak and the wonders he had commanded him to do.
God spoke to Aaron, "Go and meet Moses in the wilderness." He went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him. Moses told Aaron the message that God had sent him to speak and the wonders he had commanded him to do.
Ruth 1:14
Again they cried openly. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye; but Ruth embraced her and held on.
Again they cried openly. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye; but Ruth embraced her and held on.
1 Samuel 13:13
"That was a fool thing to do," Samuel said to Saul. "If you had kept the appointment that your God commanded, by now God would have set a firm and lasting foundation under your kingly rule over Israel. As it is, your kingly rule is already falling to pieces. God is out looking for your replacement right now. This time he'll do the choosing. When he finds him, he'll appoint him leader of his people. And all because you didn't keep your appointment with God !"
"That was a fool thing to do," Samuel said to Saul. "If you had kept the appointment that your God commanded, by now God would have set a firm and lasting foundation under your kingly rule over Israel. As it is, your kingly rule is already falling to pieces. God is out looking for your replacement right now. This time he'll do the choosing. When he finds him, he'll appoint him leader of his people. And all because you didn't keep your appointment with God !"
1 Kings 19:20
Elisha deserted the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Please! Let me kiss my father and mother good-bye—then I'll follow you." "Go ahead," said Elijah, "but, mind you, don't forget what I've just done to you."
Elisha deserted the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Please! Let me kiss my father and mother good-bye—then I'll follow you." "Go ahead," said Elijah, "but, mind you, don't forget what I've just done to you."
1 Corinthians 2:14
The unspiritual self, just as it is by nature, can't receive the gifts of God's Spirit. There's no capacity for them. They seem like so much silliness. Spirit can be known only by spirit—God's Spirit and our spirits in open communion. Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God's Spirit is doing, and can't be judged by unspiritual critics. Isaiah's question, "Is there anyone around who knows God's Spirit, anyone who knows what he is doing?" has been answered: Christ knows, and we have Christ's Spirit.
The unspiritual self, just as it is by nature, can't receive the gifts of God's Spirit. There's no capacity for them. They seem like so much silliness. Spirit can be known only by spirit—God's Spirit and our spirits in open communion. Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God's Spirit is doing, and can't be judged by unspiritual critics. Isaiah's question, "Is there anyone around who knows God's Spirit, anyone who knows what he is doing?" has been answered: Christ knows, and we have Christ's Spirit.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
This also [were] an iniquity [to be punished by] the judge,.... As well as adultery, Job 31:11; by the civil magistrates and judges of the earth, who are God's vicegerents, and therefore it behooves them to take cognizance of such an iniquity, and to punish for it, which affects in so peculiar a manner the honour and worship of the true God; this by the law of Moses was punished by stoning to death,
Deuteronomy 13:9; however this will be taken notice of and punished by God the Judge of all, whose law is broken hereby, and who will visit this iniquity more especially on those who commit it, and their posterity after them. Idolaters of every sort shall have their part and portion in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, Exodus 20:3; the consideration of its being such a heinous sin, and so deserving of punishment, deterred Job from it; the Targum paraphrases it, a most amazing iniquity, it being, as follows, a denial of the true God:
for I should have denied the God [that is] above; that is, had he worshipped the sun and moon secretly or openly; for, as the atheist denies him in words, the idolater denies him in facts, worshipping the creature besides the Creator, and giving his glory to another, and his praise to idols; which is a virtual denial of him, even of him who is above the sun and moon in place, being higher than the heavens; and in nature, excellency, and glory, being the Creator of them, and they his creatures; and in power and authority, who commands the sun, and it rises not, and has appointed the moon for seasons, Job 9:7.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judqe - Note Job 31:11. Among the Hebrews idolatry was an offence punishable by death by stoning; Deuteronomy 17:2-7. It is possible, also, that this might have been elsewhere in the patriarchal times a crime punishable in this manner. At all events, Job regarded it as a heinous offence, and one of which the magistrate ought to take cognizance.
For I should have denied the God that is above - The worship of the heavenly bodies would have been in fact the denial of the existence of any Superior Being. This, in fact, always occurs, for idolaters have no knowledge of the true God.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Job 31:28. For I should have denied the God that is above. — Had I paid Divine adoration to them, I should have thereby denied the God that made them.
