I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse—
Parallel translations
- WEB (yes, I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking his life with a curse);
- KJV Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.
- NKJV (Indeed I have not allowed my mouth to sin By asking for a curse on his soul);
- NASB “No, I have not allowed my mouth to sin By asking for his life in a curse.
- NLT No, I have never sinned by cursing anyone or by asking for revenge.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Job notes that he never even let his mouth sin by cursing an enemy's life. He restrained not only his actions but his words against foes.
Overview
Job adds that he never allowed himself to call down a curse seeking the death of one who hated him. His restraint extended to the words of his mouth, not merely outward deeds. Such control of speech toward enemies anticipates the gospel ethic of blessing rather than cursing, supremely modeled by Christ, who prayed for the forgiveness of those who crucified him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 1 Pet 3:9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
- Rom 12:14Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.
- Jas 3:9–10With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.
- 1 Pet 2:22–23“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.”
- Exod 23:4–5If you encounter your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him.
- Matt 5:43–44You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’
- Matt 5:22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.
- Eccl 5:2Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a word before God. After all, God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your words be few.
- Jas 3:6The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
- Eccl 5:6Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, and do not tell the messenger that your vow was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands?
- Matt 12:36But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Job's cry for a mediator who can lay his hand on both God and man, and his confidence that 'my Redeemer lives' and will stand on the earth, reaches forward to Jesus the living Redeemer.
How Job 31:30 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.