Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.
Parallel translations
- WEB (yes, I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking his life with a curse);
- BSB I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse—
- 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 3:9Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
- Rom 12:14Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
- Jas 3:9–10Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
- 1 Pet 2:22–23Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
- Exod 23:4–5If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
- Matt 5:43–44Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
- Matt 5:22But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
- Eccl 5:2Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
- Jas 3:6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
- Eccl 5:6Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
- Matt 12:36But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
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.