Job 31:16
◄  Job 31:16  ►
New International Version (©2011)
"If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary,

New Living Translation (©2007)
"Have I refused to help the poor, or crushed the hopes of widows?

English Standard Version (©2001)
“If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"If I have kept the poor from their desire, Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
If I have refused the wishes of the poor or let the widow's eyes go blind,

International Standard Version (©2012)
"If I refused to grant the desire of the poor or exhausted the eyes of the widow,

NET Bible (©2006)
If I have refused to give the poor what they desired, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
"If I have refused the requests of the poor or made a widow's eyes stop [looking for help],

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

American King James Version
If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

American Standard Version
If I have withheld the poor from their desire, Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

Douay-Rheims Bible
If I have denied to the poor what they desired, and have made the eyes of the widow wait:

Darby Bible Translation
If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

English Revised Version
If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

Webster's Bible Translation
If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

World English Bible
"If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

Young's Literal Translation
If I withhold from pleasure the poor, And the eyes of the widow do consume,

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

31:16-23 Job's conscience gave testimony concerning his just and charitable behaviour toward the poor. He is most large upon this head, because in this matter he was particularly accused. He was tender of all, and hurtful to none. Notice the principles by which Job was restrained from being uncharitable and unmerciful. He stood in awe of the Lord, as certainly against him, if he should wrong the poor. Regard to worldly interests may restrain a man from actual crimes; but the grace of God alone can make him hate, dread, and shun sinful thoughts and desires.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 16. - If I have withheld the poor from their desire. As Eliphaz had maintained (Job 22:6, 7), and as Job had already denied (Job 29:12, 16). The duty of relieving the poor, solemnly enjoined upon the people of Israel in the Law (Deuteronomy 15:7-11), was generally admitted by the civilized nations of antiquity. In Egypt it was especially insisted on. "The Egyptian's duties to mankind," says Dr. Birch, "were comprised in giving bread to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, clothes to the naked, oil to the wounded, and burial to the dead" ('Egypt from the Earliest Times,' p. 46). Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail. "Thou hast sent widows away empty," was one of the accusations of Eliphaz (Job 22:9). "I caused the widow's heart," replied Job, "to sing for joy" (Job 29:13). The widow's weakness has always been felt to give her a special claim on man's benevolence (see Exodus 22:22; Deuteronomy 14:29; Deuteronomy 16:11, 14; Deuteronomy 24:19; Deuteronomy 26:12, 13; Psalm 146:9; Proverbs 15:25; Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 7:6; Malachi 3:5; 1 Timothy 5:16; James 1:27).

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

If I have withheld the poor from their desire,.... Their reasonable desires, and which it was in his power to grant; as when they desired a piece of bread, being hungry, or clothes to cover them, being naked; but not unreasonable desires, seeking and asking great things for themselves, or unlimited and unbounded ones, such as the two sons of Zebedee desired of Christ, Mark 10:35;

or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail; through long waiting for, and expecting help and succour from him, and at last disappointed. Job did not use the widow in such a manner as to give her reason to hope for relief or counsel from him she came for, and make her wait long, and then send her away empty, as he was charged, Job 22:9; but he soon dispatched her, by granting her what she sued to him for.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

16. fail—in the vain expectation of relief (Job 11:20).

Job 31:16 Parallel Commentaries

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Job's Final Appeal
…15Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb? 16If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail; 17Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless has not eaten thereof; …

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Exodus 22:22 "Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless.
Job 5:16 So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.
Job 20:19 For he has oppressed the poor and left them destitute; he has seized houses he did not build.
Job 22:7 You gave no water to the weary and you withheld food from the hungry,
Job 22:9 And you sent widows away empty-handed and broke the strength of the fatherless.
Proverbs 22:22 Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court,
Proverbs 31:20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
Ezekiel 18:16 He does not oppress anyone or require a pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked.