Job 31:17
 Job 31:17 
New International Version (©2011)
if I have kept my bread to myself, not sharing it with the fatherless--

New Living Translation (©2007)
Have I been stingy with my food and refused to share it with orphans?

English Standard Version (©2001)
or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Or have eaten my morsel alone, And the orphan has not shared it

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
if I have eaten my few crumbs alone without letting the fatherless eat any of it--

International Standard Version (©2012)
if I ate my meals by myself without feeding orphans,

NET Bible (©2006)
If I ate my morsel of bread myself, and did not share any of it with orphans--

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
or have eaten my food alone without letting the orphan eat any of it....

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it;

American King James Version
Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless has not eaten thereof;

American Standard Version
Or have eaten my morsel alone, And the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;

Douay-Rheims Bible
If I have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof:

Darby Bible Translation
Or have eaten my morsel alone, so that the fatherless ate not thereof,

English Revised Version
Or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;

Webster's Bible Translation
Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten of it;

World English Bible
or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it

Young's Literal Translation
And I do eat my morsel by myself, And the orphan hath not eat of it,

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 17. - Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof. With the widow, the fatherless is usually conjoined, as an equal object of compassion (see Exodus 22:22; Deuteronomy 10:18; Psalm 68:5; Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 22:3; Ezekiel 22:7; Zechariah 7:10, etc.). Eliphaz had specially charged Job with oppression of the fatherless (Job 22:9), and his charge had been denied by Job (Job 29:12). He now claims to have always shared his bread with orphans, and made them partakers or his abundance.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Or have eaten my morsel myself alone,.... Though he had kept no doubt a plentiful table in the time of his prosperity suitable to his circumstances, yet had been no luxurious person, and therefore calls provisions a "morsel"; however, be it what it would, more or less, he did not eat it alone; what he had for himself the poor had a share of it with him, and the same he ate himself he gave to them:

and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof: meaning the poor fatherless: for as to the rich fatherless, it was no charity to feed them: this verse contradicts the charge exhibited against him, Job 22:7.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

17. Arabian rules of hospitality require the stranger to be helped first, and to the best.


Job 31:17 Parallel Commentaries

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Job's Final Appeal
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; 18(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;) …

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.
Job 22:7 You gave no water to the weary and you withheld food from the hungry,
Job 29:12 because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist them.
Job 31:18 but from my youth I reared them as a father would, and from my birth I guided the widow--
Job 31:21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, knowing that I had influence in court,