Job 31:34 because I so feared the crowd and so dreaded the contempt of the clans that I kept silent and would not go outside--

◄ Job 31:34 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
because I so feared the crowd and so dreaded the contempt of the clans that I kept silent and would not go outside--

English Standard Version
because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors—

New American Standard Bible
Because I feared the great multitude, And the contempt of families terrified me, And kept silent and did not go out of doors?

King James Bible
Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
because I greatly feared the crowds, and the contempt of the clans terrified me, so I grew silent and would not go outside?

International Standard Version
Have I feared large crowds? Has my family's contempt ever terrified me so that I remained silent and wouldn't go outside?"

American Standard Version
Because I feared the great multitude, And the contempt of families terrified me, So that I kept silence, and went not out of the door-

Douay-Rheims Bible
If I have been afraid at a very great multitude, and the contempt of kinsmen hath terrified me: and I have not rather held my peace, and not gone out of the door.

Darby Bible Translation
Because I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and went not out of the door, ...

Young's Literal Translation
Because I fear a great multitude, And the contempt of families doth affright me, Then I am silent, I go not out of the opening.

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

31:33-40 Job clears himself from the charge of hypocrisy. We are loth to confess our faults, willing to excuse them, and to lay the blame upon others. But he that thus covers his sins, shall not prosper, Pr 28:13. He speaks of his courage in what is good, as an evidence of his sincerity in it. When men get estates unjustly, they are justly deprived of comfort from them; it was sown wheat, but shall come up thistles. What men do not come honestly by, will never do them any good. The words of Job are ended. They end with a bold assertion, that, with respect to accusation against his moral and religious character as the cause for his sufferings, he could appeal to God. But, however confident Job was, we shall see he was mistaken, chap. 40:4,5; 1Jo 1:8. Let us all judge ourselves; wherein we are guilty, let us seek forgiveness in that blood which cleanseth from all sin; and may the Lord have mercy upon us, and write his laws in our hearts!

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

34. Rather, the apodosis to Job 31:33, "Then let me be fear-stricken before a great multitude, let the contempt, &c., let me keep silence (the greatest disgrace to a patriot, heretofore so prominent in assemblies), and not go out," &c. A just retribution that he who hides his sin from God, should have it exposed before man (2Sa 12:12). But Job had not been so exposed, but on the contrary was esteemed in the assemblies of the "tribes"—("families"); a proof, he implies, that God does not hold him guilty of hiding sin (Job 24:16, contrast with Job 29:21-25).