# Job 31.39

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-06-01 | updated: 2026-06-01 -->

**Book:** [Job](/codex/job/) · NASB95

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 37. I would declare unto him the number of my steps; As a prince would I go near unto him. 38. If my land crieth out against me, And the furrows thereof weep together;
>
> **39. If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, Or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:**
>
> 40. Let thistles grow instead of wheat, And cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended. (Job 31:37-40, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 37. I would declare to him the number of my steps. as a prince would I go near to him. 38. If my land cries out against me, and its furrows weep together;
>
> **39. if I have eaten its fruits without money, or have caused its owners to lose their life,**
>
> 40. let briers grow instead of wheat, and stinkweed instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended. (Job 31:37-40, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 37. I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him. 38. If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain; <sup>complain: Heb. weep</sup>
>
> **39. If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life: <sup>fruits: Heb. strength</sup> <sup>the owners: Heb. the soul of the owners thereof to expire, or, breathe out</sup>**
>
> 40. Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended. <sup>cockle: or, noisome weeds</sup> (Job 31:37-40, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 37. The number of my steps I tell Him, As a leader I approach Him. 38. If against me my land doth cry out, And together its furrows weep,
>
> **39. If its strength I consumed without money, And the life of its possessors, I have caused to breathe out,**
>
> 40. Instead of wheat let a thorn go forth, And instead of barley a useless weed! The words of Job are finished. (Job 31:37-40, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** _TBD_
- **Audience:** _TBD_
- **Location:** _TBD_
- **Time period:** _TBD_

## Theological reading

_Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added._

## Key words

_Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap._

- _TBD_
- _TBD_
- _TBD_
- _TBD_
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_Scripture quotations taken from the **New American Standard Bible®** (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by **The Lockman Foundation**. Used by permission. All rights reserved. [www.lockman.org](https://www.lockman.org)_

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.