Job 31:35
New International Version
(“Oh, that I had someone to hear me! I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser put his indictment in writing.

New Living Translation
“If only someone would listen to me! Look, I will sign my name to my defense. Let the Almighty answer me. Let my accuser write out the charges against me.

English Standard Version
Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!

Berean Standard Bible
(Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment.

King James Bible
Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.

New King James Version
Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my mark. Oh, that the Almighty would answer me, That my Prosecutor had written a book!

New American Standard Bible
“Oh that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature; Let the Almighty answer me! And the indictment which my adversary has written,

NASB 1995
“Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold, here is my signature; Let the Almighty answer me! And the indictment which my adversary has written,

NASB 1977
“Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold, here is my signature; Let the Almighty answer me! And the indictment which my adversary has written,

Legacy Standard Bible
Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold, here is my signature; Let the Almighty answer me! And the indictment which my accuser has written,

Amplified Bible
“Oh, that I had one to listen to me! Look, here is my signature (mark); Let the Almighty answer me! Let my adversary write out His indictment [and put His vague accusations in tangible form].

Christian Standard Bible
If only I had someone to hear my case! Here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me. Let my Opponent compose his indictment.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If only I had someone to hear my case! Here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me. Let my Opponent compose His indictment.

American Standard Version
Oh that I had one to hear me! (Lo, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me) And that I had the indictment which mine adversary hath written!

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But The Giver who hears me, if he is God, he will answer me, and he will write in a scroll his judgments of a man

Brenton Septuagint Translation
(Oh that I had a hearer,) and if I had not feared the hand of the Lord; and as to the written charge which I had against any one,

Contemporary English Version
Why doesn't God All-Powerful listen and answer? If God has something against me, let him speak up or put it in writing!

Douay-Rheims Bible
Who would grant me a hearer, that the Almighty may hear my desire; and that he himself that judgeth would write a book,

English Revised Version
Oh that I had one to hear me! (lo, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me;) and that I had the indictment which mine adversary hath written!

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"If only I had someone who would listen to me! Look, here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me. Let the prosecutor write [his complaint] on a scroll.

Good News Translation
Will no one listen to what I am saying? I swear that every word is true. Let Almighty God answer me. If the charges my opponent brings against me were written down so that I could see them,

International Standard Version
"Who will grant me a hearing? Here's my signature —let the Almighty answer! Since my adversary indicted me,

JPS Tanakh 1917
Oh that I had one to hear me!-- Lo, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me-- And that I had the indictment which mine adversary hath written!

Literal Standard Version
Who gives to me a hearing? Behold, my mark. The Mighty One answers me, | And my adversary has written a bill.

Majority Standard Bible
(Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment.

New American Bible
Oh, that I had one to hear my case: here is my signature: let the Almighty answer me! Let my accuser write out his indictment!

NET Bible
"If only I had someone to hear me! Here is my signature--let the Almighty answer me! If only I had an indictment that my accuser had written.

New Revised Standard Version
O that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) O that I had the indictment written by my adversary!

New Heart English Bible
oh that I had one to hear me. (look, here is my signature, let Shaddai answer me); let the accuser write my indictment.

Webster's Bible Translation
Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that my adversary had written a book.

World English Bible
oh that I had one to hear me! Behold, here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me! Let the accuser write my indictment!

Young's Literal Translation
Who giveth to me a hearing? lo, my mark. The Mighty One doth answer me, And a bill hath mine adversary written.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job's Final Appeal
34because I greatly feared the crowds and the contempt of the clans terrified me, so that I kept silent and would not go outside— 35(Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment. 36Surely I would carry it on my shoulder and wear it like a crown.…

Cross References
Job 19:7
Though I cry out, 'Violence!' I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice.

Job 27:7
May my enemy be like the wicked and my opponent like the unjust.

Job 30:20
I cry out to You for help, but You do not answer; when I stand up, You merely look at me.

Job 30:24
Yet no one stretches out his hand to a ruined man when he cries for help in his distress.

Job 31:36
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder and wear it like a crown.

Job 35:14
How much less, then, when you say that you do not see Him, that your case is before Him and you must wait for Him,

Job 40:2
"Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who argues with God give an answer."


Treasury of Scripture

Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that my adversary had written a book.

Oh

Job 13:3
Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

Job 17:3
Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?

Job 23:3-7
Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! …

Job 13:21,22
Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid…

Psalm 26:1
A Psalm of David. Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.

mine

Job 13:24
Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?

Job 19:11,23,24
He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies…

Job 33:10,11
Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy, …

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Accusation Accuser Adversary Almighty Book Defense Desire Ear Hear Indictment Mark Mighty Ruler Sign Someone Write Written
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Accusation Accuser Adversary Almighty Book Defense Desire Ear Hear Indictment Mark Mighty Ruler Sign Someone Write Written
Job 31
1. Job makes a solemn protestation of his integrity in several duties














(35) Oh that one would hear me!--The rendering noticed in the margin is probably the right one--Oh that I had one to hear me! Lo, here is my mark! i.e., my signature, my declaration, which I am ready to subscribe; and oh that mine adversary had written a book! More correctly, perhaps, "That I had the book or indictment that my adversary hath written; would that I had it in black and white before me, that I might deal with it accordingly, and answer it point to point." Here, then, is the same deviation from strict sequence of order that we observed in Job 29:18. Job 31:35-37 ought to come after Job 31:38-40; but the writer's ideas of symmetry and order were not as ours, and this, in some respects, may be more natural, though, strictly speaking, less correct.

Verse 35. - Oh that one would hear me! i.e. Oh that I had an opportunity of plea, ling my cause before a just judge l of having charges openly brought against me, and having "one" to hear my reply to them! Job does not regard his "comforters" as such persons. They are prejudiced; they have even made themselves his accusers. Behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me; rather, behold here is my signature I let the Almighty answer me. This passage is parenthetic. Job would prefer to be judged by God, if it were possible, and therefore throws out the wish. Here is his plea in ch. 29-31; and here is his attestation by word of mouth, which is equivalent to his signature. And that mine adversary had written a book; or, had penned an indictment against me. Job would have matters brought to an issue. In default of a Divine trial and sentence, which he cannot expect, it would suffice tot him that his arraigner should formally draw out his list of charges, and present him with a copy, and so give him an opportunity of making answer to it. If this were done, then (he says) -

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Oh, that
מִ֤י (mî)
Interjection
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

I had
יִתֶּן־ (yit·ten-)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

one to hear
לִ֨י ׀ (lî)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

me!
שֹׁ֘מֵ֤עַֽ (šō·mê·a‘)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

Here is
הֶן־ (hen-)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 2005: Lo! behold!

my signature—
תָּ֭וִי (tā·wî)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8420: A mark, a signature

let the Almighty
שַׁדַּ֣י (šad·day)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 7706: The Almighty

answer me;
יַעֲנֵ֑נִי (ya·‘ă·nê·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

let my accuser
אִ֣ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

compose
כָּ֝תַ֗ב (kā·ṯaḇ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3789: To grave, to write

His indictment.
וְסֵ֥פֶר (wə·sê·p̄er)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5612: A missive, document, writing, book


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OT Poetry: Job 31:35 Oh that I had one to hear (Jb)
Job 31:34
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