Job 31:24
New International Version
“If I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security,’

New Living Translation
“Have I put my trust in money or felt secure because of my gold?

English Standard Version
“If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence,

Berean Standard Bible
If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security,

King James Bible
If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;

New King James Version
“If I have made gold my hope, Or said to fine gold, ‘You are my confidence’;

New American Standard Bible
“If I have put my confidence in gold, And called fine gold my trust,

NASB 1995
“If I have put my confidence in gold, And called fine gold my trust,

NASB 1977
“If I have put my confidence in gold, And called fine gold my trust,

Legacy Standard Bible
“If I have put my confidence in gold, And called fine gold my trust,

Amplified Bible
“If I have put my trust and confidence in gold, Or have declared fine gold my hope and assurance,

Christian Standard Bible
If I placed my confidence in gold or called fine gold my trust,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If I placed my confidence in gold or called fine gold my trust,

American Standard Version
If I have made gold my hope, And have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;

Contemporary English Version
I have never trusted the power of wealth,

English Revised Version
If I have made gold my hope, and have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"If I put my confidence in gold or said to fine gold, 'I trust you'....

Good News Translation
I have never trusted in riches

International Standard Version
"If I've put my confidence in gold, if I've told gold, 'You're my security,'

Majority Standard Bible
If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security,

NET Bible
"If I have put my confidence in gold or said to pure gold, 'You are my security!'

New Heart English Bible
"If I have made gold my hope, and have said to the fine gold, 'You are my confidence;'

Webster's Bible Translation
If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;

World English Bible
“If I have made gold my hope, and have said to the fine gold, ‘You are my confidence;’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
If I have made gold my confidence, "" And to the pure gold have said, My trust;

Young's Literal Translation
If I have made gold my confidence, And to the pure gold have said, 'My trust,'

Smith's Literal Translation
If I set gold my hope, and said to gold, My trust;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
If I have thought gold my strength, and have said to fine gold: My confidence:

Catholic Public Domain Version
If I have considered gold to be my strength, or if I have called purified gold ‘my Trust;’

New American Bible
Had I put my trust in gold or called fine gold my security;

New Revised Standard Version
“If I have made gold my trust, or called fine gold my confidence;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
If I have made gold my trust, or said about the precious stones, You are my confidence; or have said about fine gold, You are my hope;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
If I have made gold my trust and if I have said to precious stones: ‘you are my trust’, and if I have said to pure gold, ‘you are my hope’
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
If I have made gold my hope, And have said to the fine gold: 'Thou art my confidence';

Brenton Septuagint Translation
If I made gold my treasure, and if too I trusted the precious stone;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job's Final Appeal
23For calamity from God terrifies me, and His splendor I cannot overpower. 24If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security, 25if I have rejoiced in my great wealth because my hand had gained so much,…

Cross References
Matthew 6:19-21
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

1 Timothy 6:17
Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy.

Proverbs 11:28
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.

Mark 10:24-25
And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! / It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Luke 12:15-21
And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” / Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. / So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ ...

James 5:1-3
Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you. / Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. / Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days.

Psalm 49:6-7
They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches. / No man can possibly redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God.

Ezekiel 28:4-5
By your wisdom and understanding you have gained your wealth and amassed gold and silver for your treasuries. / By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, but your heart has grown proud because of it.

Matthew 19:21-22
Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” / When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.

Colossians 3:5
Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.

Proverbs 23:4-5
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself. / When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.

Luke 16:13
No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. / For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. / The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.

Jeremiah 9:23-24
This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. / But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth—for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.

Zephaniah 1:18
Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the Day of the LORD’s wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of His jealousy.” For indeed, He will make a sudden end of all who dwell on the earth.


Treasury of Scripture

If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, You are my confidence;

Genesis 31:1
And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory.

Deuteronomy 8:12-14
Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; …

Psalm 49:6,7,17
They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; …

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Job 31
1. Job makes a solemn protestation of his integrity in several duties














If I have put my trust
The phrase "put my trust" in Hebrew is rooted in the word "בָּטַח" (batach), which conveys a sense of confidence, reliance, or security. In the ancient Near Eastern context, trust was often placed in tangible, earthly things, such as wealth or idols. Job is introspectively examining his heart, questioning whether he has misplaced his trust in material wealth rather than in God. This introspection is a call for believers to evaluate where their ultimate security lies, urging a reliance on God rather than on temporal possessions.

in gold
Gold, in the ancient world, was a symbol of wealth, power, and status. It was often used in trade and as a measure of wealth. The Hebrew word for gold, "זָהָב" (zahav), appears frequently in the Old Testament, often associated with opulence and idolatry. Job's mention of gold serves as a metaphor for material wealth and the temptation to idolize it. This reflects a broader biblical theme warning against the love of money, as seen in 1 Timothy 6:10, which states that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.

or called pure gold
The term "pure gold" emphasizes the highest quality and value of gold, known in Hebrew as "כֶּתֶם" (kethem). This term is used to describe gold that is refined and free from impurities, symbolizing the ultimate form of earthly wealth. Job's rhetorical question challenges the reader to consider whether they have elevated material wealth to a status of ultimate importance, akin to a deity. The purity of the gold contrasts with the purity of heart that God desires, as seen in Psalm 51:10, where David asks God to create a pure heart within him.

my security
The word "security" in this context is derived from the Hebrew "מִבְטָח" (mivtach), which signifies a place of refuge or safety. In the ancient world, security was often sought in fortified cities, armies, or wealth. Job's reflection highlights the futility of seeking security in anything other than God. This aligns with Proverbs 18:10, which declares that the name of the Lord is a strong tower, providing true safety for the righteous. Job's statement serves as a reminder that true security is found in a relationship with God, not in the accumulation of wealth.

(24) If I have made gold my hope.--He here refers to the admonition of Eliphaz (Job 22:23-24), and declares that such had not been his practice.

Verse 24. - If I have made gold my hope. This is a sin with which the patriarch had not been directly charged. But it had been more or less insinuated (see Job 15:28; Job 20:10, 15, 19; Job 22:24, etc.). He may also, perhaps, have felt some inclination to it. Or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence. (On the wicked man's trust in riches, see Psalm 49:6; Psalm 52:7; Psalm 62:10; Mark 10:24; Luke 12:16-19.)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
If
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

I have put
שַׂ֣מְתִּי (śam·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

my trust
כִּסְלִ֑י (kis·lî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3689: Fatness, the loin, the viscera, silliness, trust

in gold
זָהָ֣ב (zā·hāḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2091: Gold, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky

or called
אָמַ֥רְתִּי (’ā·mar·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

pure gold
וְ֝לַכֶּ֗תֶם (wə·lak·ke·ṯem)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3800: Something carved out, ore, gold

my security,
מִבְטַחִֽי׃ (miḇ·ṭa·ḥî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 4009: A refuge, security, assurance


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OT Poetry: Job 31:24 If I have made gold my hope (Jb)
Job 31:23
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