Job 31:39
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:
American King James Version (AKJV)
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:
American Standard Version (ASV)
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, Or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:
Basic English Translation (BBE)
If I have taken its produce without payment, causing the death of its owners;
Webster's Revision
If I have eaten the fruits of it without money, or have caused its owners to lose their life:
World English Bible
if I have eaten its fruits without money, or have caused its owners to lose their life,
English Revised Version (ERV)
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:
Definitions for Job 31:39
Clarke's Job 31:39 Bible Commentary
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money - I have never been that narrow-minded man who, through a principle of covetousness, exhausts his land, putting himself to no charges, by labor and manure, to strengthen it; or defrauds those of their wages who were employed under him. If I have eaten the fruits of it, I have cultivated it well to produce those fruits; and this has not been without money, for I have gone to expenses on the soil, and remunerated the laborers.
Or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life - Coverdale translates, Yee yf I have greved eny of the plowmen. They have not panted in labor without due recompense.
Barnes's Job 31:39 Bible Commentary
If I have eaten the fruits thereof - Margin, strength. The strength of the earth is that which the earth produces or which is the result of its strength. We speak now of a "strong soil " - meaning that it is capable of bearing much.
Without money - Hebrew "without silver " - silver being the principal circulating medium in early times. The meaning here is, "without paying for it;" either without having paid for the land, or for the labor. "Or have caused the owners thereof." Margin, the soul of the owners thereof to expire, or breathe out. The Hebrew is, "If I have caused the life of the owners (or lords) of it to breathe out." The meaning is, if I have appropriated to myself the land or labor of others without paying for it, so that their means of living are taken away. He disclaims all injustice in the case. He had not deprived others of their land by violence or fraud, so that they had no means of subsistence.
Wesley's Job 31:39 Bible Commentary
31:39 Without money - Either without paying the price for the land, or by defrauding my workmen of their wages. Life - Killing them that I might have undisturbed possession of it, as Ahab did Naboth.