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Sunday, August 17th, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible

New Century Version

Job 31:36

I would wear the writing on my shoulder; I would put it on like a crown.

Bible Study Resources

Dictionaries:

- Holman Bible Dictionary - Job, the Book of;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Bind;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Crown;   Elihu (2);   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Crown;   Manuscripts;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
I would surely carry it on my shoulderand wear it like a crown.
Hebrew Names Version
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; And I would bind it to me as a crown.
King James Version
Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.
English Standard Version
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown;
New English Translation
Surely I would wear it proudly on my shoulder, I would bind it on me like a crown;
Amplified Bible
"Surely I would [proudly] bear it on my shoulder, And bind the scroll around my head like a crown.
New American Standard Bible
I would certainly carry it on my shoulder, I would tie it to myself like a garland.
World English Bible
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; And I would bind it to me as a crown.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Woulde not I take it vpon my shoulder, and binde it as a crowne vnto me?
Legacy Standard Bible
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder;I would bind it to myself like a crown.
Berean Standard Bible
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder and wear it like a crown.
Contemporary English Version
Then I would wear his charges on my clothes and forehead.
Complete Jewish Bible
I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me like a crown.
Darby Translation
Would I not take it upon my shoulder? I would bind it on to me [as] a crown;
Easy-to-Read Version
I would wear it around my neck. I would put it on my head like a crown.
George Lamsa Translation
Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and make it a crown to me.
Good News Translation
I would wear them proudly on my shoulder and place them on my head like a crown.
Lexham English Bible
I would surely carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me like a crown.
Literal Translation
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder, and bind it like crowns to me.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then shall I take it vpon my shulder, & as a garlade aboute my heade.
American Standard Version
Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder; I would bind it unto me as a crown:
Bible in Basic English
Truly I would take up the book in my hands; it would be to me as a crown;
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder; I would bind it unto me as a crown.
King James Version (1611)
Surely I would take it vpon my shoulder, and bind it as a crowne to me.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Yet will I take it vpon my shoulder, & as a garlande binde it about my head.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
I would place it as a chaplet on my shoulders, and read it.
English Revised Version
Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder; I would bind it unto me as a crown.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
write a book, that Y bere it in my schuldre, and cumpasse it as a coroun to me?
Update Bible Version
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it to me as a crown:
Webster's Bible Translation
Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, [and] bind it [as] a crown to me.
New King James Version
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder, And bind it on me like a crown;
New Living Translation
I would face the accusation proudly. I would wear it like a crown.
New Life Bible
For sure I would carry it on my shoulder. I would tie it around my head like a crown.
New Revised Standard
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me like a crown;
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Oh! would I not, upon my shoulder, lift it, or bind it as a crown upon me;
Douay-Rheims Bible
That I may carry it on my shoulder, and put it about me as a crown?
Revised Standard Version
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown;
Young's Literal Translation
If not -- on my shoulder I take it up, I bind it a crown on myself.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder, I would bind it to myself like a crown.

Contextual Overview

33 I have not hidden my sin as others do, secretly keeping my guilt to myself. 34 I was not so afraid of the crowd that I kept quiet and stayed inside because I feared being hated by other families. 35 ("How I wish a court would hear my case! Here I sign my name to show I have told the truth. Now let the Almighty answer me; let the one who accuses me write it down. 36 I would wear the writing on my shoulder; I would put it on like a crown. 37 I would explain to God every step I took, and I would come near to him like a prince.) 38 "If my land cries out against me and its plowed rows are not wet with tears, 39 if I have taken the land's harvest without paying or have broken the spirit of those who worked the land, 40 then let thorns come up instead of wheat, and let weeds come up instead of barley." The words of Job are finished.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I: Exodus 28:12, Isaiah 22:22

a crown: Job 29:14, Isaiah 62:3, Philippians 4:1

Reciprocal: Job 19:7 - no judgment Isaiah 41:1 - let us

Cross-References

Genesis 30:2
Jacob became angry with her and said, "Can I do what only God can do? He is the one who has kept you from having children."
Genesis 31:19
While Laban was gone to cut the wool from his sheep, Rachel stole the idols that belonged to him.
Genesis 31:20
And Jacob tricked Laban the Aramean by not telling him he was leaving.
Genesis 34:7
When Jacob's sons heard what had happened, they came in from the field. They were very angry that Shechem had done such a wicked thing to Israel. It was wrong for him to have sexual relations with Jacob's daughter; a thing like this should not be done.
Genesis 49:7
May their anger be cursed, because it is too violent. May their violence be cursed, because it is too cruel. I will divide them up among the tribes of Jacob and scatter them through all the tribes of Israel.
Numbers 16:15
Then Moses became very angry and said to the Lord , "Don't accept their gifts. I have not taken anything from them, not even a donkey, and I have not done wrong to any of them."
2 Kings 5:11
Naaman became angry and left. He said, "I thought Elisha would surely come out and stand before me and call on the name of the Lord his God. I thought he would wave his hand over the place and heal the disease.
2 Kings 13:19
The man of God was angry with him. "You should have struck five or six times!" Elisha said. "Then you would have struck Aram until you had completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times."
Proverbs 28:1
Evil people run even though no one is chasing them, but good people are as brave as a lion.
Mark 3:5
Jesus was angry as he looked at the people, and he felt very sad because they were stubborn. Then he said to the man, "Hold out your hand." The man held out his hand and it was healed.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Surely I would take it upon my shoulder,.... The bill of indictment, the charge in writing; this he would take up and carry on his shoulder as a very light thing, having nothing weighty in it, no charge of sin and guilt to bear him down; nothing but what he could easily stand up under, only some trifling matter, which could not be interpreted sin; for anything of that kind would have been a burden too heavy for him to have borne: or else his sense is, that should he be convicted of any sin, he would openly confess the charge, acknowledge the sin in the most public manner, that being visible which is borne upon the shoulder; and would also patiently bear the afflictions and chastisements that were laid upon him for it: though rather the meaning is, that he should take up and carry such a bill, not as a burden, but as an honour, as one bears a sword of state, or carries a sceptre as an ensign of royalty on his shoulder; to which the allusion may be in Isaiah 9:6; not at all doubting but it would turn out to his glory; which is confirmed by what follows;

[and] bind it [as] a crown to me, or "crowns" q, having various circles of gold hung with jewels; signifying that he would not only take his bill or charge, and carry it on his shoulder, but put it on his head, and wear it there, as a king does his crown; which is an ornament and honour to him, as he should reckon this bill, seeing it would give him an opportunity of clearing himself effectually.

q עטרות "diademata", Montanus; "corollas", Tigurine version; "coronas", Vatablus, Piscator, Cocceius, Michaelis.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Surely, I would take it upon my shoulder - That is, the book or bill which the Almighty would write in the case. Job says that he has such confidence that what God would record in his case would be in his favor, such confidence that he had no charge of hypocrisy against him, and that he who knew him altogether would not bring such an accusation against him, that he would bear it off triumphantly on his shoulders. It would be all that he could desire. This does not refer to what a judge would decide if the cause were submitted to him, but to a case where an opponent or adversary in court should bring all that he could say against him. He says that he would bear even such a bill on his shoulders in triumph, and that it would be a full vindication of his innocence. It would afford him the best vindication of his character, and would be that which he had long desired.

And bind it as a crown to me - I would regard it as an ornament - a diadem. I would bind it on my head as a crown is worn by princes, and would march forth exultingly with it. Instead of covering me with shame, it would be the source of rejoicing, and I would exhibit it every where in the most triumphant manner. It is impossible for anyone to express a more entire consciousness of innocence from charges alleged against him than Job does by this language.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Job 31:36. Surely I would take it upon my shoulder — I would be contented to stand before the bar as a criminal, bearing upon my shoulder the board to which the accusation is affixed. In a book of Chinese punishments now before me, containing drawings representing various criminals brought to trial, in trial, and after trial, charged with different offences; in almost all of them a board appears, on which the accusation or crime of which they are accused, or for which they suffer, is fairly written. Where the punishment is capital, this board appears fastened to the instrument, or stuck near the place of punishment. In one case a large, heavy plank, through which there is a hole to pass the head, - or rather a hole fitting the neck, like that in the pillory, - with the crime written upon it, rests on the criminal's shoulders; and this he is obliged to carry about for the weeks or months during which the punishment lasts. It is probable that Job alludes to something of this kind, which he intimates he would bear about with him during the interim between accusation and the issue in judgment; and, far from considering this a disgrace, would clasp it as dearly as he would adjust a crown or diadem to his head; being fully assured, from his innocence, and the evidence of it, which would infallibly appear on the trial, that he would have the most honourable acquittal. There may also be an allusion to the manner of receiving a favour from a superior: it is immediately placed on the head, as a mark of respect; and if a piece of cloth be given at the temple, the receiver not only puts it on his head, but binds it there.


 
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