Job 14:16
New International Version
Surely then you will count my steps but not keep track of my sin.

New Living Translation
For then you would guard my steps, instead of watching for my sins.

English Standard Version
For then you would number my steps; you would not keep watch over my sin;

Berean Standard Bible
For then You would count my steps, but would not keep track of my sin.

King James Bible
For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?

New King James Version
For now You number my steps, But do not watch over my sin.

New American Standard Bible
“For now You number my steps, You do not observe my sin.

NASB 1995
“For now You number my steps, You do not observe my sin.

NASB 1977
“For now Thou dost number my steps, Thou dost not observe my sin.

Legacy Standard Bible
For now You number my steps, You do not keep watch over my sin.

Amplified Bible
“But now You number [each of] my steps; You do not observe nor take note of my sin.

Christian Standard Bible
For then you would count my steps but would not take note of my sin.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For then You would count my steps but would not take note of my sin.

American Standard Version
But now thou numberest my steps: Dost thou not watch over my sin?

Contemporary English Version
You would take care of me, but not count my sins--

English Revised Version
But now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Though now you count my steps, you will not keep [a record of] my sins.

Good News Translation
Then you will watch every step I take, but you will not keep track of my sins.

International Standard Version
Then you'll certainly count every step I took, but you won't keep an inventory of my sin.

Majority Standard Bible
For then You would count my steps, but would not keep track of my sin.

NET Bible
"Surely now you count my steps; then you would not mark my sin.

New Heart English Bible
But now you number my steps. Do you not watch over my sin?

Webster's Bible Translation
For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?

World English Bible
But now you count my steps. Don’t you watch over my sin?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
But now, You number my steps, "" You do not watch over my sin.

Young's Literal Translation
But now, my steps Thou numberest, Thou dost not watch over my sin.

Smith's Literal Translation
For now thou wilt count my steps: wilt thou not watch over my sin?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thou indeed hast numbered my steps, but spare my sins.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Indeed, you have numbered my steps, but you have been lenient with my sins.

New American Bible
Surely then you would count my steps, and not keep watch for sin in me.

New Revised Standard Version
For then you would not number my steps, you would not keep watch over my sin;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For now thou numberest not my steps: and thou keepest not watch over my sins.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because now, do not number my goings and do not hold my sins against me
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But now Thou numberest my steps, Thou dost not even wait for my sin;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But thou hast numbered my devices: and not one of my sins shall escape thee?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job Laments the Finality of Death
15You will call, and I will answer; You will desire the work of Your hands. 16For then You would count my steps, but would not keep track of my sin. 17My transgression would be sealed in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity.…

Cross References
Psalm 139:1-3
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O LORD, You have searched me and known me. / You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar. / You search out my path and my lying down; You are aware of all my ways.

Proverbs 5:21
For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and the LORD examines all his paths.

Hebrews 4:13
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Psalm 56:8
You have taken account of my wanderings. Put my tears in Your bottle—are they not in Your book?

Jeremiah 16:17
For My eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from My face, and their guilt is not concealed from My eyes.

2 Chronicles 16:9
For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be at war.”

Matthew 10:30
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Psalm 33:13-15
The LORD looks down from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. / From His dwelling place He gazes on all who inhabit the earth. / He shapes the hearts of each; He considers all their works.

Proverbs 15:3
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good.

1 Peter 3:12
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Psalm 90:8
You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence.

Luke 12:7
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Psalm 121:3-4
He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. / Behold, the Protector of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

Isaiah 29:15
Woe to those who dig deep to hide their plans from the LORD. In darkness they do their works and say, “Who sees us, and who will know?”

Romans 2:16
on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel.


Treasury of Scripture

For now you number my steps: do you not watch over my sin?

thou numberest

Job 10:6,14
That thou inquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin? …

Job 13:27
Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.

Job 31:4
Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?

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Job 14
1. Job entreats God for favor, by the shortness of life, and certainty of death
7. He waits for his change
16. By sin the creature is subject to corruption














For then You would count my steps
This phrase reflects Job's understanding of God's omniscience and meticulous attention to the details of human life. The Hebrew word for "count" is "saphar," which implies a careful and deliberate enumeration. In the ancient Near Eastern context, counting steps could symbolize God's intimate knowledge and involvement in the daily lives of individuals. Job acknowledges that God is aware of every action, every step he takes, which underscores the belief in a personal God who is deeply involved in His creation. This awareness can be both comforting and daunting, as it suggests that nothing escapes God's notice.

but would not keep track of my sin
Here, Job expresses a hope or wish that God, while being aware of his every step, would choose not to "keep track" of his sins. The Hebrew word for "keep track" is "shamar," which means to guard, watch, or preserve. In this context, it suggests the idea of God not holding onto or recording Job's sins. This reflects a deep yearning for divine mercy and forgiveness, a theme that resonates throughout the Bible. Job's plea is for a relationship with God that transcends mere legalistic accounting of sins, pointing towards a grace that overlooks transgressions. Historically, this reflects the ancient understanding of sin and atonement, where sacrifices and repentance were means to seek God's forgiveness. Job's statement is a profound expression of faith in God's capacity for mercy, even amidst suffering and confusion.

(16) For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?--"It is sealed up in a bag, and Thou fastenest up mine iniquity. But persecution so persistent would wear out the strongest, even as the mountain and the rock are gradually worn away. How much more then must I be the subject of decay? for Thou destroyest the hope of man when he dieth, so that he no longer has any interest in the welfare or any concern in the adversity of his children after him; only in his own person he has pain, and his own soul within him mourneth."

Verse 16. - For now thou numberest my steps; rather, but now. Job, at this point, proceeds to contrast his actual condition with the ideal one which (in vers. 13-15) his imagination has conjured up. God's actual attitude towards him he regards as one, not of protecting love, but of jealous hostility. His "steps" are observed, counted - every divergence from the right path is noted - a false step, if he makes one, is at once punished. Dost thou not watch over my sin? (comp. Job 10:14). Job's sins, he thinks, are watched for, spied out, taken note of, and remembered against him.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

then
עַ֭תָּה (‘at·tāh)
Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

You would count
תִּסְפּ֑וֹר (tis·pō·wr)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5608: To count, recount, relate

my steps,
צְעָדַ֣י (ṣə·‘ā·ḏay)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6806: A pace, regular step

but would not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

keep track
תִ֝שְׁמ֗וֹר (ṯiš·mō·wr)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

of
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

my sin.
חַטָּאתִֽי׃ (ḥaṭ·ṭā·ṯî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 2403: An offence, its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, expiation, an offender


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OT Poetry: Job 14:16 But now you number my steps (Jb)
Job 14:15
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