Job 21:31
New International Version
Who denounces their conduct to their face? Who repays them for what they have done?

New Living Translation
No one criticizes them openly or pays them back for what they have done.

English Standard Version
Who declares his way to his face, and who repays him for what he has done?

Berean Standard Bible
Who denounces his behavior to his face? Who repays him for what he has done?

King James Bible
Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

New King James Version
Who condemns his way to his face? And who repays him for what he has done?

New American Standard Bible
“Who confronts him with his actions, And who repays him for what he has done?

NASB 1995
“Who will confront him with his actions, And who will repay him for what he has done?

NASB 1977
“Who will confront him with his actions, And who will repay him for what he has done?

Legacy Standard Bible
Who will declare to his face about his actions, And who will repay him for what he has done?

Amplified Bible
But who will confront him with his actions and rebuke him face to face, And who will repay him for what he has done?

Christian Standard Bible
Who would denounce his behavior to his face? Who would repay him for what he has done?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Who would denounce his behavior to his face? Who would repay him for what he has done?

American Standard Version
Who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?

Contemporary English Version
No one points out their sin or punishes them.

English Revised Version
Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Who will tell him to his face how he lived? Who will pay him back for what he did?

Good News Translation
There is no one to accuse the wicked or pay them back for all they have done.

International Standard Version
Who will expose his conduct to his face? Who will repay him for what he has done

Majority Standard Bible
Who denounces his behavior to his face? Who repays him for what he has done?

NET Bible
No one denounces his conduct to his face; no one repays him for what he has done.

New Heart English Bible
Who shall declare his way to his face? Who shall repay him what he has done?

Webster's Bible Translation
Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

World English Bible
Who will declare his way to his face? Who will repay him what he has done?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Who declares his way to his face? And [for] that which he has done, "" Who gives repayment to him?

Young's Literal Translation
Who doth declare to his face his way? And for that which he hath done, Who doth give recompence to him?

Smith's Literal Translation
Who shall announce his way upon his face? and who shall requite to him that he did?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who shall reprove his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Who will reprove his way to his face, and who will repay him for what he has done?

New American Bible
Who will charge him to his face about his conduct, and for what he has done who will repay him?

New Revised Standard Version
Who declares their way to their face, and who repays them for what they have done?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Who can show him the way? And who shall repay him for what he has done?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Who is showing him the way, and who is paying him what he did?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Who will tell him his way to his face, whereas he has done it? who shall recompense him?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job: God will Punish the Wicked
30Indeed, the evil man is spared from the day of calamity, delivered from the day of wrath. 31Who denounces his behavior to his face? Who repays him for what he has done? 32He is carried to the grave, and watch is kept over his tomb.…

Cross References
Psalm 73:3-12
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. / They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed. / They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men. ...

Ecclesiastes 8:11-13
When the sentence for a crime is not speedily executed, the hearts of men become fully set on doing evil. / Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence. / Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.

Jeremiah 12:1-2
Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? / You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts.

Psalm 37:1-2
Of David. Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong. / For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants.

Psalm 49:16-19
Do not be afraid when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases. / For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his abundance will not follow him down. / Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul—and men praise you when you prosper— ...

Malachi 3:15
So now we call the arrogant blessed. Not only do evildoers prosper, they even test God and escape.’”

Habakkuk 1:13
Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?

Psalm 10:3-6
For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD. / In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his schemes there is no God. / He is secure in his ways at all times; Your lofty judgments are far from him; he sneers at all his foes. ...

Proverbs 24:19-20
Do not fret over evildoers, and do not be envious of the wicked. / For the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.

Psalm 94:3-7
How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked exult? / They pour out arrogant words; all workers of iniquity boast. / They crush Your people, O LORD; they oppress Your heritage. ...

Luke 16:19-31
Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor. / And a beggar named Lazarus lay at his gate, covered with sores / and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. ...

Romans 2:5-6
But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. / God “will repay each one according to his deeds.”

James 5:1-6
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. ...

1 Timothy 6:9-10
Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. / For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Matthew 5:45
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.


Treasury of Scripture

Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he has done?

declare

2 Samuel 12:7-12
And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; …

1 Kings 21:19-24
And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine…

Psalm 50:21
These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

repay

Job 21:19
God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.

Job 41:11
Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.

Deuteronomy 7:10
And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.

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Actions Clear Conduct Confront Declare Declares Denounces Face Gives Punishment Recompence Repay Repays Requites Way
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Job 21
1. Job shows that even in the judgment of man he has reason to be grieved
7. Sometimes the wicked prosper, though they despise God
16. Sometimes their destruction is manifest
21. The happy and unhappy are alike in death
27. The judgment of the wicked is in another world














Who will confront him
The phrase "Who will confront him" speaks to the idea of accountability and justice. In the Hebrew text, the word for "confront" is "yagid," which implies declaring or making known. Job is questioning the absence of anyone who will stand up to the wicked and call them to account for their actions. This reflects a deep concern for moral order and justice, which is a recurring theme in the wisdom literature of the Bible. Historically, this reflects the ancient Near Eastern context where kings and rulers often acted with impunity, and the common people had little recourse to challenge them. Job's lament is a cry for divine justice in a world where human systems often fail.

with his ways?
The term "ways" in Hebrew is "derek," which means a path or course of life. It signifies not just actions but the overall conduct and character of a person. Job is highlighting the comprehensive nature of the wicked person's life, suggesting that their entire way of living is in question. This is consistent with the biblical understanding that God judges not just isolated actions but the heart and the path one chooses. Theologically, this points to the need for integrity and righteousness in one's entire life, not just in isolated deeds.

Who will repay him
The word "repay" comes from the Hebrew "shalam," which means to make whole or to recompense. It carries the idea of justice being served, of balance being restored. Job is questioning the apparent lack of divine retribution for the wicked. In the ancient world, the concept of retribution was central to justice, and Job's question reflects a struggle with the reality that the wicked often seem to prosper without facing consequences. This tension is a central theme in the book of Job, as it explores the mystery of God's justice and the suffering of the righteous.

for what he has done?
This phrase underscores the actions and deeds of the wicked. The Hebrew word "asah" means to do or to make, emphasizing the tangible actions that should warrant judgment. Job is perplexed by the lack of divine response to the deeds of the wicked. This reflects a broader biblical theme that God is ultimately just and will judge each person according to their deeds. In the New Testament, this is echoed in passages like Romans 2:6, which states that God "will repay each one according to his deeds." Job's lament is a call for divine justice and a reminder of the ultimate accountability every person faces before God.

Verse 31 - Who shall declare his way to his face? rather, Who shall denounce? i.e. Who will be bold enough to tell the rich and powerful man that he is wicked? that his "way," or course of life, is altogether wrong? And who shall repay him what he hath done? Still less will any one be found who will take upon him to attack such a one, to prosecute him in courts or otherwise bring him to condign punishment. Thus, being castigated neither by God nor man, he enjoys complete impunity.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Who
מִֽי־ (mî-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

will denounce
יַגִּ֣יד (yag·gîḏ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous

his behavior
דַּרְכּ֑וֹ (dar·kōw)
Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

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

his face?
פָּנָ֣יו (pā·nāw)
Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6440: The face

Who
מִ֣י (mî)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

will repay
יְשַׁלֶּם־ (yə·šal·lem-)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7999: To be safe, to be, completed, to be friendly, to reciprocate

him
לֽוֹ׃ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

for what he
וְהֽוּא־ (wə·hū-)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

has done?
עָ֝שָׂ֗ה (‘ā·śāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make


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OT Poetry: Job 21:31 Who shall declare his way to his (Jb)
Job 21:30
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