If ¹  I have rejoiced over the misfortune of my enemy ²  or exulted ³  because calamity ⁴  found him –

biblegateway Job 31:29

"Have I rejoiced at the extinction of my enemy, Or exulted when evil befell him?

Have I rejoiced over my enemy's distress, or become excited when trouble came his way?

"If I enjoyed the ruin of my enemy or celebrated when harm came to him

biblegateway Job 31:29

"If I have rejoiced at my enemy’s misfortune or gloated over the trouble that came to him—

"If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him

bibleoremus Job 31:29

"If I have rejoiced at the ruin of those who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook them—

Have I rejoiced at the ruin of anyone who hated me or been filled with glee when misfortune overtook him,

biblegateway Job 31:29

"If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, Or lifted myself up when evil found him

If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:

biblegateway Job 31:29

If ¹  I have rejoiced over the misfortune of my enemy ²  or exulted ³  because calamity ⁴  found him –

¹ tn The problem with taking this as “if,” introducing a conditional clause, is finding the apodosis, if there is one. It may be that the apodosis is understood, or summed up at the end. This is the view taken here. But R. Gordis (Job, 352) wishes to take this word as the indication of the interrogative, forming the rhetorical question to affirm he has never done this. However, in that case the parenthetical verses inserted become redundant.

² sn The law required people to help their enemies if they could (Exod 23:4; also Prov 20:22). But often in the difficulties that ensued, they did exult over their enemies’ misfortune (Pss 54:7; 59:10 [11], etc.). But Job lived on a level of purity that few ever reach. Duhm said, “If chapter 31 is the crown of all ethical developments of the O.T., verse 29 is the jewel in that crown.”

³ tn The Hitpael of עוּר (’ur) has the idea of “exult.”

⁴ tn The word is רָע (ra’, “evil”) in the sense of anything that harms, interrupts, or destroys life.