Job 31:28

then this ¹  also would be iniquity to be judged, ²  for I would have been false ³  to God above.

then these also would be sins to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.

That too would have been an iniquity calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above.

If so, I should be punished by the judges, for it would mean I had denied the God of heaven.

If so, I would deserve the worst of punishments, for I would be betraying God himself.

That would have been another sin to be rewarded with punishment by the judges; for I would have been false to God on high.

this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I should have been false to God above.

This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment, For I would have denied God who is above.

then this ¹  also would be iniquity to be judged, ²  for I would have been false ³  to God above.

¹ tn Heb “it.”

² tn See v. 11 for the construction. In Deut 17:2ff. false worship of heavenly bodies is a capital offense. In this passage, Job is talking about just a momentary glance at the sun or moon and the brief lapse into a pagan thought. But it is still sin.

³ tn The verb כָּחַשׁ (kakhash) in the Piel means “to deny.” The root meaning is “to deceive; to disappoint; to grow lean.” Here it means that he would have failed or proven unfaithful because his act would have been a denial of God.