English Standard Version

New American Standard Bible

Job’s Final Appeal

“I have made a covenant with my eyes;
how then could I gaze at a virgin?

1

Job Asserts His Integrity

“I have made a covenant with my eyes;
How then could I gaze at a virgin?

2

What would be my portion from God above
and my heritage from the Almighty on high?

2

“And what is the portion of God from above
Or the heritage of the Almighty from on high?

3

Is not calamity for the unrighteous,
and disaster for the workers of iniquity?

3

“Is it not calamity to the unjust
And disaster to those who work iniquity?

4

Does not he see my ways
and number all my steps?

4

“Does He not see my ways
And number all my steps?

5

“If I have walked with falsehood
and my foot has hastened to deceit;

5

“If I have walked with falsehood,
And my foot has hastened after deceit,

6

(Let me be weighed in a just balance,
and let God know my integrity!)

6

Let Him weigh me with accurate scales,
And let God know my integrity.

7

if my step has turned aside from the way
and my heart has gone after my eyes,
and if any spot has stuck to my hands,

7

“If my step has turned from the way,
Or my heart followed my eyes,
Or if any spot has stuck to my hands,

8

then let me sow, and another eat,
and let what grows for mea be rooted out.

8

Let me sow and another eat,
And let my crops be uprooted.

9

“If my heart has been enticed toward a woman,
and I have lain in wait at my neighbor’s door,

9

“If my heart has been enticed by a woman,
Or I have lurked at my neighbor’s doorway,

10

then let my wife grind for another,
and let others bow down on her.

10

May my wife grind for another,
And let others kneel down over her.

11

For that would be a heinous crime;
that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges;

11

“For that would be a lustful crime;
Moreover, it would be an iniquity punishable by judges.

12

for that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon,
and it would burn to the root all my increase.

12

“For it would be fire that consumes to Abaddon,
And would uproot all my increase.

13

“If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant,
when they brought a complaint against me,

13

“If I have despised the claim of my male or female slaves
When they filed a complaint against me,

14

what then shall I do when God rises up?
When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?

14

What then could I do when God arises?
And when He calls me to account, what will I answer Him?

15

Did not he who made me in the womb make him?
And did not one fashion us in the womb?

15

“Did not He who made me in the womb make him,
And the same one fashion us in the womb?

16

“If I have withheld anything that the poor desired,
or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

16

“If I have kept the poor from their desire,
Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

17

or have eaten my morsel alone,
and the fatherless has not eaten of it

17

Or have eaten my morsel alone,
And the orphan has not shared it

18

(for from my youth the fatherlessb grew up with me as with a father,
and from my mother’s womb I guided the widowc),

18

(But from my youth he grew up with me as with a father,
And from infancy I guided her),

19

if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,
or the needy without covering,

19

If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,
Or that the needy had no covering,

20

if his body has not blessed me,d
and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,

20

If his loins have not thanked me,
And if he has not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep,

21

if I have raised my hand against the fatherless,
because I saw my help in the gate,

21

If I have lifted up my hand against the orphan,
Because I saw I had support in the gate,

22

then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder,
and let my arm be broken from its socket.

22

Let my shoulder fall from the socket,
And my arm be broken off at the elbow.

23

For I was in terror of calamity from God,
and I could not have faced his majesty.

23

“For calamity from God is a terror to me,
And because of His majesty I can do nothing.

24

“If I have made gold my trust
or called fine gold my confidence,

24

“If I have put my confidence in gold,
And called fine gold my trust,

25

if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant
or because my hand had found much,

25

If I have gloated because my wealth was great,
And because my hand had secured so much;

26

if I have looked at the sune when it shone,
or the moon moving in splendor,

26

If I have looked at the sun when it shone
Or the moon going in splendor,

27

and my heart has been secretly enticed,
and my mouth has kissed my hand,

27

And my heart became secretly enticed,
And my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,

28

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

28

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

29

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

29

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

30

(I have not let my mouth sin
by asking for his life with a curse),

30

“No, I have not allowed my mouth to sin
By asking for his life in a curse.

31

if the men of my tent have not said,
‘Who is there that has not been filled with his meat?’

31

“Have the men of my tent not said,
‘Who can find one who has not been satisfied with his meat’?

32

(the sojourner has not lodged in the street;
I have opened my doors to the traveler),

32

“The alien has not lodged outside,
For I have opened my doors to the traveler.

33

if I have concealed my transgressions as others dof
by hiding my iniquity in my heart,

33

“Have I covered my transgressions like Adam,
By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,

34

because I stood in great fear of the multitude,
and the contempt of families terrified me,
so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors —

34

Because I feared the great multitude,
And the contempt of families terrified me,
And kept silent and did not go out of doors?

35

Oh, that I had one to hear me!
(Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!)
Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!

35

“Oh that I had one to hear me!
Behold, here is my signature;
Let the Almighty answer me!
And the indictment which my adversary has written,

36

Surely I would carry it on my shoulder;
I would bind it on me as a crown;

36

Surely I would carry it on my shoulder,
I would bind it to myself like a crown.

37

I would give him an account of all my steps;
like a prince I would approach him.

37

“I would declare to Him the number of my steps;
Like a prince I would approach Him.

38

“If my land has cried out against me
and its furrows have wept together,

38

“If my land cries out against me,
And its furrows weep together;

39

if I have eaten its yield without payment
and made its owners breathe their last,

39

If I have eaten its fruit without money,
Or have caused its owners to lose their lives,

40

let thorns grow instead of wheat,
and foul weeds instead of barley.”
The words of Job are ended.

40

Let briars grow instead of wheat,
And stinkweed instead of barley.”
The words of Job are ended.

Parallel

English Standard Version

New American Standard Bible

Job 31

Job 31