1 “ I have made an agreement with my eyes not to look with desire at a young woman.

I dictated a covenant (an agreement) to my eyes; how then could I look upon a girl?

2 W hat would be my share from God above? What would my gift be from the All-powerful on high?

For what portion should I have from God above, and what heritage from the Almighty on high?

3 D oes not trouble come to those who are not right and good? Do not hard times come to those who do wrong?

Does not calamity befall the unrighteous, and disaster the workers of iniquity?

4 D oes He not see my ways and number all my steps?

Does not see my ways and count all my steps?

5 “ If I have walked in ways that are false, and my foot has been quick to follow false ways,

If I have walked with falsehood or vanity, or if my foot has hastened to deceit—

6 l et Him weigh me with a true weight. Let God know that I am honest.

Oh, let me be weighed in a just balance and let Him weigh me, that God may know my integrity!

7 I f my step has turned from the way, and my heart has followed my eyes, or if my hands have held on to sin,

If my step has turned out of way, and my heart has gone the way my eyes invited, and if any spot has stained my hands with guilt,

8 t hen let me plant and another eat. Let what grows be pulled out by the roots.

Then let me sow and let another eat; yes, let the produce of my field or my offspring be rooted out.

9 “ If my heart has been tempted by a woman, or I have waited at my neighbor’s door,

If my heart has been deceived and I made a fool by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbor’s door,

10 m ay my wife grind grain for another. And let others bow down upon her.

Then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down upon her.

11 F or that would be a very sinful thing to do. It would be a sin that would be punished by the judges.

For is a heinous and chief crime, an iniquity the judges and punishment.

12 F or that would be a fire that burns at the Place That Destroys. It would dig out all I have planted.

For is a fire which consumes to Abaddon (to destruction, ruin, and the place of final torment); and would burn to the root all my increase.

13 “ If I did not listen to my men servants and women servants when they complained against me,

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

14 w hat will I do when God speaks to me? When He asks me why, what will I answer Him?

What then shall I do when God rises up ? When He visits, what shall I answer Him?

15 D id not He Who made me inside my mother make him also? Did not the same One give us life from our mothers?

Did not He Who made me in the womb make ? And did not One fashion us both in the womb?

16 “ If I have kept what the poor should have or have caused the eyes of the woman whose husband has died to be tired,

If I have withheld from the poor and needy what they desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to look in vain,

17 i f I have eaten my food alone without sharing it with the child who has no parents,

Or have eaten my morsel alone and have not shared it with the fatherless—

18 ( but from the time I was young, he grew up with me as a father, and I have helped the woman without a husband since I was born,)

No, but from my youth grew up with me as a father, and I have been guide from my mother’s womb—

19 i f I have seen anyone die because he had no clothing, or left any poor person without clothes,

If I have seen anyone perish for want of clothing, or any poor person without covering,

20 i f he has not thanked me for the clothing on his body, and been made warm with the wool of my sheep,

If his loins have not blessed me, and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,

21 i f I have not done these things, or if I have lifted up my hand against the child who has no parents, because I saw I had help in the gate,

If I have lifted my hand against the fatherless when I saw my help at the gate,

22 l et my shoulder fall out of place, and let my arm be broken off at the joint.

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

23 F or trouble sent by God fills me with fear. Because of His great power I could not do these things.

For calamity from God was a terror to me, and because of His majesty I could not endure and could do nothing.

24 “ If I have put my faith in gold and said fine gold is my trust,

If I have made gold my trust and hope or have said to fine gold, You are my confidence,

25 i f I have had pride because of my many riches and have received much by my hand,

If I rejoiced because my wealth was great and because my hand had gotten much,

26 i f I have looked at the sun shining or the bright moon going on its way,

If I beheld the sunlight when it shone or the moon walking in its brightness,

27 a nd have in secret worshiped them in my heart, and have honored them by throwing them a kiss with my hand,

And my heart has been secretly enticed by them or my mouth has kissed my hand,

28 t hese also would be sins to be judged. It would say I did not know the God above.

This also would have been iniquity to demand the judges’ action and punishment, for I would have denied and been false to the God Who is above.

29 “ Have I been glad when a person who hated me was destroyed? Have I been filled with joy when trouble came to him?

If I rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me or lifted myself up when evil overtook him—

30 N o, I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking his life to be cursed.

No, I have let my mouth sin neither by cursing my enemy nor by praying that he might die—

31 H ave the men of my tent not said, ‘Who can find one who has not been filled with his meat’?

if the men of my tent will not say, Who can find one in need who has not been satisfied with food he gave them?—

32 T he stranger has not stayed in the street, for I have opened my doors to the traveler.

The temporary resident has not lodged in the street, but I have opened my door to the wayfaring man—

33 H ave I hidden my sins like Adam? Have I hidden my wrong-doing in my heart,

If like Adam or like men I have concealed my transgressions, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom

34 b ecause I was afraid of all the people, and of families who hated me? Did I keep quiet and not go out of the door?

Because I feared the great multitude and the contempt of families terrified me so that I kept silence and did not go out of the door—

35 I f only I had one to hear me! See, here my name is written. Let the All-powerful answer me! May what is against me be written down!

Oh, for a hearing! Oh, for an answer from the Almighty! Let my adversary write out His indictment in a book!

36 F or sure I would carry it on my shoulder. I would tie it around my head like a crown.

Surely I would bear it on my shoulder and wind the scroll about my head as a diadem.

37 I would tell Him the number of my every step. I would come near Him like a prince.

I would count out to Him the number of my steps, approaching His presence as a prince—

38 “ If my land cries out against me and the ditches made by the plow cry together,

For if my land has cried out against me and its furrows have complained together with tears,

39 i f I have eaten its fruit without paying for it, and caused its owners to die,

If I have eaten its fruits without paying for them or have caused its owners to breathe their last,

40 l et thorns grow instead of grain. And let weeds with a bad smell grow instead of barley.” The words of Job are finished.

Let thistles grow instead of wheat and cockleburs instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.