13 “If I have (A)rejected the claim of my male or female slaves
When they filed a complaint against me,
14 What then could I do when God arises?
And when He calls me to account, how am I to answer Him?
15 Did (B)He who made me in the womb not make him,
And the same one create us in the womb?

16 “If I have kept (C)the poor from their desire,
Or have caused the eyes of (D)the widow to fail,
17 Or have (E)eaten my morsel alone,
And (F)the orphan has not [a]shared it
18 (But from my youth he grew up with me as with a father,
And from [b]my infancy I guided her),
19 If I have seen anyone perish (G)for lack of clothing,
Or that (H)the needy had no covering,
20 If his waist has not [c]thanked me,
And if he has not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep,
21 If I have lifted up my hand against (I)the orphan,
Because I saw [d]I had support (J)in the gate,
22 May my shoulder fall from its [e]socket,
And my (K)arm be broken off [f]at the elbow.
23 For (L)disaster from God is a terror to me,
And because of (M)His majesty I can do nothing.

24 “If I have put my confidence in (N)gold,
And called fine gold my trust,
25 If I have (O)gloated because my wealth was great,
And because my hand had obtained so much;
26 If I have (P)looked at the [g]sun when it shone,
Or the moon going in splendor,
27 And my heart was secretly enticed,
And my hand [h]threw a kiss from my mouth,
28 That too would have been (Q)a guilty deed calling for [i]judgment,
For I would have (R)denied God above.

29 “Have I (S)rejoiced at the misfortune of my enemy,
Or become excited when evil found him?
30 [j]No, (T)I have not [k]allowed my mouth to sin
By asking for his life in (U)a curse.
31 Have the people of my tent not said,
‘Who can [l]find one who has not been (V)satisfied with his meat’?
32 The stranger has not spent the night outside,
For I have opened my doors to the [m]traveler.
33 Have I (W)covered my wrongdoings like a man,
By hiding my guilt in my shirt pocket,
34 Because I (X)feared the great multitude
And the contempt of families terrified me,
And I kept silent and did not go out of doors?
35 Oh that I had one to hear me!
Here is my [n]signature;
(Y)Let the Almighty answer me!
And the indictment which my (Z)adversary has written,
36 I would certainly carry it on my shoulder,
I would tie it to myself like a garland.
37 I would declare to Him (AA)the number of my steps;
Like (AB)a prince, I would approach Him.

38 “If my (AC)land cries out against me,
And its furrows weep together;
39 If I have (AD)eaten its [o]fruit without money,
Or have (AE)caused [p]its owners to lose their lives,
40 May the (AF)thorn-bush [q]grow instead of wheat,
And stinkweed instead of barley.”

The words of Job are ended.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 31:17 Lit eaten from it
  2. Job 31:18 Lit my mother’s womb
  3. Job 31:20 Lit blessed; i.e., for clothing
  4. Job 31:21 Lit my help
  5. Job 31:22 Lit neck-joint
  6. Job 31:22 Lit from the bone of the upper arm
  7. Job 31:26 Lit light
  8. Job 31:27 Lit kissed my mouth
  9. Job 31:28 Lit judges
  10. Job 31:30 Lit And
  11. Job 31:30 Lit given my palate
  12. Job 31:31 Lit give
  13. Job 31:32 MT way
  14. Job 31:35 Lit mark
  15. Job 31:39 Lit strength
  16. Job 31:39 Lit the soul of its owners to expire
  17. Job 31:40 Lit come forth

13 You call Me (A)‘Teacher’ and (B)‘Lord’; and [a]you are correct, for so I am.

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Footnotes

  1. John 13:13 Lit you say well

Masters, grant your slaves justice and fairness, (A)knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

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