Job's Final Defense Continued
3 Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?
3 Doesn’t disaster come to the unjustand misfortune to evildoers?
3 if not calamity that is due the unjust, and misfortune that is due those who practice iniquity?
3 “Does not tragedy fall [justly] on the unjustAnd disaster to those who work wickedness?
7 If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;
7 “If my step has (J)turned from the way,Or my heart (b)followed my eyes,Or if any (K)spot has stuck to my hands,
7 If my step has turned from the way,my heart has followed my eyes,or impurity has stained my hands,(G)
7 If I have stepped away from the way, or if my heart covets whatever my eyes see, or if some other blemish clings to my hands,
7 “If my step has turned away from the way [of God],Or if my heart has [covetously] followed my eyes,Or if any spot [of guilt] has stained my hands,
9 If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;
9 If my heart has been seduced by my neighbor’s wifeor I have lurked at his door,
9 "If my heart has been seduced by a woman and I've laid in wait at my friend's door,
9 “If my heart has been enticed and I was made a fool by a woman,Or if I have [covetously] lurked at my neighbor’s door [until his departure],
12 For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.
12 The fires of Abaddon will burn, disrupting every part of my eternal reward."
12 “For it is a fire which consumes to Abaddon (destruction, ruin, final torment);And [illicit passion] would burn and rage and uproot all my [life’s] increase [destroying everything].
13 If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;
13 “If I have (V)despised the claim of my male or female slavesWhen they filed a complaint against me,
13 If I have dismissed the case of my male or female servantswhen they made a complaint against me,
13 "If I've refused to help my male and female servants when they complain against me,
13 “If I have despised and rejected the claim of my male or female servantsWhen they filed a complaint against me,
14 What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, 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?
14 what could I do when God stands up to judge?How should I answer Him when He calls me to account?
14 what will I do when God stands up to act? When he asks the questions, how will I answer him?
15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?
15 Did not the One who made me in the womb also make them?Did not the same God form us both in the womb?(K)
15 The one who made me in the womb made them, too, didn't he? Didn't the same one prepare each of us in the womb?"
16 If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
16 "If I refused to grant the desire of the poor or exhausted the eyes of the widow,
16 “If I have withheld from the poor what they desired,Or have caused the eyes of the widow to look in vain [for relief],
17 Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;
17 if I have eaten my few crumbs alonewithout letting the fatherless eat any of it—
17 if I ate my meals by myself without feeding orphans,
17 Or have eaten my morsel [of food] alone,And did not share it with the orphan
18 (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;)
18 for from my youth, I raised him as his father,and since the day I was born(d) I guided the widow—
18 (even a poor man had grown up with me as if I were his father, and even though I had guided the widow from the time I was born),
18 (But from my youth the orphan grew up with me as with a father,And from my mother’s womb I have been the widow’s guide),
20 If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
20 if he hadn't thanked me from the bottom of his heart, if he had not been warmed by wool from my sheep,
20 If his loins have not thanked and blessed me [for clothing them],And if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,
21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:
21 If I have lifted up my hand against (AD)the orphan,Because I saw (j)I had support (AE)in the gate,
21 if I ever cast my vote(f) against a fatherless childwhen I saw that I had support in the city gate,(N)
21 if I've raised my hand against an orphan when I thought I would against him in court,
21 If I have lifted my hand against the orphan,Because I saw [that the judges would be] my help at the [council] gate,
22 Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.
22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my back,and my arm be pulled from its socket.
22 then let my arm fall from its socket; and may my arm be torn off at the shoulder.
22 Then let my shoulder fall away from its socket,And my arm be broken off at the elbow.
25 If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;
25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth is greator because my own hand has acquired so much,
25 if I've found joy in great wealth that I own, if I've earned a lot with my own hands,
25 If I gloated and rejoiced because my wealth was great,And because my [powerful] hand [alone] had obtained so much,
28 This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.
28 That too would have been (AL)an iniquity calling for (p)judgment,For I would have (AM)denied God above.
28 this would also be a crime deserving punishment,for I would have denied God above.
28 this is also a sin that deserves to be judged, since I would have tried to deceive God above."
29 If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:
29 Have I rejoiced over my enemy’s distress,or become excited when trouble came his way?
29 "Have I rejoiced in the destruction of those who hate me, or have I been happy that evil caught up with him?
29 “Have I rejoiced at the destruction of the enemy [who hated me],Or exulted [in malicious triumph] when evil overtook him?
30 Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.
30 I have not allowed my mouth to sinby asking for his life with a curse.
30 No, I haven't allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse.
30 “No, I have not allowed my mouth to sinBy cursing my enemy and asking for his life.
31 If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.
31 “Have the men of my tent not said,‘Who can (t)find one who has not been (AQ)satisfied with his meat’?
31 Haven’t the members of my household said,“Who is there who has not had enough to eat at Job’s table?”
31 People in my household have said, "We cannot find anyone who has not been satisfied with his meat,' haven't they?
31 “I assure you, the men of my tent have said,‘Who can find one [in need] who has not been satisfied with his meat’?
32 The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.
32 No stranger had to spend the night on the street,for I opened my door to the traveler.
32 No stranger ever spent the night in the street, because I opened my doors to travelers."
32 “The stranger has not lodged in the street,Because I have opened my door to the traveler.
34 Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?
34 Because I (AS)feared the great multitude,And the contempt of families terrified me,And kept silent and did not go out of doors?
34 because I greatly feared the crowds,and the contempt of the clans terrified me,so I grew silent and would not go outside?
34 Have I feared large crowds? Has my family's contempt ever terrified me so that I remained silent and wouldn't go outside?"
34 Because I feared the great multitude,And the contempt of families terrified me,So that I kept silence and did not acknowledge my sin and did not go out of the door?
35 Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.
35 “Oh that I had one to hear me!Behold, here is my (w)signature;(AT)Let the Almighty answer me!And the indictment which my (AU)adversary has written,
35 If only I had someone to hear my case!(T)Here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me.Let my Opponent compose His indictment.
35 "Who will grant me a hearing? Here's my signature let the Almighty answer! Since my adversary indicted me,
35 “Oh, that I had one to listen to me!Look, here is my signature (mark);Let the Almighty answer me!Let my adversary write out His indictment [and put His vague accusations in tangible form].
36 Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.
36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder,I would bind it to myself like a crown.
36 I'll wear it on my shoulder, or tie it on my head for a crown!
36 “Surely I would [proudly] bear it on my shoulder,And bind the scroll around my head like a crown.
37 I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.
37 I would give Him an account of all my steps;I would approach Him like a prince.
37 I'll give an account for every step I've taken; I'll approach him confidently like a Commander-in-Chief."
37 “I would count out to Him the number of my steps [with every detail of my life],Approaching His presence as if I were a prince.
39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:
39 If I have (AY)eaten its (x)fruit without money,Or have (AZ)caused (y)its owners to lose their lives,
39 If I've consumed its produce without paying for it and snuffed out the life of its owners;
39 If I have eaten its fruits without paying for them,Or have caused its [rightful] owners to lose their lives,
40 Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.
40 Let (BA)briars (z)grow instead of wheat,And stinkweed instead of barley.”The words of Job are ended.
40 then let thorns(V) grow instead of wheatand stinkweed(W) instead of barley.The words of Job are concluded.
40 may thorns spring up instead of wheat, and obnoxious weeds instead of barley." With this, Job's discourse with his friends is completed.
40 Let thorns grow instead of wheat,And stinkweed and cockleburs instead of barley.”So the words of Job [with his friends] are finished.