Job's Final Defense Continued

1 A covenant, I solemnised for mine eyes, - How then could I gaze upon a virgin?

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

1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

1 I have made a covenant with my eyes.(A)How then could I look at a young woman?(a)(B)

1 "I made a covenant with my eyes; how, then, can I focus my attention on a virgin?

2 Or what would have been my portion of GOD from above? Or what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

2 “And what is (B)the portion of God from aboveOr the heritage of the Almighty from on high?

2 For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

2 For what portion(C) would I have from God above,or what inheritance from the Almighty on high?

2 What would I have from God above, what heritage from the Almighty on high,

3 Is there not calamity, for the perverse? and misfortune, for the workers of iniquity?

3 “Is it not (C)calamity to the unjustAnd disaster to (D)those who work iniquity?

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?

4 Would, he, not see my ways? and of all my steps, take account?

4 “Does He not (E)see my waysAnd (F)number all my steps?

4 Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?

4 Does He not see my waysand number all my steps?(D)

4 He watches my life, observing every one of my actions, does he not?"

5 Verily I walked not in falsity, nor did my foot haste unto deceit: -

5 “If I have (G)walked with falsehood,And my foot has hastened after deceit,

5 If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;

5 If I have walked in falsehoodor my foot has rushed to deceit,

5 "If I've lived my life in the company of vanity, or run quickly to embrace deception,

6 Let him weigh me in balances of righteousness, - and let GOD take note of mine integrity!

6 Let Him (H)weigh me with (a)accurate scales,And let God know (I)my integrity.

6 Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.

6 let God weigh me in accurate scales,(E)and He will recognize my integrity.(F)

6 let my righteousness be weighed in honest scales, and God will make known my integrity.

7 If my goings have swerved from the way, - and, after mine eyes, hath gone my heart, and, to my hands, hath adhered any stain,

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 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 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,

8 Let me sow but, another, eat. And let, what I have springing up, be uprooted!

8 Let me (L)sow and another eat,And let my (c)(M)crops be uprooted.

8 Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.

8 let someone else eat what I have sown,and let my crops be uprooted.(H)

8 what I've planted, let another eat or let my crops be uprooted."

9 If my heart hath been enticed unto a woman, or, by the door of my neighbour, I have lien in wait,

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

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,

10 Let my wife, grind to another, and, over her, let others bend!

10 May my wife (O)grind for another,And let (P)others (d)kneel down over her.

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

10 let my own wife grind grain for another man,and let other men sleep with(b) her.

10 then let my wife cook for another person and may someone else sleep with her,

11 Surely that had been a shameful thing! and that an iniquity for the judges!

11 “For that would be a (Q)lustful crime;Moreover, it would be (R)an iniquity punishable by judges.

11 For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.

11 For that would be a disgrace;it would be a crime deserving punishment.(c)(I)

11 because something as lascivious as that is an iniquity that should be judged.

12 Surely, a fire, had that been, which, unto destruction, would have consumed, and, of all mine increase, had it torn up the root.

12 “For it would be (S)fire that consumes to (e)(T)Abaddon,And would (U)uproot all my (f)increase.

12 For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

12 For it is a fire that consumes down to Abaddon;it would destroy my entire harvest.(J)

12 The fires of Abaddon will burn, disrupting every part of my eternal reward."

13 If I refused the right of my servant, or my handmaid, 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 did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with 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,

14 What then could I have done when GOD rose up? And, when he visited, what could I have answered him?

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

14 What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall 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 who, in the womb, made me, make him? And is not he who formed us in the body one?

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

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 withheld - from pleasure - the poor, or, the eyes of the widow, I dimmed;

16 “If I have kept (X)the poor from their desire,Or have caused the eyes of (Y)the widow to fail,

16 If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

16 If I have refused the wishes of the pooror let the widow’s(L) eyes go blind,

16 "If I refused to grant the desire of the poor or exhausted the eyes of the widow,

17 Or, used to eat my morsel alone, so that the fatherless did not eat thereof;

17 Or have (Z)eaten my morsel alone,And (AA)the orphan has not (g)shared it

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,

18 Surely, from my youth, he grew up to me, as to a father, and, from my birth, I acted as guide to her:

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

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),

19 If I saw one perishing for lack of clothing, or that the needy had no covering;

19 If I have seen anyone perish (AB)for lack of clothing,Or that (AC)the needy had no covering,

19 If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;

19 if I have seen anyone dying for lack of clothingor a needy person without a cloak,(M)

19 if I've observed someone who is about to die for lack of clothes or if I have no clothing to give to the poor,

20 If his loins did not bless me, or if, with the fleece of my lambs, he did not warm himself;

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

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

20 if he(e) did not bless mewhile warming himself with the fleece from 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,

21 If I shook - against the fatherless - my hand, when I saw, in the gate, his need of my help,

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 have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help 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,

22 Let, my shoulder, from the shoulder-blade, fall, and, my arm, from the upper bone, be broken;

22 Let my shoulder fall from the (k)socket,And my (AF)arm be broken off (l)at the elbow.

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.

23 For, a dread unto me, was calamity from GOD, and, from his majesty, I could not escape.

23 “For (AG)calamity from God is a terror to me,And because of (AH)His (m)majesty I can do nothing.

23 For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.

23 For disaster from God terrifies me,and because of His majesty I could not do these things.(O)

23 For I'm terrified of what calamity God may have in store for me; and I cannot endure his grandeur."

24 If I made gold my stay, and, to precious metal, said, My confidence!

24 “If I have put my confidence in (AI)gold,And called fine gold my trust,

24 If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;

24 If I placed my confidence in goldor called fine gold my trust,(P)

24 "If I've put my confidence in gold, if I've told gold, "You're my security,'

25 If I rejoiced because great was my substance, and, an abundance, my hand had discovered;

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

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,

26 If I looked at the sun, when it flashed forth light, or at the moon, majestically marching along;

26 If I have (AK)looked at the (n)sun when it shoneOr the moon going in splendor,

26 If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;

26 if I have gazed at the sun when it was shiningor at the moon moving in splendor,(Q)

26 if I look at the sun when it shines or the moon as it rises in steady splendor,

27 And befooled secretly was my heart, so that my hand kissed my mouth,

27 And my heart became secretly enticed,And my hand (o)threw a kiss from my mouth,

27 And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:

27 so that my heart was secretly enticedand I threw them a kiss,(g)

27 so that in the depths of my deceived heart I worshipped them with my mouth and hands,

28 That too, had been a judicial iniquity, For I should have been false to GOD, above.

28 That too would have been (AL)an iniquity calling for (p)judgment,For I would have (AM)denied God above.

28 This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is 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 rejoiced in the misfortune of him that hated me, or exulted when calamity found him; -

29 “Have I (AN)rejoiced at the extinction of my enemy,Or (q)exulted when evil befell him?

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?

30 Neither did I suffer my palate to sin, by asking, with a curse, for his life:

30 (r)No, (AO)I have not (s)allowed my mouth to sinBy asking for his life in (AP)a curse.

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.

31 If the men of my household have not said, Oh for some of his flesh - we cannot get filled,

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

31 If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.

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?

32 Outside, the sojourner lodged not for the night, My doors - to the wayfarer, I threw open.

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

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."

33 If I covered, like Adam, my transgressions, by hiding in my bosom mine iniquity,

33 “Have I (AR)covered my transgressions like (v)Adam,By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,

33 If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:

33 Have I covered my transgressions(R) as others do(h)by hiding my guilt in my heart,(S)

33 "Have I covered my transgression like other people, to conceal iniquity within myself?

34 Then let me be made to tremble at a great throng, yea let, the contempt of families, terrify me, so that, keeping silence, I shall not go 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 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 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?"

35 Oh that I had one to hear me, Lo! my crossmark, May, the Almighty, answer me! And would that, a book, mine opponent had written!

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 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 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,

36 Oh! would I not, upon my shoulder, lift it, or bind it as a crown upon me;

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

36 Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.

36 I would surely carry it on my shoulderand wear it like a crown.(U)

36 I'll wear it on my shoulder, or tie it on my head for a crown!

37 The number of my footsteps, I would declare to him, Like a noble, would I draw near to him.

37 “I would declare to Him (AV)the number of my steps;Like (AW)a prince I would approach Him.

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."

38 If, against me, my ground used to cry out, and, together, my ridges did weep;

38 “If my (AX)land cries out against me,And its furrows weep together;

38 If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;

38 If my land cries out against meand its furrows join in weeping,

38 "If my land were to cry out against me or if all its furrows wept as one,

39 If, the strength thereof, I used to eat, without payment, and, the soul of the holders thereof, I made groan;

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 have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:

39 if I have consumed its produce without paymentor shown contempt for its tenants,(i)

39 If I've consumed its produce without paying for it and snuffed out the life of its owners;

40 Instead of wheat, let there come forth bramble, and, instead of barley, a bad-smelling weed! Ended are the words of Job.

40 Let (BA)briars (z)grow instead of wheat,And stinkweed instead of barley.”The words of Job are ended.

40 Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle 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.

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