Job's Final Defense Continued

1 A covenant I made for mine eyes, And what -- do I attend to 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 (A)eyes;How then could I gaze at a virgin?

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 And what is the portion of God from above? And the inheritance of the Mighty from the heights?

2 For what portion of God is there from above? and 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(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 not calamity to the perverse? And strangeness to workers of iniquity?

3 Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?

3 “Is it not (C)calamity to the unjustAnd disaster to (D)those who work 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 Doth not He see my ways, And all my steps number?

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

4 “Does He not (E)see my waysAnd (F)number 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 If I have walked with vanity, And my foot doth hasten to deceit,

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

5 “If I have (G)walked with falsehood,And my foot has hastened after 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 He doth weigh me in righteous balances, And God doth know my integrity.

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

6 Let Him (H)weigh me with (a)accurate scales,And let God know (I)my 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 step doth turn aside from the way, And after mine eyes hath my heart gone, And to my hands cleaved hath blemish,

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,

8 Let me sow -- and another eat, And my products let be rooted out.

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

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

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 by woman, And by the opening of my neighbour I laid wait,

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 (N)enticed by a woman,Or I have lurked at my neighbor’s doorway,

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 Grind to another let my wife, And over her let others bend.

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

10 May my wife (O)grind for another,And let (P)others (d)kneel down over 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 For it is a wicked thing, and a judicial iniquity;

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

11 “For that would be a (Q)lustful crime;Moreover, it would be (R)an iniquity punishable by 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 For a fire it is, to destruction it consumeth, And among all mine increase doth take root,

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

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 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 despise the cause of my man-servant, And of my handmaid, In their contending with me,

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,

14 Then what do I do when God ariseth? And when He doth inspect, What do I answer Him?

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? Yea, prepare us in the womb doth One.

15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?

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 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 withhold from pleasure the poor, And the eyes of the widow do consume,

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

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 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 And I do eat my morsel by myself, And the orphan hath not eat of it,

17 Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;

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

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 (But from my youth He grew up with me as with a father, And from the belly of my mother I am led.)

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 (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, 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 see any perishing without clothing, And there is no covering to the needy,

19 If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without 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 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 have not blessed me, And from the fleece of my sheep He doth not warm himself,

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

20 If his loins have not (i)thanked me,And if he has not been 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 have waved at the fatherless my hand, When I see in him the gate of my court,

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,

22 My shoulder from its blade let fall, And mine arm from the bone be broken.

22 Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.

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

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 is calamity from God, And because of His excellency I am not able.

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

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

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 have made gold my confidence, And to the pure gold have said, 'My trust,'

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

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

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 rejoice because great is my wealth, And because abundance hath my hand found,

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

25 If I have (AJ)gloated because my wealth was great,And because my hand had secured so 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 see the light when it shineth, And the precious moon walking,

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

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

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 my heart is enticed in secret, And my hand doth kiss my mouth,

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

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

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 It also is a judicial iniquity, For I had lied to 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 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 rejoice at the ruin of my hater, And stirred up myself when evil found him,

29 If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:

29 “Have I (AN)rejoiced at the extinction of my enemy,Or (q)exulted when evil befell 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 Yea, I have not suffered my mouth to sin, To ask with an oath his life.

30 Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.

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

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 not -- say ye, O men of my tent, 'O that we had of his flesh, we are not satisfied.'

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?

32 In the street doth not lodge a stranger, My doors to the traveller I open.

32 The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.

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

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 have covered as Adam my transgressions, To hide in my bosom mine iniquity,

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

33 “Have I (AR)covered my transgressions like (v)Adam,By hiding my 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 Because I fear a great multitude, And the contempt of families doth affright me, Then I am silent, I go not out of the opening.

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?"

35 Who giveth to me a hearing? lo, my mark. The Mighty One doth answer me, And a bill hath mine adversary 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 “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,

36 If not -- on my shoulder I take it up, I bind it a crown on myself.

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 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 steps I tell Him, As a leader I 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 declare to Him (AV)the number of my steps;Like (AW)a prince I would approach 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 land doth cry out, And together its furrows weep,

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

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

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 its strength I consumed without money, And the life of its possessors, I have caused to breathe out,

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 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 a thorn go forth, And instead of barley a useless weed! The words of Job are finished.

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.

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