| International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1"I made a covenant with my eyes; how, then, can I focus my attention on a virgin? | 1I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I look at a young woman? |
| 2What would I have from God above, what heritage from the Almighty on high, | 2For what portion would I have from God above, or what inheritance from the Almighty on high? |
| 3if not calamity that is due the unjust, and misfortune that is due those who practice iniquity? | 3Doesn't disaster come to the unjust and misfortune to evildoers? |
| 4He watches my life, observing every one of my actions, does he not?" | 4Does He not see my ways and number all my steps? |
| 5"If I've lived my life in the company of vanity, or run quickly to embrace deception, | 5If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit, |
| 6let my righteousness be weighed in honest scales, and God will make known my integrity. | 6let God weigh me in accurate scales, and He will recognize my integrity. |
| 7If 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, | 7If my step has turned from the way, my heart has followed my eyes, or impurity has stained my hands, |
| 8what I've planted, let another eat or let my crops be uprooted." | 8let someone else eat what I have sown, and let my crops be uprooted. |
| 9"If my heart has been seduced by a woman and I've laid in wait at my friend's door, | 9If my heart has been seduced by my neighbor's wife or I have lurked at his door, |
| 10then let my wife cook for another person and may someone else sleep with her, | 10let my own wife grind grain for another man, and let other men sleep with her. |
| 11because something as lascivious as that is an iniquity that should be judged. | 11For that would be a disgrace; it would be a crime deserving punishment. |
| 12The fires of Abaddon will burn, disrupting every part of my eternal reward." | 12For it is a fire that consumes down to Abaddon; it would destroy my entire harvest. |
| 13"If I've refused to help my male and female servants when they complain against me, | 13If I have dismissed the case of my male or female servants when they made a complaint against me, |
| 14what will I do when God stands up to act? When he asks the questions, how will I answer him? | 14what could I do when God stands up to judge? How should I answer Him when He calls me to account? |
| 15The 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?" | 15Did not the One who made me in the womb also make them? Did not the same God form us both in the womb? |
| 16"If I refused to grant the desire of the poor or exhausted the eyes of the widow, | 16If I have refused the wishes of the poor or let the widow's eyes go blind, |
| 17if I ate my meals by myself without feeding orphans, | 17if I have eaten my few crumbs alone without letting the fatherless eat any of it-- |
| 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), | 18for from my youth, I raised him as his father, and since the day I was born I guided the widow-- |
| 19if I've observed someone who is about to die for lack of clothes or if I have no clothing to give to the poor, | 19if I have seen anyone dying for lack of clothing or a needy person without a cloak, |
| 20if he hadn't thanked me from the bottom of his heart, if he had not been warmed by wool from my sheep, | 20if he did not bless me while warming himself with the fleece from my sheep, |
| 21if I've raised my hand against an orphan when I thought I would against him in court, | 21if I ever cast my vote against a fatherless child when I saw that I had support in the city gate, |
| 22then let my arm fall from its socket; and may my arm be torn off at the shoulder. | 22then let my shoulder blade fall from my back, and my arm be pulled from its socket. |
| 23For I'm terrified of what calamity God may have in store for me; and I cannot endure his grandeur." | 23For disaster from God terrifies me, and because of His majesty I could not do these things. |
| 24"If I've put my confidence in gold, if I've told gold, 'You're my security,' | 24If I placed my confidence in gold or called fine gold my trust, |
| 25if I've found joy in great wealth that I own, if I've earned a lot with my own hands, | 25if I have rejoiced because my wealth is great or because my own hand has acquired so much, |
| 26if I look at the sun when it shines or the moon as it rises in steady splendor, | 26if I have gazed at the sun when it was shining or at the moon moving in splendor, |
| 27so that in the depths of my deceived heart I worshipped them with my mouth and hands, | 27so that my heart was secretly enticed and I threw them a kiss, |
| 28this is also a sin that deserves to be judged, since I would have tried to deceive God above." | 28this would also be a crime deserving punishment, for I would have denied God above. |
| 29"Have I rejoiced in the destruction of those who hate me, or have I been happy that evil caught up with him? | 29Have I rejoiced over my enemy's distress, or become excited when trouble came his way? |
| 30No, I haven't allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse. | 30I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse. |
| 31People in my household have said, 'We cannot find anyone who has not been satisfied with his meat,' haven't they? | 31Haven't the members of my household said, "Who is there who has not had enough to eat at Job's table?" |
| 32No stranger ever spent the night in the street, because I opened my doors to travelers." | 32No stranger had to spend the night on the street, for I opened my door to the traveler. |
| 33"Have I covered my transgression like other people, to conceal iniquity within myself? | 33Have I covered my transgressions as others do by hiding my guilt in my heart, |
| 34Have I feared large crowds? Has my family's contempt ever terrified me so that I remained silent and wouldn't go outside?" | 34because I greatly feared the crowds, and the contempt of the clans terrified me, so I grew silent and would not go outside? |
| 35"Who will grant me a hearing? Here's my signature —let the Almighty answer! Since my adversary indicted me, | 35If only I had someone to hear my case! Here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me. Let my Opponent compose His indictment. |
| 36I'll wear it on my shoulder, or tie it on my head for a crown! | 36I would surely carry it on my shoulder and wear it like a crown. |
| 37I'll give an account for every step I've taken; I'll approach him confidently like a Commander-in-Chief." | 37I would give Him an account of all my steps; I would approach Him like a prince. |
| 38"If my land were to cry out against me or if all its furrows wept as one, | 38If my land cries out against me and its furrows join in weeping, |
| 39If I've consumed its produce without paying for it and snuffed out the life of its owners; | 39if I have consumed its produce without payment or shown contempt for its tenants, |
| 40may thorns spring up instead of wheat, and obnoxious weeds instead of barley." With this, Job's discourse with his friends is completed. | 40then let thorns grow instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley. The words of Job are concluded. |
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