International Standard Version | New Living Translation |
1"I made a covenant with my eyes; how, then, can I focus my attention on a virgin? | 1“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman. |
2What would I have from God above, what heritage from the Almighty on high, | 2For what has God above chosen for us? What is our inheritance from the Almighty on high? |
3if not calamity that is due the unjust, and misfortune that is due those who practice iniquity? | 3Isn’t it calamity for the wicked and misfortune for those who do evil? |
4He watches my life, observing every one of my actions, does he not?" | 4Doesn’t he see everything I do and every step I take? |
5"If I've lived my life in the company of vanity, or run quickly to embrace deception, | 5“Have I lied to anyone or deceived anyone? |
6let my righteousness be weighed in honest scales, and God will make known my integrity. | 6Let God weigh me on the scales of justice, for he knows 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 I have strayed from his pathway, or if my heart has lusted for what my eyes have seen, or if I am guilty of any other sin, |
8what I've planted, let another eat or let my crops be uprooted." | 8then let someone else eat the crops I have planted. Let all that I have planted be uprooted. |
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 seduced by a woman, or if I have lusted for my neighbor’s wife, |
10then let my wife cook for another person and may someone else sleep with her, | 10then let my wife serve another man; let other men sleep with her. |
11because something as lascivious as that is an iniquity that should be judged. | 11For lust is a shameful sin, a crime that should be punished. |
12The fires of Abaddon will burn, disrupting every part of my eternal reward." | 12It is a fire that burns all the way to hell. It would wipe out everything I own. |
13"If I've refused to help my male and female servants when they complain against me, | 13“If I have been unfair to my male or female servants when they brought their complaints to me, |
14what will I do when God stands up to act? When he asks the questions, how will I answer him? | 14how could I face God? What could I say when he questioned me? |
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?" | 15For God created both me and my servants. He created us both in the womb. |
16"If I refused to grant the desire of the poor or exhausted the eyes of the widow, | 16“Have I refused to help the poor, or crushed the hopes of widows? |
17if I ate my meals by myself without feeding orphans, | 17Have I been stingy with my food and refused to share it with orphans? |
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), | 18No, from childhood I have cared for orphans like a father, and all my life I have cared for widows. |
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, | 19Whenever I saw the homeless without clothes and the needy with nothing to wear, |
20if he hadn't thanked me from the bottom of his heart, if he had not been warmed by wool from my sheep, | 20did they not praise me for providing wool clothing to keep them warm? |
21if I've raised my hand against an orphan when I thought I would against him in court, | 21“If I raised my hand against an orphan, knowing the judges would take my side, |
22then let my arm fall from its socket; and may my arm be torn off at the shoulder. | 22then let my shoulder be wrenched out of place! Let my arm be torn from its socket! |
23For I'm terrified of what calamity God may have in store for me; and I cannot endure his grandeur." | 23That would be better than facing God’s judgment. For if the majesty of God opposes me, what hope is there? |
24"If I've put my confidence in gold, if I've told gold, 'You're my security,' | 24“Have I put my trust in money or felt secure because of my gold? |
25if I've found joy in great wealth that I own, if I've earned a lot with my own hands, | 25Have I gloated about my wealth and all that I own? |
26if I look at the sun when it shines or the moon as it rises in steady splendor, | 26“Have I looked at the sun shining in the skies, or the moon walking down its silver pathway, |
27so that in the depths of my deceived heart I worshipped them with my mouth and hands, | 27and been secretly enticed in my heart to throw kisses at them in worship? |
28this is also a sin that deserves to be judged, since I would have tried to deceive God above." | 28If so, I should be punished by the judges, for it would mean I had denied the God of heaven. |
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 ever rejoiced when disaster struck my enemies, or become excited when harm came their way? |
30No, I haven't allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse. | 30No, I have never sinned by cursing anyone or by asking for revenge. |
31People in my household have said, 'We cannot find anyone who has not been satisfied with his meat,' haven't they? | 31“My servants have never said, ‘He let others go hungry.’ |
32No stranger ever spent the night in the street, because I opened my doors to travelers." | 32I have never turned away a stranger but have opened my doors to everyone. |
33"Have I covered my transgression like other people, to conceal iniquity within myself? | 33“Have I tried to hide my sins like other people do, concealing 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?" | 34Have I feared the crowd or the contempt of the masses, so that I kept quiet and stayed indoors? |
35"Who will grant me a hearing? Here's my signature —let the Almighty answer! Since my adversary indicted me, | 35“If only someone would listen to me! Look, I will sign my name to my defense. Let the Almighty answer me. Let my accuser write out the charges against me. |
36I'll wear it on my shoulder, or tie it on my head for a crown! | 36I would face the accusation proudly. I would 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." | 37For I would tell him exactly what I have done. I would come before him like a prince. |
38"If my land were to cry out against me or if all its furrows wept as one, | 38“If my land accuses me and all its furrows cry out together, |
39If I've consumed its produce without paying for it and snuffed out the life of its owners; | 39or if I have stolen its crops or murdered its owners, |
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 thistles grow on that land instead of wheat, and weeds instead of barley.” Job’s words are ended. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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