31:11 For I would have committed 1 a shameful act, 2
an iniquity to be judged. 3
31:12 For it is a fire that devours even to Destruction, 4
and it would uproot 5 all my harvest.
31:13 “If I have disregarded the right of my male servants
or my female servants
when they disputed 6 with me,
31:14 then what will I do when God confronts me in judgment; 7
when he intervenes, 8
how will I respond to him?
31:15 Did not the one who made me in the womb make them? 9
Did not the same one form us in the womb?
31:16 If I have refused to give the poor what they desired, 10
or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
31:17 If I ate my morsel of bread myself,
and did not share any of it with orphans 11 –
31:18 but from my youth I raised the orphan 12 like a father,
and from my mother’s womb 13
I guided the widow! 14
31:19 If I have seen anyone about to perish for lack of clothing,
or a poor man without a coat,
31:20 whose heart did not bless me 15
as he warmed himself with the fleece of my sheep, 16
31:21 if I have raised my hand 17 to vote against the orphan,
when I saw my support in the court, 18
31:22 then 19 let my arm fall from the shoulder, 20
let my arm be broken off at the socket. 21
31:23 For the calamity from God was a terror to me, 22
and by reason of his majesty 23 I was powerless.
31:24 “If I have put my confidence in gold
or said to pure gold,
‘You are my security!’
31:25 if I have rejoiced because of the extent of my wealth,
or because of the great wealth my hand had gained,
31:26 if I looked at the sun 24 when it was shining,
and the moon advancing as a precious thing,
31:27 so that my heart was secretly enticed,
and my hand threw them a kiss from my mouth, 25
31:28 then this 26 also would be iniquity to be judged, 27
for I would have been false 28 to God above.
31:29 If 29 I have rejoiced over the misfortune of my enemy 30
or exulted 31 because calamity 32 found him –
31:30 I 33 have not even permitted my mouth 34 to sin
by asking 35 for his life through a curse –
31:31 if 36 the members of my household 37 have never said, 38
‘If only there were 39 someone
who has not been satisfied from Job’s 40 meat!’ –
31:32 But 41 no stranger had to spend the night outside,
for I opened my doors to the traveler 42 –
31:33 if 43 I have covered my transgressions as men do, 44
by hiding 45 iniquity in my heart, 46
31:34 because I was terrified 47 of the great multitude, 48
and the contempt of families terrified me,
so that I remained silent
and would not go outdoors – 49
31:35 “If only I had 50 someone to hear me!
Here is my signature – 51
let the Almighty answer me!
If only I had an indictment 52
that my accuser had written. 53
31:36 Surely 54 I would wear it proudly 55 on my shoulder,
I would bind 56 it on me like a crown;
31:37 I would give him an accounting of my steps;
like a prince I would approach him.
31:38 “If my land cried out against me 58
and all its furrows wept together,
31:39 if I have eaten its produce without paying, 59
or caused the death 60 of its owners, 61
31:40 then let thorns sprout up in place of wheat,
and in place of barley, weeds!” 62
The words of Job are ended.