| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1“I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin? | 1I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I look at a young woman? |
| 2What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high? | 2For what portion would I have from God above, or what inheritance from the Almighty on high? |
| 3Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity? | 3Doesn't disaster come to the unjust and misfortune to evildoers? |
| 4Does not he see my ways and number all my steps? | 4Does He not see my ways and number all my steps? |
| 5“If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit; | 5If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit, |
| 6(Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!) | 6let God weigh me in accurate scales, and He will recognize my integrity. |
| 7if my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has stuck to my hands, | 7If my step has turned from the way, my heart has followed my eyes, or impurity has stained my hands, |
| 8then let me sow, and another eat, and let what grows for me be rooted out. | 8let someone else eat what I have sown, and let my crops be uprooted. |
| 9“If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor’s door, | 9If my heart has been seduced by my neighbor's wife or I have lurked at his door, |
| 10then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down on her. | 10let my own wife grind grain for another man, and let other men sleep with her. |
| 11For that would be a heinous crime; that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges; | 11For that would be a disgrace; it would be a crime deserving punishment. |
| 12for that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase. | 12For it is a fire that consumes down to Abaddon; it would destroy my entire harvest. |
| 13“If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me, | 13If I have dismissed the case of my male or female servants when they made a complaint against me, |
| 14what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him? | 14what could I do when God stands up to judge? How should I answer Him when He calls me to account? |
| 15Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion 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 have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, | 16If I have refused the wishes of the poor or let the widow's eyes go blind, |
| 17or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it | 17if I have eaten my few crumbs alone without letting the fatherless eat any of it-- |
| 18(for from my youth the fatherless grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow), | 18for from my youth, I raised him as his father, and since the day I was born I guided the widow-- |
| 19if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering, | 19if I have seen anyone dying for lack of clothing or a needy person without a cloak, |
| 20if his body has not blessed me, and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep, | 20if he did not bless me while warming himself with the fleece from my sheep, |
| 21if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate, | 21if I ever cast my vote against a fatherless child when I saw that I had support in the city gate, |
| 22then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket. | 22then let my shoulder blade fall from my back, and my arm be pulled from its socket. |
| 23For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty. | 23For disaster from God terrifies me, and because of His majesty I could not do these things. |
| 24“If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence, | 24If I placed my confidence in gold or called fine gold my trust, |
| 25if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much, | 25if I have rejoiced because my wealth is great or because my own hand has acquired so much, |
| 26if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor, | 26if I have gazed at the sun when it was shining or at the moon moving in splendor, |
| 27and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand, | 27so that my heart was secretly enticed and I threw them a kiss, |
| 28this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above. | 28this would also be a crime deserving punishment, for I would have denied God above. |
| 29“If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him | 29Have I rejoiced over my enemy's distress, or become excited when trouble came his way? |
| 30(I have not let my mouth 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. |
| 31if the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who is there that has not been filled with his meat?’ | 31Haven't the members of my household said, "Who is there who has not had enough to eat at Job's table?" |
| 32(the sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler), | 32No stranger had to spend the night on the street, for I opened my door to the traveler. |
| 33if I have concealed my transgressions as others do by hiding my iniquity in my heart, | 33Have I covered my transgressions as others do by hiding my guilt in my heart, |
| 34because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors— | 34because I greatly feared the crowds, and the contempt of the clans terrified me, so I grew silent and would not go outside? |
| 35Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary! | 35If only I had someone to hear my case! Here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me. Let my Opponent compose His indictment. |
| 36Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown; | 36I would surely carry it on my shoulder and wear it like a crown. |
| 37I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him. | 37I would give Him an account of all my steps; I would approach Him like a prince. |
| 38“If my land has cried out against me and its furrows have wept together, | 38If my land cries out against me and its furrows join in weeping, |
| 39if I have eaten its yield without payment and made its owners breathe their last, | 39if I have consumed its produce without payment or shown contempt for its tenants, |
| 40let thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended. | 40then let thorns grow instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley. The words of Job are concluded. |
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