Job’s Final Appeal 1 DBY I made a covenant with mine eyes; and how should I fix my regard upon a maid? BSB BSB: “I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I gaze with desire at a virgin?
2 DBY For what would have been my portion of God from above, and what the heritage of the Almighty from on high? BSB BSB: For what is the allotment of God from above, or the heritage from the Almighty on high?
3 DBY Is not calamity for the unrighteous? and misfortune for the workers of iniquity? BSB BSB: Does not disaster come to the unjust and calamity to the workers of iniquity?
4 DBY Doth not he see my ways, and number all my steps? BSB BSB: Does He not see my ways and count my every step?
5 DBY If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot hath hasted to deceit, BSB BSB: If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit,
6 DBY (Let me be weighed in an even balance, and God will take knowledge of my blamelessness;) BSB BSB: let God weigh me with honest scales, that He may know my integrity.
7 DBY If my step have turned out of the way, and my heart followed mine eyes, and if any blot cleaveth to my hands; BSB BSB: If my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has followed my eyes, or if impurity has stuck to my hands,
8 DBY Let me sow, and another eat; and let mine offspring be rooted out. BSB BSB: then may another eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted.
9 DBY If my heart have been enticed unto a woman, so that I laid wait at my neighbour's door, BSB BSB: If my heart has been enticed by my neighbor’s wife, or I have lurked at his door,
10 DBY Let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down upon her. BSB BSB: then may my own wife grind grain for another, and may other men sleep with her.
11 DBY For this is an infamy; yea, it is an iniquity to be judged by the judges: BSB BSB: For that would be a heinous crime, an iniquity to be judged.
12 DBY For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase. BSB BSB: For it is a fire that burns down to Abaddon; it would root out my entire harvest.
13 DBY If I have despised the cause of my bondman or of my bondmaid, when they contended with me, BSB BSB: If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they made a complaint against me,
14 DBY What then should I do when God riseth up? and if he visited, what should I answer him? BSB BSB: what will I do when God rises to judge? How will I answer when called to account?
15 DBY Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not One fashion us in the womb? BSB BSB: Did not He who made me in the womb also make them? Did not the same One form us in the womb?
16 DBY If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail; BSB BSB: If I have denied the desires of the poor or allowed the widow’s eyes to fail,
17 DBY Or have eaten my morsel alone, so that the fatherless ate not thereof, BSB BSB: if I have eaten my morsel alone, not sharing it with the fatherless—
18 DBY (For from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and I have guided the widow from my mother's womb;) BSB BSB: though from my youth I reared him as would a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow—
19 DBY If I have seen any perishing for want of clothing, or any needy without covering; BSB BSB: if I have seen one perish for lack of clothing, or a needy man without a cloak,
20 DBY If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my lambs; BSB BSB: if his heart has not blessed me for warming him with the fleece of my sheep,
21 DBY If I have lifted up my hand against an orphan, because I saw my help in the gate: BSB BSB: if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless because I saw that I had support in the gate,
22 DBY Then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone!BSB BSB: then may my arm fall from my shoulder and be torn from its socket.
23 DBY For calamity from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his excellency I was powerless. BSB BSB: For calamity from God terrifies me, and His splendor I cannot overpower.
24 DBY If I have made gold my hope, or said to the fine gold, My confidence! BSB BSB: If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security,
25 DBY If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much; BSB BSB: if I have rejoiced in my great wealth because my hand had gained so much,
26 DBY If I beheld the sun when it shone, or the moon walking in brightness, BSB BSB: if I have beheld the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor,
27 DBY And my heart have been secretly enticed, so that my mouth kissed my hand: BSB BSB: so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,
28 DBY This also would be an iniquity for the judge, for I should have denied the God who is above. BSB BSB: this would also be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have denied God on high.
29 DBY If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, and exulted when evil befell him; BSB BSB: If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin, or exulted when evil befell him—
30 DBY (Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by asking his life with a curse;) BSB BSB: I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse—
31 DBY If the men of my tent said not, Who shall find one that hath not been satisfied with his meat? — BSB BSB: if the men of my house have not said, ‘Who is there who has not had his fill?’—
32 DBY The stranger did not lodge without; I opened my doors to the pathway. BSB BSB: but no stranger had to lodge on the street, for my door has been open to the traveler—
33 DBY If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom, BSB BSB: if I have covered my transgressions like Adam by hiding my guilt in my heart,
34 DBY Because I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and went not out of the door, ... BSB BSB: because I greatly feared the crowds and the contempt of the clans terrified me, so that I kept silent and would not go outside—
35 DBY Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold my signature: let the Almighty answer me! And let mine opponent write an accusation! BSB BSB: (Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment.
36 DBY Would I not take it upon my shoulder? I would bind it on to me as a crown; BSB BSB: Surely I would carry it on my shoulder and wear it like a crown.
37 DBY I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I come near to him. BSB BSB: I would give account of all my steps; I would approach Him like a prince.)—
38 DBY If my land cry out against me, and its furrows weep together; BSB BSB: if my land cries out against me and its furrows weep together,
39 DBY If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have tormented to death the souls of its owners: BSB BSB: if I have devoured its produce without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants,
40 DBY Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and tares instead of barley. The words of Job are ended. BSB BSB: then let briers grow instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley.” Thus conclude the words of Job.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.