Job’s Final Appeal 1 DRA I made a covenant with my eyes, that I would not so much as think upon a virgin. BSB BSB: “I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I gaze with desire at a virgin?
2 DRA For what part should God from above have in me, and what inheritance 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 DRA Is not destruction to the wicked, and aversion to them that work iniquity? BSB BSB: Does not disaster come to the unjust and calamity to the workers of iniquity?
4 DRA Doth not he consider my ways, and number all my steps? BSB BSB: Does He not see my ways and count my every step?
5 DRA If I have walked in vanity, and my foot hath made haste to deceit: BSB BSB: If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit,
6 DRA Let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity. BSB BSB: let God weigh me with honest scales, that He may know my integrity.
7 DRA If my step hath turned out of the way, and if my heart hath followed my eyes, and if a spot hath cleaved 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 DRA Then let me sow and let another eat: and let my offspring be rooted out. BSB BSB: then may another eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted.
9 DRA If my heart hath been deceived upon a woman, and if I have laid wait at my friend’s door: BSB BSB: If my heart has been enticed by my neighbor’s wife, or I have lurked at his door,
10 DRA Let my wife be the harlot of another, and let other men lie with her. BSB BSB: then may my own wife grind grain for another, and may other men sleep with her.
11 DRA For this is a heinous crime, and a most grievous iniquity. BSB BSB: For that would be a heinous crime, an iniquity to be judged.
12 DRA It is a fire that devoureth even to destruction, and rooteth up all things that spring. BSB BSB: For it is a fire that burns down to Abaddon; it would root out my entire harvest.
13 DRA If I have despised to abide judgment with my manservant, or my maidservant, when they had any controversy against me: BSB BSB: If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they made a complaint against me,
14 DRA For what shall I do when God shall rise to judge? and when he shall examine, what shall I answer him? BSB BSB: what will I do when God rises to judge? How will I answer when called to account?
15 DRA Did not he that made me in the womb make him also: and did not one and the same form me 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 DRA If I have denied to the poor what they desired, and have made the eyes of the widow wait: BSB BSB: If I have denied the desires of the poor or allowed the widow’s eyes to fail,
17 DRA If I have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof: BSB BSB: if I have eaten my morsel alone, not sharing it with the fatherless—
18 DRA (For from my infancy mercy grew up with me: and it came out with me 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 DRA If I have despised him that was perishing for want of clothing, and the poor man that had no covering: BSB BSB: if I have seen one perish for lack of clothing, or a needy man without a cloak,
20 DRA If his sides have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep: BSB BSB: if his heart has not blessed me for warming him with the fleece of my sheep,
21 DRA If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, even when I saw myself superior 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 DRA Let my shoulder fall from its joint, and let my arm with its bones be broken. BSB BSB: then may my arm fall from my shoulder and be torn from its socket.
23 DRA For I have always feared God as waves swelling over me, and his weight I was not able to bear. BSB BSB: For calamity from God terrifies me, and His splendor I cannot overpower.
24 DRA If I have thought gold my strength, and have said to fine gold: My confidence: BSB BSB: If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security,
25 DRA If I have rejoiced over my great riches, 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 DRA If I beheld the sun when it shined, and the moon going in brightness: BSB BSB: if I have beheld the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor,
27 DRA And my heart in secret hath rejoiced, and I have kissed my hand with my mouth: BSB BSB: so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,
28 DRA Which is a very great iniquity, and a denial against the most high God. BSB BSB: this would also be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have denied God on high.
29 DRA If I have been glad at the downfall of him that hated me, and have rejoiced that evil had found him. BSB BSB: If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin, or exulted when evil befell him—
30 DRA For I have not given my mouth to sin, by wishing a curse to his soul. BSB BSB: I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse—
31 DRA If the men of my tabernacle have not said: Who will give us of his flesh that we may be filled? BSB BSB: if the men of my house have not said, ‘Who is there who has not had his fill?’—
32 DRA The stranger did not stay without, my door was open to the traveller. BSB BSB: but no stranger had to lodge on the street, for my door has been open to the traveler—
33 DRA If as a man I have hid my sin, and have concealed my iniquity in my bosom. BSB BSB: if I have covered my transgressions like Adam by hiding my guilt in my heart,
34 DRA If I have been afraid at a very great multitude, and the contempt of kinsmen hath terrified me: and I have not rather held my peace, and not gone 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 DRA Who would grant me a hearer, that the Almighty may hear my desire; and that he himself that judgeth would write a book, 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 DRA That I may carry it on my shoulder, and put it about me as a crown? BSB BSB: Surely I would carry it on my shoulder and wear it like a crown.
37 DRA At every step of mine I would pronounce it, and offer it as to a prince. BSB BSB: I would give account of all my steps; I would approach Him like a prince.)—
38 DRA If my land cry against me, and with it the furrows thereof mourn: BSB BSB: if my land cries out against me and its furrows weep together,
39 DRA If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have afflicted the soul of the tillers thereof: BSB BSB: if I have devoured its produce without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants,
40 DRA Let thistles grow up to me instead of wheat, and thorns instead of barley. 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.