Job’s Final Appeal 1 UEB I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then should I look with desire on a virgin? BSB BSB: “I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I gaze with desire at a virgin?
2 UEB For what is the portion from God above, the inheritance from the Almighty on high? BSB BSB: For what is the allotment of God from above, or the heritage from the Almighty on high?
3 UEB I used to think that calamity is for unrighteous people, and that disaster is for doers of wickedness. BSB BSB: Does not disaster come to the unjust and calamity to the workers of iniquity?
4 UEB Does not God see my ways and count all my steps? BSB BSB: Does He not see my ways and count my every step?
5 UEB If I have walked with falsehood, if my foot has hurried to deceit, BSB BSB: If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit,
6 UEB let me be weighed in an even balance so that God will know my integrity. BSB BSB: let God weigh me with honest scales, that He may know my integrity.
7 UEB If my step has turned aside from the way, if my heart has gone after my eyes, if any spot has stuck 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 UEB then let me sow, and let another eat, and let my crops be uprooted. BSB BSB: then may another eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted.
9 UEB If my heart has been deceived by a woman, if I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door, BSB BSB: If my heart has been enticed by my neighbor’s wife, or I have lurked at his door,
10 UEB then let my wife grind grain for another, and let others bow down on her. BSB BSB: then may my own wife grind grain for another, and may other men sleep with her.
11 UEB For that would be a terrible crime; indeed, it would be a crime to be punished by judges. BSB BSB: For that would be a heinous crime, an iniquity to be judged.
12 UEB For that is a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn all my harvest to the root. BSB BSB: For it is a fire that burns down to Abaddon; it would root out my entire harvest.
13 UEB If I ignored the plea for justice from my male or female servant when they argued with me, BSB BSB: If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they made a complaint against me,
14 UEB what then would I do when God rises up to accuse me? When he comes to judge me, how would I answer him? BSB BSB: what will I do when God rises to judge? How will I answer when called to account?
15 UEB Did the one who made me in the womb not make them also? Did not the same one mold us all 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 UEB If I have withheld poor people from their desire, or if I have caused the eyes of the widow to grow dim from crying, BSB BSB: If I have denied the desires of the poor or allowed the widow’s eyes to fail,
17 UEB or if I have eaten my morsel alone and not allowed those without fathers to eat it also— BSB BSB: if I have eaten my morsel alone, not sharing it with the fatherless—
18 UEB because from my youth the orphan grew up with me as with a father, and I have guided his mother, a widow, from my own 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 UEB If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or if I have seen that a needy man had no clothing; BSB BSB: if I have seen one perish for lack of clothing, or a needy man without a cloak,
20 UEB if his heart has not blessed me because he has not been warmed with the wool of my sheep, BSB BSB: if his heart has not blessed me for warming him with the fleece of my sheep,
21 UEB if I have lifted up my hand against fatherless people because I saw my support in the city gate, then bring charges against me! BSB BSB: if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless because I saw that I had support in the gate,
22 UEB If I have done these things, then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder blade, and let my arm be broken from its joint. BSB BSB: then may my arm fall from my shoulder and be torn from its socket.
23 UEB For I dreaded destruction from God; because of his majesty, I was not able to do those things. BSB BSB: For calamity from God terrifies me, and His splendor I cannot overpower.
24 UEB If I have made gold my hope, and if I have said to fine gold, 'You are what I am confident in'; BSB BSB: If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security,
25 UEB if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, because my hand had gotten many possessions, then bring charges against me! BSB BSB: if I have rejoiced in my great wealth because my hand had gained so much,
26 UEB If I have seen the sun when it shone, or the moon walking in its brightness, BSB BSB: if I have beheld the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor,
27 UEB and if my heart has been secretly attracted, so that my mouth has kissed my hand in worship of them— BSB BSB: so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,
28 UEB this also would be a crime to be punished by judges, for I would 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 UEB If I have rejoiced at the destruction of anyone who hated me or congratulated myself when disaster overtook him, then bring charges against me! BSB BSB: If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin, or exulted when evil befell him—
30 UEB Indeed, I have not even allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse. BSB BSB: I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse—
31 UEB If the men of my tent have never said, 'Who can find one who has not been filled with Job's food?' BSB BSB: if the men of my house have not said, ‘Who is there who has not had his fill?’—
32 UEB (even the foreigner has never had to stay in the city square, because I have always opened my doors to the traveler), and if that is not so, then bring charges against me! BSB BSB: but no stranger had to lodge on the street, for my door has been open to the traveler—
33 UEB If, like mankind, I have hidden my sins by hiding my guilt inside my tunic BSB BSB: if I have covered my transgressions like Adam by hiding my guilt in my heart,
34 UEB (because I feared the great multitude, because the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silent and would not go outside), then bring charges against me! 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 UEB Oh, if only I had someone to hear me! See, here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me! If only I had the indictment that my opponent has written! 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 UEB Surely I would carry it openly on my shoulder; I would put it on like a crown. BSB BSB: Surely I would carry it on my shoulder and wear it like a crown.
37 UEB I would declare to him an accounting for my steps; as a confident prince I would go up to him. BSB BSB: I would give account of all my steps; I would approach Him like a prince.)—
38 UEB If my land ever cries out against me, and its furrows weep together, BSB BSB: if my land cries out against me and its furrows weep together,
39 UEB if I have eaten its harvest without paying for it or have caused its owners to lose their lives, BSB BSB: if I have devoured its produce without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants,
40 UEB then let thorns grow instead of wheat and weeds instead of barley." The words of Job are finished. 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.