Job’s Final Appeal 1 ULT I have cut a covenant with my eyes; how then would I gaze upon a virgin? BSB BSB: “I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I gaze with desire at a virgin?
2 ULT For what{ would be} the portion from God above, or the inheritance from the Almighty in the heights? BSB BSB: For what is the allotment of God from above, or the heritage from the Almighty on high?
3 ULT { Is} not calamity for the unrighteous and disaster for doers of wickedness? BSB BSB: Does not disaster come to the unjust and calamity to the workers of iniquity?
4 ULT Does he not see my ways and count all my steps? BSB BSB: Does He not see my ways and count my every step?
5 ULT If I have walked with falsehood or my foot has hurried to deceit— BSB BSB: If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit,
6 ULT let him weigh me in balances of righteousness, and God will know my integrity— BSB BSB: let God weigh me with honest scales, that He may know my integrity.
7 ULT if my step has turned aside from the way, or my heart has gone after my eyes, or a 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 ULT let me sow and may another eat, or may my crops be uprooted! BSB BSB: then may another eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted.
9 ULT If my heart has been opened by a woman and I have lurked at the door of my neighbor, BSB BSB: If my heart has been enticed by my neighbor’s wife, or I have lurked at his door,
10 ULT may my wife grind for another, and may others bow down upon her. BSB BSB: then may my own wife grind grain for another, and may other men sleep with her.
11 ULT For that{ would be} lewdness, and it would be iniquity of judges. BSB BSB: For that would be a heinous crime, an iniquity to be judged.
12 ULT For it{ is} a fire, it consumes unto Abaddon, and it would uproot all of my harvest. BSB BSB: For it is a fire that burns down to Abaddon; it would root out my entire harvest.
13 ULT If I disdained the justice of my male servant or my female servant in their case against me, BSB BSB: If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they made a complaint against me,
14 ULT then what would I do if God arose? Or if he visited, 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 ULT Did not the one making me in the belly 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 ULT If I have withheld from the desire of the poor, or I have made the eyes of the widow fail, BSB BSB: If I have denied the desires of the poor or allowed the widow’s eyes to fail,
17 ULT or I have eaten my morsel alone and the fatherless did not eat from it— BSB BSB: if I have eaten my morsel alone, not sharing it with the fatherless—
18 ULT for from my youth he has grown up with me as a father, and from the belly of my mother I have guided her. BSB BSB: though from my youth I reared him as would a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow—
19 ULT If I have seen one perishing from lack of clothing or{ that} there was not a covering for the needy, BSB BSB: if I have seen one perish for lack of clothing, or a needy man without a cloak,
20 ULT if his loins have not blessed me and he has{ not} warmed himself from the wool of my sheep, BSB BSB: if his heart has not blessed me for warming him with the fleece of my sheep,
21 ULT if I have shaken my hand against the fatherless because I saw my help at 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 ULT may my upper arm fall from the shoulder blade; yes, may my arm be broken from its socket! BSB BSB: then may my arm fall from my shoulder and be torn from its socket.
23 ULT For the destruction of God{ was} a dread to me, and from his majesty, I was not able. BSB BSB: For calamity from God terrifies me, and His splendor I cannot overpower.
24 ULT If I have made gold my hope and I have said to fine gold,‘My confidence’; BSB BSB: If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security,
25 ULT if I have rejoiced because my wealth{ was} great and because my hand had acquired much! BSB BSB: if I have rejoiced in my great wealth because my hand had gained so much,
26 ULT If I have seen the light when it shone or the moon walking{ in} splendor, BSB BSB: if I have beheld the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor,
27 ULT and my heart opened in secret and my hand kissed my mouth, BSB BSB: so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,
28 ULT this also{ would be} iniquity of judges, for I would have denied God above. BSB BSB: this would also be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have denied God on high.
29 ULT If I have rejoiced at the destruction of one hating me or lifted myself up because evil found him! BSB BSB: If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin, or exulted when evil befell him—
30 ULT For I have not caused my palate 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 ULT If the men of my tent have not said,‘Who will give one{ who} has not been satisfied from his flesh?’! BSB BSB: if the men of my house have not said, ‘Who is there who has not had his fill?’—
32 ULT The sojourner has not stayed overnight in the outdoors; I have opened my doors to the traveler. BSB BSB: but no stranger had to lodge on the street, for my door has been open to the traveler—
33 ULT If, like man, I have concealed my sins by hiding my guilt in my chest, BSB BSB: if I have covered my transgressions like Adam by hiding my guilt in my heart,
34 ULT because I feared the great multitude and the contempt of the clans terrified me, and I kept silent, I did not go out 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 ULT Who will give to me one hearing me? Behold, my mark! May the Almighty answer me! And the scroll that the man of my case 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 ULT If I would not bear it on my shoulder? I would bind it to me{ as} crowns! BSB BSB: Surely I would carry it on my shoulder and wear it like a crown.
37 ULT I would declare to him an account of my steps; I would approach him like a noble. BSB BSB: I would give account of all my steps; I would approach Him like a prince.)—
38 ULT If my soil cries out against me and its furrows weep together, BSB BSB: if my land cries out against me and its furrows weep together,
39 ULT if I have eaten its yield without silver or caused the breath of its masters to expire, BSB BSB: if I have devoured its produce without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants,
40 ULT may a thorn grow instead of wheat and a weed instead of barley!” The words of Job have 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.