Job 31:16-40

16“If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary,

17if I have kept my bread to myself, not sharing it with the fatherless—

18but from my youth I reared them as a father would, and from my birth I guided the widow—

19if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing, or the needy without garments,

20and their hearts did not bless me for warming them with the fleece from my sheep,

21if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, knowing that I had influence in court,

22then let my arm fall from the shoulder, let it be broken off at the joint.

23For I dreaded destruction from God, and for fear of his splendor I could not do such things.

24“If I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security,’

25if I have rejoiced over my great wealth, the fortune my hands had gained,

26if I have regarded the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor,

27so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand offered them a kiss of homage,

28then these also would be sins to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.

29“If I have rejoiced at my enemy’s misfortune or gloated over the trouble that came to him—

30I have not allowed my mouth to sin by invoking a curse against their life—

31if those of my household have never said, ‘Who has not been filled with Job’s meat?’—

32but no stranger had to spend the night in the street, for my door was always open to the traveler—

33if I have concealed my sin as people do, Or as Adam did by hiding my guilt in my heart

34because I so feared the crowd and so dreaded the contempt of the clans that I kept silent and would not go outside—

35(“Oh, that I had someone to hear me! I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser put his indictment in writing.

36Surely I would wear it on my shoulder, I would put it on like a crown.

37I would give him an account of my every step; I would present it to him as to a ruler.)—

38“if my land cries out against me and all its furrows are wet with tears,

39if I have devoured its yield without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants, 40then let briers come up instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended.