Job 10:15
New International Version
If I am guilty—woe to me! Even if I am innocent, I cannot lift my head, for I am full of shame and drowned in my affliction.

New Living Translation
If I am guilty, too bad for me; and even if I’m innocent, I can’t hold my head high, because I am filled with shame and misery.

English Standard Version
If I am guilty, woe to me! If I am in the right, I cannot lift up my head, for I am filled with disgrace and look on my affliction.

Berean Standard Bible
If I am guilty, woe to me! And even if I am righteous, I cannot lift my head. I am full of shame and aware of my affliction.

King James Bible
If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction;

New King James Version
If I am wicked, woe to me; Even if I am righteous, I cannot lift up my head. I am full of disgrace; See my misery!

New American Standard Bible
‘If I am wicked, woe to me! But if I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head. I am full of shame, and conscious of my misery.

NASB 1995
If I am wicked, woe to me! And if I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head. I am sated with disgrace and conscious of my misery.

NASB 1977
‘If I am wicked, woe to me! And if I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head. I am sated with disgrace and conscious of my misery.

Legacy Standard Bible
If I am wicked, woe to me! And if I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head. I am sated with disgrace—so see my misery!

Amplified Bible
‘If I am wicked, woe to me [for judgment comes]! And if I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head. For I am sated and filled with disgrace and the sight of my misery.

Christian Standard Bible
If I am wicked, woe to me! And even if I am righteous, I cannot lift up my head. I am filled with shame and have drunk deeply of my affliction.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If I am wicked, woe to me! And even if I am righteous, I cannot lift up my head. I am filled with shame and aware of my affliction.

American Standard Version
If I be wicked, woe unto me; And if I be righteous, yet shall I not lift up my head; Being filled with ignominy, And looking upon mine affliction.

Contemporary English Version
Guilty or innocent, I am condemned and ashamed because of my troubles.

English Revised Version
If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet shall I not lift up my head; being filled with ignominy and looking upon mine affliction.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
How terrible it will be for me if I'm guilty! Even if I'm righteous, I dare not lift up my head. I am filled with disgrace while I look on my misery.

Good News Translation
As soon as I sin, I'm in trouble with you, but when I do right, I get no credit. I am miserable and covered with shame.

International Standard Version
"'Woe to me if I'm guilty! If I'm innocent, I cannot lift my head, because I am filled with disgrace. Look at my affliction!

Majority Standard Bible
If I am guilty, woe to me! And even if I am righteous, I cannot lift my head. I am full of shame and aware of my affliction.

NET Bible
If I am guilty, woe to me, and if I am innocent, I cannot lift my head; I am full of shame, and satiated with my affliction.

New Heart English Bible
If I am wicked, woe to me. If I am righteous, I still shall not lift up my head, being filled with disgrace, and conscious of my affliction.

Webster's Bible Translation
If I be wicked, woe to me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou my affliction;

World English Bible
If I am wicked, woe to me. If I am righteous, I still will not lift up my head, being filled with disgrace, and conscious of my affliction.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
If I have done wickedly—woe to me, "" And righteously—I do not lift up my head, "" Full of shame—then see my affliction,

Young's Literal Translation
If I have done wickedly -- woe to me, And righteously -- I lift not up my head, Full of shame -- then see my affliction,

Smith's Literal Translation
If I did evil, wo to me; and was I just, I shall not lift up my head, being filled with dishonor: and see thou mine affliction;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And if I be wicked, woe unto me: and if just, I shall not lift up my head, being filled with affliction and misery.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And if I should be impious, woe to me, and if I should be just, I will not lift up my head, being drenched with affliction and misery.

New American Bible
If I should be wicked, alas for me! even if righteous, I dare not hold up my head, sated with shame, drenched in affliction!

New Revised Standard Version
If I am wicked, woe to me! If I am righteous, I cannot lift up my head, for I am filled with disgrace and look upon my affliction.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
If I be wicked, woe is me! and if I be righteous, still I cannot lift up my head. I have enough of reproach; I have seen my affliction.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
If I have sinned, woe to me! And if I am justified, I shall not lift my head. I am filled with disgrace and I have seen affliction!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
If I be wicked, woe unto me; And if I be righteous, yet shall I not lift up my head-- Being filled with ignominy And looking upon mine affliction.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Or if I should be ungodly, woe is me: and if I should be righteous, I cannot lift myself up, for I am full of dishonour.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job's Plea to God
14If I sinned, You would take note, and would not acquit me of my iniquity. 15If I am guilty, woe to me! And even if I am righteous, I cannot lift my head. I am full of shame and aware of my affliction. 16Should I hold my head high, You would hunt me like a lion, and again display Your power against me.…

Cross References
Psalm 38:4
For my iniquities have overwhelmed me; they are a burden too heavy to bear.

Psalm 51:5
Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

Romans 7:24
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

Isaiah 64:6
Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.

Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Psalm 40:12
For evils without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, so that I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart has failed within me.

1 John 1:8-9
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. / If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Isaiah 6:5
Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.”

Romans 5:12
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned.

Psalm 69:5
You know my folly, O God, and my guilt is not hidden from You.

1 Timothy 1:15
This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.

Isaiah 53:6
We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Psalm 32:5
Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

2 Corinthians 5:21
God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.


Treasury of Scripture

If I be wicked, woe to me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see you my affliction;

If I be wicked

Job 10:7
Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand.

Job 9:29
If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

Job 27:7
Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.

righteous

Job 9:12,15,20,21
Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou? …

Isaiah 64:5,6
Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved…

Luke 17:10
So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

I am full

Job 21:6
Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

Job 23:15
Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

see

Exodus 3:7
And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

Psalm 25:18
Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.

Psalm 119:153
RESH. Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.

Jump to Previous
Affliction Beholding Confusion Conscious Curse Dare Disgrace Evil-Doer Filled Full Guilty Head Ignominy Innocent Lift Misery Overcome Righteous Sated Shame Trouble Upright Wicked Woe
Jump to Next
Affliction Beholding Confusion Conscious Curse Dare Disgrace Evil-Doer Filled Full Guilty Head Ignominy Innocent Lift Misery Overcome Righteous Sated Shame Trouble Upright Wicked Woe
Job 10
1. Job, taking liberty of complaint, expostulates with God about his afflictions
18. He complains of life, and craves a little ease before death














If I am guilty
The Hebrew word for "guilty" here is "רָשַׁע" (rasha), which conveys a sense of wickedness or being in the wrong. In the context of Job, this reflects his deep introspection and the cultural understanding of retributive justice, where suffering was often seen as a direct consequence of sin. Job is wrestling with the idea that if he has indeed sinned, he deserves the suffering he is experiencing. This phrase highlights the human struggle with guilt and the fear of divine judgment, a theme that resonates throughout the Bible.

woe to me!
The expression "woe" is translated from the Hebrew "אוֹי" (oy), a term often used in the Old Testament to express lamentation or distress. This exclamation underscores the depth of Job's despair and his feeling of being overwhelmed by his circumstances. It is a cry that echoes the laments found in the Psalms and the Prophets, where individuals express their anguish and seek God's intervention. Job's use of "woe" reflects his profound sense of helplessness and the gravity of his situation.

Even if I am innocent
The word "innocent" is derived from the Hebrew "תָּם" (tam), meaning blameless or upright. Job's assertion of innocence is central to his argument throughout the book. Despite his suffering, he maintains his integrity and insists that he has not committed any sin to warrant such punishment. This challenges the prevailing belief of his time that suffering is always a result of personal sin, and it invites readers to consider the complexities of divine justice and human suffering.

I cannot lift my head
In ancient Near Eastern culture, lifting one's head was a sign of confidence and dignity. The inability to do so, as expressed by Job, indicates a state of humiliation and defeat. This phrase captures Job's emotional and spiritual turmoil, as he feels crushed under the weight of his afflictions. It is a vivid depiction of the loss of self-worth and the struggle to maintain faith in the face of overwhelming adversity.

for I am full of shame
The Hebrew word for "shame" is "כְּלִמָּה" (kelimah), which conveys disgrace or dishonor. Job's acknowledgment of his shame reflects the societal and personal stigma associated with his suffering. In the ancient world, public perception was often tied to one's standing before God, and Job's condition would have been seen as a sign of divine disfavor. This phrase highlights the internal conflict between Job's understanding of his own righteousness and the external judgment he faces.

and aware of my affliction
The term "affliction" comes from the Hebrew "עָמָל" (amal), meaning trouble or toil. Job's awareness of his affliction is not just a recognition of his physical suffering but also an acknowledgment of the emotional and spiritual burden it brings. This awareness is a crucial aspect of Job's lament, as it underscores his search for meaning and justice in the midst of his trials. It invites readers to empathize with Job's plight and to reflect on the broader questions of suffering and divine purpose.

Verse 15. - If I be wicked, woe unto me! If, on the whole, this record of my sins be such that I am pronounced guilty before God, then I accept my doom. Woe unto me! I must submit to suffer. And if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. If, on the contrary, it be admitted that I have not sinned so grievously as to be pronounced unrighteous, even then I will not beast; I will not exalt myself; I will not hold up my head as if I were sinless. I am full of confusion. This clause should not be separated from the last. The sense runs on: "I will not lift up my head (being, as I am), full of confusion," or "of shame," through consciousness of my own imperfections (see the Revised Version). Therefore see thou mine affliction; rather, and seeing my afflictions. The sense given in the Authorized Version is maintained by Rosenmuller, De Wette, Stanley Leathes, and Merx, and defended by Canon Cook; but opposed by Schultens, Professor Lee, and our Revisers. If we accept the views of these last, the whole passage will run thus: "If I be [pronounced] wicked, woe unto reel but if righteous, yet will I not lift up my head, being [as I am] full of confusion, and seeing my afflictions." Job still views his afflictions as signs of God's disfavour, and therefore proofs of his sinfulness.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
If
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

I am guilty,
רָשַׁ֡עְתִּי (rā·ša‘·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7561: To be, wrong, to disturb, violate

woe
אַלְלַ֬י (’al·lay)
Interjection
Strong's 480: Alas! woe!

to me!
לִ֗י (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

And even if I am righteous,
וְ֭צָדַקְתִּי (wə·ṣā·ḏaq·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6663: To be just or righteous

I cannot
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

lift
אֶשָּׂ֣א (’eś·śā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

my head.
רֹאשִׁ֑י (rō·šî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7218: The head

[I am] full
שְׂבַ֥ע (śə·ḇa‘)
Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7646: To be sated, satisfied or surfeited

of shame
קָ֝ל֗וֹן (qā·lō·wn)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7036: Disgrace, the pudenda

and aware of
וּרְאֵ֥ה (ū·rə·’êh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

my affliction.
עָנְיִֽי׃ (‘ā·nə·yî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6040: Affliction, poverty


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OT Poetry: Job 10:15 If I am wicked woe to me (Jb)
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