International Standard Version

English Standard Version

1"I made a covenant with my eyes; how, then, can I focus my attention on a virgin?

1“I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?

2What would I have from God above, what heritage from the Almighty on high,

2What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high?

3if not calamity that is due the unjust, and misfortune that is due those who practice iniquity?

3Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity?

4He watches my life, observing every one of my actions, does he not?"

4Does not he see my ways and number all my steps?

5"If I've lived my life in the company of vanity, or run quickly to embrace deception,

5“If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit;

6let my righteousness be weighed in honest scales, and God will make known my integrity.

6(Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!)

7If I have stepped away from the way, or if my heart covets whatever my eyes see, or if some other blemish clings to my hands,

7if my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has stuck to my hands,

8what I've planted, let another eat or let my crops be uprooted."

8then let me sow, and another eat, and let what grows for me be rooted out.

9"If my heart has been seduced by a woman and I've laid in wait at my friend's door,

9“If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor’s door,

10then let my wife cook for another person and may someone else sleep with her,

10then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down on her.

11because something as lascivious as that is an iniquity that should be judged.

11For that would be a heinous crime; that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges;

12The fires of Abaddon will burn, disrupting every part of my eternal reward."

12for that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase.

13"If I've refused to help my male and female servants when they complain against me,

13“If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me,

14what will I do when God stands up to act? When he asks the questions, how will I answer him?

14what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?

15The one who made me in the womb made them, too, didn't he? Didn't the same one prepare each of us in the womb?"

15Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?

16"If I refused to grant the desire of the poor or exhausted the eyes of the widow,

16“If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

17if I ate my meals by myself without feeding orphans,

17or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it

18(even a poor man had grown up with me as if I were his father, and even though I had guided the widow from the time I was born),

18(for from my youth the fatherless grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow),

19if I've observed someone who is about to die for lack of clothes or if I have no clothing to give to the poor,

19if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering,

20if he hadn't thanked me from the bottom of his heart, if he had not been warmed by wool from my sheep,

20if his body has not blessed me, and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,

21if I've raised my hand against an orphan when I thought I would against him in court,

21if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate,

22then let my arm fall from its socket; and may my arm be torn off at the shoulder.

22then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket.

23For I'm terrified of what calamity God may have in store for me; and I cannot endure his grandeur."

23For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty.

24"If I've put my confidence in gold, if I've told gold, 'You're my security,'

24“If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence,

25if I've found joy in great wealth that I own, if I've earned a lot with my own hands,

25if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much,

26if I look at the sun when it shines or the moon as it rises in steady splendor,

26if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor,

27so that in the depths of my deceived heart I worshipped them with my mouth and hands,

27and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand,

28this is also a sin that deserves to be judged, since I would have tried to deceive God above."

28this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above.

29"Have I rejoiced in the destruction of those who hate me, or have I been happy that evil caught up with him?

29“If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him

30No, I haven't allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse.

30(I have not let my mouth sin by asking for his life with a curse),

31People in my household have said, 'We cannot find anyone who has not been satisfied with his meat,' haven't they?

31if the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who is there that has not been filled with his meat?’

32No stranger ever spent the night in the street, because I opened my doors to travelers."

32(the sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler),

33"Have I covered my transgression like other people, to conceal iniquity within myself?

33if I have concealed my transgressions as others do by hiding my iniquity in my heart,

34Have I feared large crowds? Has my family's contempt ever terrified me so that I remained silent and wouldn't go outside?"

34because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors—

35"Who will grant me a hearing? Here's my signature —let the Almighty answer! Since my adversary indicted me,

35Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!

36I'll wear it on my shoulder, or tie it on my head for a crown!

36Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown;

37I'll give an account for every step I've taken; I'll approach him confidently like a Commander-in-Chief."

37I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him.

38"If my land were to cry out against me or if all its furrows wept as one,

38“If my land has cried out against me and its furrows have wept together,

39If I've consumed its produce without paying for it and snuffed out the life of its owners;

39if I have eaten its yield without payment and made its owners breathe their last,

40may thorns spring up instead of wheat, and obnoxious weeds instead of barley." With this, Job's discourse with his friends is completed.

40let thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.