Darby Bible Translation

English Standard Version

Job's Final Appeal

I made a covenant with mine eyes; and how should I fix my regard upon a maid?

1

Job’s Final Appeal

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

2

For what would have been [my] portion of +God from above, and what the heritage of the Almighty from on high?

2

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

3

Is not calamity for the unrighteous? and misfortune for the workers of iniquity?

3

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

4

Doth not he see my ways, and number all my steps?

4

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

5

If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot hath hasted to deceit,

5

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

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(Let me be weighed in an even balance, and +God will take knowledge of my blamelessness;)

6

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

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If my step have turned out of the way, and my heart followed mine eyes, and if any blot cleaveth to my hands;

7

if 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,

8

Let me sow, and another eat; and let mine offspring be rooted out.

8

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

9

If my heart have been enticed unto a woman, so that I laid wait at my neighbour's door,

9

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

10

Let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down upon her.

10

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

11

For this is an infamy; yea, it is an iniquity [to be judged by] the judges:

11

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

12

For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

12

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

13

If I have despised the cause of my bondman or of my bondmaid, when they contended with me,

13

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

14

What then should I do when God riseth up? and if he visited, what should I answer him?

14

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

15

Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not One fashion us in the womb?

15

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

16

If I have withheld the poor from [their] desire, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

16

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

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Or have eaten my morsel alone, so that the fatherless ate not thereof,

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

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(For from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and I have guided the [widow] from my mother's womb;)

18

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

19

If I have seen any perishing for want of clothing, or any needy without covering;

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

20

If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my lambs;

20

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

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If I have lifted up my hand against an orphan, because I saw my help in the gate:

21

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

22

[Then] let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone!

22

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

23

For calamity from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his excellency I was powerless.

23

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

24

If I have made gold my hope, or said to the fine gold, My confidence!

24

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

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If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much;

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

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If I beheld the sun when it shone, or the moon walking in brightness,

26

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

27

And my heart have been secretly enticed, so that my mouth kissed my hand:

27

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

28

This also would be an iniquity for the judge, for I should have denied the God who is above.

28

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

29

If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, and exulted when evil befell him;

29

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

30

(Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by asking his life with a curse;)

30

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

31

If the men of my tent said not, Who shall find one that hath not been satisfied with his meat? --

31

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

32

The stranger did not lodge without; I opened my doors to the pathway.

32

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

33

If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom,

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

34

Because I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and went not out of the door, ...

34

because 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

Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold my signature: let the Almighty answer me! And let mine opponent write an accusation!

35

Oh, 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!

36

Would I not take it upon my shoulder? I would bind it on to me [as] a crown;

36

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

37

I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I come near to him.

37

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

38

If my land cry out against me, and its furrows weep together;

38

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

39

If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have tormented to death the souls of its owners:

39

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

40

Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and tares instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.

40

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

Parallel

Darby Bible Translation

English Standard Version

Job 31

Job 31