31 “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust upon a girl. 2-3 I know full well that Almighty God above sends calamity on those who do. 4 He sees everything I do and every step I take.
5 “If I have lied and deceived— 6 but God knows that I am innocent— 7-8 or if I have stepped off God’s pathway, or if my heart has lusted for what my eyes have seen, or if I am guilty of any other sin, then let someone else reap the crops I have sown and let all that I have planted be rooted out.
9 “Or if I have longed for another man’s wife, 10 then may I die, and may my wife be in another man’s home and someone else become her husband. 11 For lust is a shameful sin, a crime that should be punished. 12 It is a devastating fire that destroys to hell and would root out all I have planted.
13 “If I have been unfair to my servants, 14 how could I face God? What could I say when he questioned me about it? 15 For God made me and made my servant too. He created us both.
16 “If I have hurt the poor, or caused widows to weep, 17 or refused food to hungry orphans— 18 (but we have always cared for orphans in our home, treating them as our own children)— 19-20 or if I have seen anyone freezing and not given him clothing or fleece from my sheep to keep him warm, 21 or if I have taken advantage of an orphan because I thought I could get away with it— 22 if I have done any of these things, then let my arm be torn from its socket! Let my shoulder be wrenched out of place! 23 Rather that than face the judgment sent by God; that I dread more than anything else. For if the majesty of God opposes me, what hope is there?
24 “If I have put my trust in money, 25 if my happiness depends on wealth, 26 or if I have looked at the sun shining in the skies or the moon walking down her silver pathway 27 and my heart has been secretly enticed, and I have worshiped them by kissing my hand to them, 28 this, too, must be punished by the judges. For if I had done such things, it would mean that I denied the God of heaven.
29 “If I have rejoiced at harm to an enemy— 30 (but actually I have never cursed anyone nor asked for revenge)— 31 or if any of my servants have ever gone hungry— 32 (actually I have never turned away even a stranger but have opened my doors to all)— 33 or if, like Adam, I have tried to hide my sins, 34 fearing the crowd and its contempt so that I refused to acknowledge my sin and do not go out of my way to help others— 35 (oh, that there were someone who would listen to me and try to see my side of this argument. Look, I will sign my signature to my defense; now let the Almighty show me that I am wrong; let him approve the indictments made against me by my enemies. 36 I would treasure it like a crown. 37 Then I would tell him exactly what I have done and why, presenting my defense as one he listens to).
38-39 “Or if my land accuses me because I stole the fruit it bears, or if I have murdered its owners to get their land for myself, 40 then let thistles grow on that land instead of wheat, and weeds instead of barley.”
Job’s words are ended.