19If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,
         Or that the needy had no covering,

20If his loins have not thanked me,
         And if he has not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep,

21If I have lifted up my hand against the orphan,
         Because I saw I had support in the gate,

22Let my shoulder fall from the socket,
         And my arm be broken off at the elbow.

23“For calamity from God is a terror to me,
         And because of His majesty I can do nothing.

24“If I have put my confidence in gold,
         And called fine gold my trust,

25If I have gloated because my wealth was great,
         And because my hand had secured so much;

26If I have looked at the sun when it shone
         Or the moon going in splendor,

27And my heart became secretly enticed,
         And my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,

28That too would have been an iniquity calling for judgment,
         For I would have denied God above.

29“Have I rejoiced at the extinction of my enemy,
         Or exulted when evil befell him?

30“No, I have not allowed my mouth to sin
         By asking for his life in a curse.

31“Have the men of my tent not said,
         ‘Who can find one who has not been satisfied with his meat’?

32“The alien has not lodged outside,
         For I have opened my doors to the traveler.

33“Have I covered my transgressions like Adam,
         By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,

34Because I feared the great multitude,
         And the contempt of families terrified me,
         And kept silent and did not go out of doors?

35“Oh that I had one to hear me!
         Behold, here is my signature;
         Let the Almighty answer me!
         And the indictment which my adversary has written,

36Surely I would carry it on my shoulder,
         I would bind it to myself like a crown.

37“I would declare to Him the number of my steps;
         Like a prince I would approach Him.

38“If my land cries out against me,
         And its furrows weep together;

39If I have eaten its fruit without money,
         Or have caused its owners to lose their lives,

40Let briars grow instead of wheat,
         And stinkweed instead of barley.”
         The words of Job are ended.

NASB ©1995