Job 31:1-40 NLT

[1] "I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman. [2] For what has God above chosen for us? What is our inheritance from the Almighty on high? [3] Isn't it calamity for the wicked and misfortune for those who do evil? [4] Doesn't he see everything I do and every step I take? [5] "Have I lied to anyone or deceived anyone? [6] Let God weigh me on the scales of justice, for he knows my integrity. [7] If I have strayed from his pathway, or if my heart has lusted for what my eyes have seen, or if I am guilty of any other sin, [8] then let someone else eat the crops I have planted. Let all that I have planted be uprooted. [9] "If my heart has been seduced by a woman, or if I have lusted for my neighbor's wife, [10] then let my wife serve another man; let other men sleep with her. [11] For lust is a shameful sin, a crime that should be punished. [12] It is a fire that burns all the way to hell. It would wipe out everything I own. [13] "If I have been unfair to my male or female servants when they brought their complaints to me, [14] how could I face God? What could I say when he questioned me? [15] For God created both me and my servants. He created us both in the womb. [16] "Have I refused to help the poor, or crushed the hopes of widows? [17] Have I been stingy with my food and refused to share it with orphans? [18] No, from childhood I have cared for orphans like a father, and all my life I have cared for widows. [19] Whenever I saw the homeless without clothes and the needy with nothing to wear, [20] did they not praise me for providing wool clothing to keep them warm? [21] "If I raised my hand against an orphan, knowing the judges would take my side, [22] then let my shoulder be wrenched out of place! Let my arm be torn from its socket! [23] That would be better than facing God's judgment. For if the majesty of God opposes me, what hope is there? [24] "Have I put my trust in money or felt secure because of my gold? [25] Have I gloated about my wealth and all that I own? [26] "Have I looked at the sun shining in the skies, or the moon walking down its silver pathway, [27] and been secretly enticed in my heart to throw kisses at them in worship? [28] If so, I should be punished by the judges, for it would mean I had denied the God of heaven. [29] "Have I ever rejoiced when disaster struck my enemies, or become excited when harm came their way? [30] No, I have never sinned by cursing anyone or by asking for revenge. [31] "My servants have never said, 'He let others go hungry.' [32] I have never turned away a stranger but have opened my doors to everyone. [33] "Have I tried to hide my sins like other people do, concealing my guilt in my heart? [34] Have I feared the crowd or the contempt of the masses, so that I kept quiet and stayed indoors? [35] "If only someone would listen to me! Look, I will sign my name to my defense. Let the Almighty answer me. Let my accuser write out the charges against me. [36] I would face the accusation proudly. I would wear it like a crown. [37] For I would tell him exactly what I have done. I would come before him like a prince. [38] "If my land accuses me and all its furrows cry out together, [39] or if I have stolen its crops or murdered its owners, [40] then let thistles grow on that land instead of wheat, and weeds instead of barley." Job's words are ended.