1 I promised myself

never to stare with desire

at a young woman.

2 God All-Powerful punishes

men who do that.

3 In fact, God sends disaster

on all who sin,

4 and he keeps a close watch

on everything I do.

5 I am not dishonest or deceitful,

6 and I beg God to prove

my innocence.

7 If I have disobeyed him

or even wanted to,

8 then others can eat my harvest

and uproot my crops.

9 If I have desired someone's wife

and chased after her,

10 then let some stranger

steal my wife from me.

11 If I took someone's wife,

it would be a horrible crime,

12 sending me to destruction

and my crops to the flames.*

13 When my servants

complained against me,

I was fair to them.

14 Otherwise, what answer

would I give to God

when he judges me?

15 After all, God is the one

who gave life to each of us

before we were born.

16 * I have never cheated widows

or others in need,

17 and I have always shared

my food with orphans.

18 Since the time I was young,

I have cared for orphans

and helped widows.*

19 I provided clothes for the poor,

20 and I was praised

for supplying woolen garments

to keep them warm.

21 If I have ever raised my arm

to threaten an orphan

when the power was mine,

22 I hope that arm will fall

from its socket.

23 I could not have been abusive;

I was terrified at the thought

that God might punish me.

24 * I have never trusted

the power of wealth,

25 or taken pride in owning

many possessions.

* 26 I have never openly or secretly

27 worshiped the sun or moon.

28 Such horrible sins

would have deserved

punishment from God.

29 I have never laughed

when my enemies

were struck by disaster.

30 Neither have I sinned

by asking God

to send down on them

the curse of death.

31 No one ever went hungry*

at my house,

32 and travelers

were always welcome.

33 Many have attempted to hide

their sins from others—

but I refused.

34 And the fear of public disgrace

never forced me to keep silent

about what I had done.

35 Why doesn't God All-Powerful

listen and answer?

If God has something against me,

let him speak up

or put it in writing!

36 Then I would wear his charges

on my clothes and forehead.

37 And with my head held high,

I would tell him everything

I have ever done.

38 I have never mistreated

the land I farmed

and made it mourn.*

39 Nor have I cheated

my workers

and caused them pain.*

40 If I had, I would pray

for weeds instead of wheat

to grow in my fields.

After saying these things,

Job was silent.