1 I promised myselfnever to stare with desireat a young woman.
2 God All-Powerful punishesmen who do that.
3 In fact, God sends disasteron all who sin,
4 and he keeps a close watchon everything I do.
5 I am not dishonest or deceitful,
6 and I beg God to provemy innocence.
7 If I have disobeyed himor even wanted to,
8 then others can eat my harvestand uproot my crops.
9 If I have desired someone's wifeand chased after her,
10 then let some strangersteal my wife from me.
11 If I took someone's wife,it would be a horrible crime,
12 sending me to destructionand my crops to the flames.
13 When my servantscomplained against me,I was fair to them.
14 Otherwise, what answerwould I give to Godwhen he judges me?
15 After all, God is the onewho gave life to each of usbefore we were born.
16 I have never cheated widowsor others in need,
17 and I have always sharedmy food with orphans.
18 Since the time I was young,I have cared for orphansand helped widows.
19 I provided clothes for the poor,
20 and I was praisedfor supplying woolen garmentsto keep them warm.
21 If I have ever raised my armto threaten an orphanwhen the power was mine,
22 I hope that arm will fallfrom its socket.
23 I could not have been abusive;I was terrified at the thoughtthat God might punish me.
24 I have never trustedthe power of wealth,
25 or taken pride in owningmany possessions.*
26 I have never openly or secretly
27 worshiped the sun or moon.
28 Such horrible sinswould have deservedpunishment from God.
29 I have never laughedwhen my enemieswere struck by disaster.
30 Neither have I sinnedby asking Godto send down on themthe curse of death.
31 No one ever went hungryat my house,
32 and travelerswere always welcome.
33 Many have attempted to hidetheir sins from others—but I refused.
34 And the fear of public disgracenever forced me to keep silentabout what I had done.
35 Why doesn't God All-Powerfullisten and answer?If God has something against me,let him speak upor put it in writing!
36 Then I would wear his chargeson my clothes and forehead.
37 And with my head held high,I would tell him everythingI have ever done.
38 I have never mistreatedthe land I farmedand made it mourn.
39 Nor have I cheatedmy workersand caused them pain.
40 If I had, I would prayfor weeds instead of wheatto grow in my fields.After saying these things,Job was silent.