⁵ “If I have walked with falsehood,
    and my foot has hurried to deceit—^(A)
6 let me be weighed in a just balance,
    and let God know my integrity!—^(B)

¹⁶ “If I have withheld anything that the poor desired
    or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail^(A)
17 or have eaten my morsel alone
    and the orphan has not eaten from it—^(B)
18 for from my youth I reared the orphan^[a] like a father,
    and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow^[b]—
¹⁹ if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing
    or a poor person without covering,

²⁴ “If I have made gold my trust
    or called fine gold my confidence,^(A)
25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great
    or because my hand had gotten much,^(B)
26 if I have looked at the sun^[a] when it shone
    or the moon moving in splendor,^(C)
27 and my heart has been secretly enticed,
    and my mouth has kissed my hand,
²⁸ this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges,
    for I should have been false to God above.^(D)

²⁹ “If I have rejoiced at the ruin of those who hated me
    or exulted when evil overtook them—^(E)

³⁸ “If my land has cried out against me
    and its furrows have wept together,^(E)
39 if I have eaten its yield without payment
    and caused the death of its owners,^(F)
40 let thorns grow instead of wheat
    and foul weeds instead of barley.”

The words of Job are ended.^(G)

² “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?^(B)
3 Gird up your loins like a man;
    I will question you, and you shall declare to me.^(C)

⁴ “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
    Tell me, if you have understanding.^(D)

¹² “Have you commanded the morning since your days began
    and caused the dawn to know its place,^(A)
13 so that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth,
    and the wicked be shaken out of it?^(B)
14 It is changed like clay under the seal,
    and it is dyed^[a] like a garment.
¹⁵ Light is withheld from the wicked,
    and their uplifted arm is broken.^(C)

¹⁶ “Have you entered into the springs of the sea
    or walked in the recesses of the deep?^(D)
17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you,
    or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?^(E)
18 Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?
    Declare, if you know all this.^(F)

²⁵ “Who has cut a channel for the torrents of rain
    and a way for the thunderbolt,^(A)
26 to bring rain on a land where no one lives,
    on the desert, which is empty of human life,^(B)
27 to satisfy the waste and desolate land,
    and to make the ground put forth grass?^(C)

² “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?^[a]
    Anyone who argues with God must respond.”^(A)

⁴ “See, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?
    I lay my hand on my mouth.^(B)
5 I have spoken once, and I will not answer,
    twice but will proceed no further.”^(C)