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No Injustice on the Poor

16 “If I refused to grant the desire of the poor
    or exhausted the eyes of the widow,
17 if I ate my meals by myself
    without feeding orphans,
18 (even a poor man had grown up with me as if I were his father,
    and even though I had guided the widow[a]
        from the time I was born),
19 if I’ve observed someone who is about to die for lack of clothes
    or if I have no clothing to give to the poor,
20 if he hadn’t thanked me from the bottom of his heart,[b]
    if he had not been warmed by wool from my sheep,
21 if I’ve raised my hand against an orphan
    when I thought I would against him in court,[c]
22 then let my arm[d] fall from its socket;
    and may my arm be torn off at the shoulder.
23 For I’m terrified of what calamity God may have in store for me;
    and I cannot endure his grandeur.”

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Footnotes

  1. Job 31:18 Lit. her
  2. Job 31:20 Lit. hadn’t blessed me from his loins
  3. Job 31:21 Lit. when I saw help for me at the gate
  4. Job 31:22 Lit. side

16 “If I have denied the desires of the poor(A)
    or let the eyes of the widow(B) grow weary,(C)
17 if I have kept my bread to myself,
    not sharing it with the fatherless(D)
18 but from my youth I reared them as a father would,
    and from my birth I guided the widow(E)
19 if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing,(F)
    or the needy(G) without garments,
20 and their hearts did not bless me(H)
    for warming them with the fleece(I) from my sheep,
21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless,(J)
    knowing that I had influence in court,(K)
22 then let my arm fall from the shoulder,
    let it be broken off at the joint.(L)
23 For I dreaded destruction from God,(M)
    and for fear of his splendor(N) I could not do such things.(O)

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