Job 31:16-23

New International Reader's Version

¹⁶ “I haven’t said no to what poor people have wanted.
    I haven’t let widows lose their hope.
¹⁷ I haven’t kept my bread to myself.
    I’ve shared it with children whose fathers had died.
¹⁸ From the time I was young, I’ve helped those widows.
    I’ve raised those children as a father would.
¹⁹ Suppose I’ve seen people dying
    because they didn’t have enough clothes.
I’ve seen needy people
    who didn’t have enough to keep warm.
²⁰ And they didn’t give me their blessing
    when I warmed them with wool from my sheep.
²¹ Suppose I’ve raised my hand
    against children whose fathers have died.
And I did it because I knew
    I had power in the courts.
²² Then let my arm fall from my shoulder.
    Let it be broken off at the joint.
²³ I was afraid God would destroy me.
    His glory terrifies me.
    So I’d never do things like that.