16 “If I have (A)withheld anything that the poor desired,
    or have (B)caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
17 or have eaten my morsel alone,
    and the fatherless has not eaten of it
18 (for from my youth the fatherless[a] grew up with me as with a father,
    and from my mother's womb I guided the widow[b]),
19 if I have seen anyone (C)perish for (D)lack of clothing,
    or the needy without (E)covering,
20 if his body has not (F)blessed me,[c]
    and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,
21 if I have raised my hand against (G)the fatherless,
    because I saw my help in (H)the gate,
22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder,
    and let my arm be broken from its socket.
23 For I was (I)in terror of calamity from God,
    and I could not have faced his (J)majesty.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 31:18 Hebrew he
  2. Job 31:18 Hebrew her
  3. Job 31:20 Hebrew if his loins have not blessed me

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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