² “As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice,^(B)
    the Almighty,^(C) who has made my life bitter,^(D)
3 as long as I have life within me,
    the breath of God^(E) in my nostrils,
⁴ my lips will not say anything wicked,
    and my tongue will not utter lies.^(F)
5 I will never admit you are in the right;
    till I die, I will not deny my integrity.^(G)
6 I will maintain my innocence^(H) and never let go of it;
    my conscience^(I) will not reproach me as long as I live.^(J)

¹¹ Whoever heard me spoke well of me,
    and those who saw me commended me,^(A)
12 because I rescued the poor^(B) who cried for help,
    and the fatherless^(C) who had none to assist them.^(D)
13 The one who was dying blessed me;^(E)
    I made the widow’s^(F) heart sing.
¹⁴ I put on righteousness^(G) as my clothing;
    justice was my robe and my turban.^(H)
15 I was eyes^(I) to the blind
    and feet to the lame.^(J)
16 I was a father to the needy;^(K)
    I took up the case^(L) of the stranger.^(M)
17 I broke the fangs of the wicked
    and snatched the victims^(N) from their teeth.^(O)

⁶ let God weigh me^(A) in honest scales^(B)
    and he will know that I am blameless^(C)—

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)

²⁹ “If I have rejoiced at my enemy’s misfortune^(A)
    or gloated over the trouble that came to him^(B)—
³⁰ I have not allowed my mouth to sin
    by invoking a curse against their life^(C)—
³¹ if those of my household have never said,
    ‘Who has not been filled with Job’s meat?’^(D)—
³² but no stranger had to spend the night in the street,
    for my door was always open to the traveler^(E)—
³³ if I have concealed^(F) my sin as people do,^[a]
    by hiding^(G) my guilt in my heart

⁴⁰ then let briers^(A) come up instead of wheat
    and stinkweed^(B) instead of barley.”