New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 "I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I look upon a virgin?
1
I made an agreement with my eyes; how then might my eyes be looking on a virgin?
2 What would be my portion from God above, and my heritage from the Almighty on high?
2
For what is God's reward from on high, or the heritage given by the Ruler of all from heaven?
3 Does not calamity befall the unrighteous, and disaster the workers of iniquity?
3
Is it not trouble for the sinner, and destruction for the evil-doers?
4 Does he not see my ways, and number all my steps?
4
Does he not see my ways, and are not my steps all numbered?
5 "If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot has hurried to deceit—
5
If I have gone in false ways, or my foot has been quick in working deceit;
6 let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!—
6
(Let me be measured in upright scales, and let God see my righteousness:)
7 if my step has turned aside from the way, and my heart has followed my eyes, and if any spot has clung to my hands;
7
If my steps have been turned out of the way, or if my heart went after my eyes, or if the property of another is in my hands;
8 then let me sow, and another eat; and let what grows for me be rooted out.
8
Let me put seed in the earth for another to have the fruit of it, and let my produce be uprooted.
9 "If my heart has been enticed by a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door;
9
If my heart went after another man's wife, or if I was waiting secretly at my neighbour's door;
10 then let my wife grind for another, and let other men kneel over her.
10
Then let my wife give pleasure to another man and let others make use of her body.
11 For that would be a heinous crime; that would be a criminal offense;
11
For that would be a crime; it would be an act for which punishment would be measured out by the judges:
12 for that would be a fire consuming down to Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my harvest.
12
It would be a fire burning even to destruction, and taking away all my produce.
13 "If I have rejected the cause of my male or female slaves, when they brought a complaint against me;
13
If I did wrong in the cause of my man-servant, or my woman-servant, when they went to law with me;
14 what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?
14
What then will I do when God comes as my judge? and what answer may I give to his questions?
15 Did not he who made me in the womb make them? And did not one fashion us in the womb?
15
Did not God make him as well as me? did he not give us life in our mothers' bodies?
16 "If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
16
If I kept back the desire of the poor; if the widow's eye was looking for help to no purpose;
17 or have eaten my morsel alone, and the orphan has not eaten from it—
17
If I kept my food for myself, and did not give some of it to the child with no father;
18 for from my youth I reared the orphan like a father, and from my mother's womb I guided the widow —
18
(For I was cared for by God as by a father from my earliest days; he was my guide from the body of my mother;)
19 if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or a poor person without covering,
19
If I saw one near to death for need of clothing, and that the poor had nothing covering him;
20 whose loins have not blessed me, and who was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
20
If his back did not give me a blessing, and the wool of my sheep did not make him warm;
21 if I have raised my hand against the orphan, because I saw I had supporters at the gate;
21
If my hand had been lifted up against him who had done no wrong, when I saw that I was supported by the judges;
22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket.
22
May my arm be pulled from my body, and be broken from its base.
23 For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty.
23
For the fear of God kept me back, and because of his power I might not do such things.
24 "If I have made gold my trust, or called fine gold my confidence;
24
If I made gold my hope, or if I ever said to the best gold, I have put my faith in you;
25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, or because my hand had gotten much;
25
If I was glad because my wealth was great, and because my hand had got together a great store;
26 if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor,
26
If, when I saw the sun shining, and the moon moving on its bright way,
27 and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand;
27
A secret feeling of worship came into my heart, and my hand gave kisses from my mouth;
28 this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I should have been false to God above.
28
That would have been another sin to be rewarded with punishment by the judges; for I would have been false to God on high.
29 "If I have rejoiced at the ruin of those who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook them—
29
If I was glad at the trouble of my hater, and gave cries of joy when evil overtook him;
30 I have not let my mouth sin by asking for their lives with a curse—
30
(For I did not let my mouth give way to sin, in putting a curse on his life;)
31 if those of my tent ever said, "O that we might be sated with his flesh!' —
31
If the men of my tent did not say, Who has not had full measure of his meat?
32 the stranger has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler—
32
The traveller did not take his night's rest in the street, and my doors were open to anyone on a journey;
33 if I have concealed my transgressions as others do, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom,
33
If I kept my evil doings covered, and my sin in the secret of my breast,
34 because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors—
34
For fear of the great body of people, or for fear that families might make sport of me, so that I kept quiet, and did not go out of my door;
35 O that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) O, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!
35
If only God would give ear to me, and the Ruler of all would give me an answer! or if what he has against me had been put in writing!
36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me like a crown;
36
Truly I would take up the book in my hands; it would be to me as a crown;
37 I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him.
37
I would make clear the number of my steps, I would put it before him like a prince! The words of Job are ended.
38 "If my land has cried out against me, and its furrows have wept together;
38
If my land has made an outcry against me, or the ploughed earth has been in sorrow;
39 if I have eaten its yield without payment, and caused the death of its owners;
39
If I have taken its produce without payment, causing the death of its owners;
40 let thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley." The words of Job are ended.
40
Then in place of grain let thorns come up, and in place of barley evil-smelling plants.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.