Job 31:14–18

14 what will I do when God confronts me?

What will I answer when called to account?

15 Did not he who made me in the womb make them?

Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?

16 “If I have denied the desires of the poor

or let the eyes of the widow grow weary,

17 if I have kept my bread to myself,

not sharing it with the fatherless—

18 but from my youth I reared them as a father would,

and from my birth I guided the widow—

14 what then shall I do when God rises up?

When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?

15 Did not he who made me in the womb make him?

And did not one fashion us in the womb?

16 “If I have withheld anything that the poor desired,

or have 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 grew up with me as with a father,

and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow),

14 how could I face God?

What could I say when he questioned me?

15 For God created both me and my servants.

He created us both in the womb.

16 “Have I refused to help the poor,

or crushed the hopes of widows?

17 Have I been stingy with my food

and refused to share it with orphans?

18 No, from childhood I have cared for orphans like a father,

and all my life I have cared for widows.

14 What then shall I do when God rises up?

When He punishes, how shall I answer Him?

15 Did not He who made me in the womb make them?

Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?

16 “If I have kept the poor from their desire,

Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

17 Or eaten my morsel by myself,

So that the fatherless could not eat of it

18 (But from my youth I reared him as a father,

And from my mother’s womb I guided the widow);

14 how could I tell God what I did?

What will I answer when he asks me to explain what I’ve done?

15 God made me in my mother’s womb, and he also made them;

the same God formed both of us in our mothers’ wombs.

16 “I have never refused the appeals of the poor

or let widows give up hope while looking for help.

17 I have not kept my food to myself

but have given it to the orphans.

18 Since I was young, I have been like a father to the orphans.

From my birth I guided the widows.

14 What then shall I do when God riseth up?

And when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?

15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him?

And did not one fashion us in the womb?

16 If I have withheld the poor from their desire,

Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

17 Or have eaten my morsel alone,

And the fatherless hath not eaten thereof

18 (Nay, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father,

And her have I guided from my mother’s womb);

14 What then should I do when •God riseth up? and if he visited, what should I answer him? 15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not One fashion us in the womb?

16 If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail; 17 Or have eaten my morsel alone, so that the fatherless ate not thereof, 18 (For from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and I have guided the widow from my mother’s womb;)

14 then what could I do if God rises up? 

If he examines me, how could I answer him? 

15 Didn’t he who made me in my mother’s belly make them? 

Didn’t the same God form us in the womb? 

16 “If I have refused the requests of the poor 

or made a widow’s eyes stop ⸤looking for help⸥, 

17 or have eaten my food alone 

without letting the orphan eat any of it.… 

18 (From my youth the orphan grew up with me 

as though I were his father, 

and from my birth I treated the widow kindly.) 

14 what could I do when God stands up to judge?

How should I answer Him when He calls me to account?

15 Did not the One who made me in the womb also make them?

Did not the same God form us both in the womb?

16 If I have refused the wishes of the poor

or let the widow’s eyes go blind,

17 if I have eaten my few crumbs alone

without letting the fatherless eat any of it—

18 for from my youth, I raised him as his father,

and since the day I was born I guided the widow—

14 what then shall I do when God rises up?

When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?

15 Did not he who made me in the womb make them?

And did not one fashion us in the womb?

16 “If I have withheld anything that the poor desired

or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail

17 or have eaten my morsel alone

and the orphan has not eaten from it—

18 for from my youth I reared the orphan like a father,

and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow—

14 then what shall I do when God rises up?

And when he enquires, how shall I answer him?

15 Did not he who made me in the womb make them?

And did not one fashion us in the womb?

16 “If I have withheld the desire of the poor from them,

or I have caused the widow’s eyes to fail,

17 or I have eaten my morsel alone,

and the orphan has not eaten from it

18 (for from my childhood he grew up with me like a father,

and from my mother’s womb I guided her),

14 Then what will I do when God opposes me?

What answer will I give him

when he asks me to explain myself?

15 Didn’t he who made me make my servants also?

Didn’t the same God form us inside our mothers?

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.

14 What then could I do when God arises?

And when He calls me to account, what will I answer Him?

15 “Did not He who made me in the womb make him,

And the same one fashion us in the womb?

16 “If I have kept the poor from their desire,

Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

17 Or have eaten my morsel alone,

And the orphan has not shared it

18 (But from my youth he grew up with me as with a father,

And from infancy I guided her),