Job 31:16–23

“If I have withheld anything that the poor desired,

or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

or have eaten my morsel alone,

and the fatherless has not eaten of it

(for from my youth the fatherless grew up with me as with a father,

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

if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,

or the needy without covering,

if his body has not blessed me,

and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,

if I have raised my hand against the fatherless,

because I saw my help in the gate,

then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder,

and let my arm be broken from its socket.

For I was in terror of calamity from God,

and I could not have faced his majesty.

“If I have denied the desires of the poor

or let the eyes of the widow grow weary,

if I have kept my bread to myself,

not sharing it with the fatherless—

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

and from my birth I guided the widow—

if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing,

or the needy without garments,

and their hearts did not bless me

for warming them with the fleece from my sheep,

if I have raised my hand against the fatherless,

knowing that I had influence in court,

then let my arm fall from the shoulder,

let it be broken off at the joint.

For I dreaded destruction from God,

and for fear of his splendor I could not do such things.

If I have refused the wishes of the poor

or let the widow’s eyes go blind,

if I have eaten my few crumbs alone

without letting the fatherless eat any of it—

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

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

if I have seen anyone dying for lack of clothing

or a needy person without a cloak,

if he did not bless me

while warming himself with the fleece from my sheep,

if I ever cast my vote against a fatherless child

when I saw that I had support in the city gate,

then let my shoulder blade fall from my back,

and my arm be pulled from its socket.

For disaster from God terrifies me,

and because of his majesty I could not do these things.

“Have I refused to help the poor,

or crushed the hopes of widows?

Have I been stingy with my food

and refused to share it with orphans?

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

and all my life I have cared for widows.

Whenever I saw the homeless without clothes

and the needy with nothing to wear,

did they not praise me

for providing wool clothing to keep them warm?

“If I raised my hand against an orphan,

knowing the judges would take my side,

then let my shoulder be wrenched out of place!

Let my arm be torn from its socket!

That would be better than facing God’s judgment.

For if the majesty of God opposes me, what hope is there?

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

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

or I have eaten my morsel alone,

and the orphan has not eaten from it

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

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

if I have seen the one who perishes because of no clothing

or that there is no covering for the poor,

if his loins have not blessed me,

or by means of my sheep’s fleece he has warmed himself,

if I have raised my hand against an orphan

because I saw my supporters at the gate,

then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder,

and let my arm be broken from its socket.

Indeed, the disaster from God was a dread for me,

and I was powerless because of his majesty.

If I have withheld the poor from their desire,

Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

Or have eaten my morsel myself alone,

And the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;

(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father,

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

If I have seen any perish for want of clothing,

Or any poor without covering;

If his loins have not blessed me,

And if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless,

When I saw my help in the gate:

Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade,

And mine arm be broken from the bone.

For destruction from God was a terror to me,

And by reason of his highness I could not endure.