Job 22:4–11

Is it for your fear of him that he reproves you

and enters into judgment with you?

Is not your evil abundant?

There is no end to your iniquities.

For you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing

and stripped the naked of their clothing.

You have given no water to the weary to drink,

and you have withheld bread from the hungry.

The man with power possessed the land,

and the favored man lived in it.

You have sent widows away empty,

and the arms of the fatherless were crushed.

Therefore snares are all around you,

and sudden terror overwhelms you,

or darkness, so that you cannot see,

and a flood of water covers you.

“Is it for your piety that he rebukes you

and brings charges against you?

Is not your wickedness great?

Are not your sins endless?

You demanded security from your relatives for no reason;

you stripped people of their clothing, leaving them naked.

You gave no water to the weary

and you withheld food from the hungry,

though you were a powerful man, owning land—

an honored man, living on it.

And you sent widows away empty-handed

and broke the strength of the fatherless.

That is why snares are all around you,

why sudden peril terrifies you,

why it is so dark you cannot see,

and why a flood of water covers you.

Does he correct you and take you to court

because of your piety?

Isn’t your wickedness abundant

and aren’t your iniquities endless?

For you took collateral from your brothers without cause,

stripping off their clothes and leaving them naked.

You gave no water to the thirsty

and withheld food from the famished,

while the land belonged to a powerful man

and an influential man lived on it.

You sent widows away empty-handed,

and the strength of the fatherless was crushed.

Therefore snares surround you,

and sudden dread terrifies you,

or darkness, so you cannot see,

and a flood of water covers you.

Is it because you’re so pious that he accuses you

and brings judgment against you?

No, it’s because of your wickedness!

There’s no limit to your sins.

“For example, you must have lent money to your friend

and demanded clothing as security.

Yes, you stripped him to the bone.

You must have refused water for the thirsty

and food for the hungry.

You probably think the land belongs to the powerful

and only the privileged have a right to it!

You must have sent widows away empty-handed

and crushed the hopes of orphans.

That is why you are surrounded by traps

and tremble from sudden fears.

That is why you cannot see in the darkness,

and waves of water cover you.

Does he reprove you because of your reverence

or enter into judgment with you?

Is not your wickedness great,

and there is no end to your iniquities?

“Indeed, you have required a pledge from your family for nothing,

and you have stripped off the clothes of the naked.

You have given no water for the weary to drink,

and you withheld food from the hungry.

And the land belongs to the man of power,

and the favored lives in it.

You have sent widows away empty-handed,

and the arms of orphans were crushed.

Therefore trapping nets are all around you,

and panic suddenly terrifies you,

or it is so dark you cannot see,

and a flood of water covers you.

Will he reprove thee for fear of thee?

Will he enter with thee into judgment?

Is not thy wickedness great?

And thine iniquities infinite?

For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought,

And stripped the naked of their clothing.

Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink,

And thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.

But as for the mighty man, he had the earth;

And the honourable man dwelt in it.

Thou hast sent widows away empty,

And the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

Therefore snares are round about thee,

And sudden fear troubleth thee;

Or darkness, that thou canst not see;

And abundance of waters cover thee.