Job 31:13-40

13When my servants complain against me, I have always been fair to them.

14If I had been cruel to them, God would be right to punish me. When God judges me, I would have no answer to excuse myself.

15God made me and he made my servants too. God brought us all to birth.

16I have never refused to help people who are poor. I have always helped widows to hope for good things.

17I have never kept all my food for myself. I have always shared it with children who have no family.

18Since I was a young man, I have helped those children like a father. All my life I have helped widows too.

19I have seen people without enough clothes to keep them warm, or without a coat to wear.

20Then I would give them clothes. The wool from my sheep would keep them warm. And they all thanked me.

21I have not turned against children who have no family, even when the city judges agreed with me.

22God should punish me if these things are not true. I would accept the punishment that I deserve.

23I was afraid of the trouble that God might bring to me. So I could not do these bad things, because God is so great and powerful.

24I have not trusted in money or in gold. I have never thought that they would make me strong.

25When I was very rich, I was not proud about it. I did not think that I had worked hard to deserve it.

26I have looked at the sun when it shines brightly. And I have seen the moon when it is very beautiful.

27But I have never wanted to worship them or to give them honour.

28If I had done that, I would not have been faithful to God in heaven. I would have deserved punishment for that sin.

29I do not laugh at my enemies when they suffer. If my enemy has troubles, it does not make me happy.

30I have not cursed my enemies, to ask God to kill them. That would have caused a sin to come from my mouth!

31None of the people who work in my house have ever said, “Job has not welcomed strangers into his house. He has not shared his food with them.”

32Travellers may come to sleep in my house. They do not have to sleep outside in the street.

33I do not try to hide my sins, as some people do.

34I am not afraid of what people think about me. Even if a great crowd of people speak against me, I do not stay inside my house and keep quiet.

35I want someone to listen to me! All the things that I say are true. Almighty God should give me an answer! I need to know what I have done that is wrong. He should write down the reason why I am guilty!

36Then I would show that paper clearly on my shoulders. I would be proud to wear it like a crown on my head.

37I would explain to God everything that I have done. I would stand in front of him without fear, like a ruler.

38I have not grown crops on land that does not belong to me. The land itself would accuse me if that were true.

39I have always paid for the food that other people have worked to grow. I have never cheated the farmers so that they suffered.

40If I have ever done any of those things, then may thorn bushes grow in my fields instead of wheat. May weeds grow in my fields instead of barley.’ That is the end of the things that Job said.