16“I have never refused to help the poor. I always gave widows what they needed.
17I have never been selfish with my food. I shared what I had with orphans.
18All my life I have been like a father to orphans and have taken care of widows.
19Whenever I found people suffering because they didn’t have clothes or saw a poor man with no coat,
20I always gave them something to wear. I used the wool from my own sheep to make them warm. And they thanked me with all their heart.
21I never threatened an orphan, even when I knew I had support in court.[3]
22If I ever did that, may my arm be pulled from its socket and fall from my shoulder!
23But I didn’t do any of these bad things. I fear God’s punishment too much. His majesty scares me.[4]
24“I have never trusted in riches. I never said even to pure gold, ‘You are my hope.’
25I have been wealthy, but that didn’t make me proud. I earned a lot of money, but that is not what made me happy.
26I have never worshiped the bright sun or the beautiful moon.
27I was never foolish enough to worship the sun and the moon.
28This is also a sin that must be punished. If I had worshiped them, I would have been unfaithful to God All-Powerful.
29“I have never been happy when my enemies were destroyed. I have never laughed at my enemies when bad things happened to them.
30I have never let my mouth sin by cursing my enemies and wishing for them to die.
31The people in my house know that I have never let anyone go hungry.
32I always invited strangers into my home so that they would not have to sleep in the streets.
33I have not tried to hide my sins as some people do. I have never hidden my guilt.
34I was never so afraid of what people might say or of making enemies that I kept my sins secret and avoided going out.
35“How I wish someone would listen to me! I will sign my name to all I have said. Now let God All-Powerful answer me. Let him make a list of what he thinks I did wrong.
36I would wear it around my neck. I would put it on my head like a crown.
37Then I could explain everything I have done. I could come to God with my head held high like a prince.
38“I did not use my land in a wrong way. I never caused it to suffer.
39I always paid the workers for the food I got from the land. I never let any of them starve.
40If I ever did any of these bad things, let thorns and weeds grow in my fields instead of wheat and barley!” Job’s words are finished.
