23. For calamity from ·God was a terror to me, and by reason of his excellency I was powerless.
24. If I have made gold my hope, or said to the fine gold, My confidence!
25. If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much;
26. If I beheld the sun when it shone, or the moon walking in brightness,
27. And my heart have been secretly enticed, so that my mouth kissed my hand:
28. This also would be an iniquity for the judge, for I should have denied the ·God who is above.
29. If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, and exulted when evil befell him;
30. (Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by asking his life with a curse;)
31. If the men of my tent said not, Who shall find one that hath not been satisfied with his meat? --
32. The stranger did not lodge without; I opened my doors to the pathway.
33. If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom,
34. Because I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and went not out of the door, ...
35. Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold my signature: let the Almighty answer me! And let mine opponent write an accusation!
36. Would I not take it upon my shoulder? I would bind it on to me as a crown;
37. I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I come near to him.
38. If my land cry out against me, and its furrows weep together;
39. If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have tormented to death the souls of its owners:
40. Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and tares instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.