« | Job 31 | » |
1 I made a covenant with my eyes, and I will not think upon a virgin.
2 Now what portion has God given from above? And is there an inheritance given of the Mighty One from on high?
3 Alas! Destruction to the unrighteous, and rejection to them that do iniquity!
4 Will He not see my way, and number all my steps?
5 But if I had gone with scorners, and if my foot too has hastened to deceit:
6 (for I am weighed in a just balance, and the Lord knows my innocence:)
7 if my foot has turned aside out of the way, or if my heart has followed my eye, and if I too have touched gifts with my hands;
8 then let me sow, and let others eat; and let me be uprooted on the earth.
9 If my heart has gone forth after another man's wife, and if I laid wait at her doors;
10 then let my wife also please another, and let my children be brought low.
11 For the rage of anger is not to be controlled, in the case of defiling another man's wife.
12 For it is a fire burning on every side, and whoever it attacks, it utterly destroys.
13 And if I also despised the judgment of my servant or my handmaid, when they pleaded with me;
14 what then shall I do if the Lord should try me? And if also He should at all visit me, can I make an answer?
15 Were not they formed too, as I also was formed in the womb? Yea, we were formed in the same womb.
16 But the helpless missed not whatever need they had, and I did not cause the eye of the widow to fail.
17 And if I also ate my morsel alone, and did not impart [of it] to the orphan;
18 (for I nourished them as a father from my youth and guided [them] from my mother's womb.)
19 And if I too overlooked the naked as he was perishing, and did not clothe him;
20 and if the poor did not bless me, and their shoulders were not warmed with the fleece of my lambs;
21 if I lifted my hand against an orphan, trusting that my strength was far superior [to his]:
22 then let my shoulder start from the blade bone, and my arm be crushed off from the elbow.
23 For the fear of the Lord constrained me, and I cannot bear up by reason of His burden.
24 If I made gold my treasure, and if I too trusted the precious stone;
25 and if I also rejoiced when my wealth was abundant, and if I laid my hand on innumerable [treasures]:
26 (do we not see the shining sun eclipsed, and the moon waning? For they have not [power] to [continue]:)
27 and if my heart was secretly deceived, and if I have laid my hand upon my mouth and kissed it:
28 let this also then be reckoned to me as the greatest iniquity: for I [should] have lied against the Lord Most High.
29 And if I too was glad at the fall of my enemies, and my heart said, Aha!
30 Then let my ear hear my curse, and let me be a byword among my people in my affliction.
31 And if my handmaids have often said, Oh that we might be satisfied with his flesh; (whereas I was very kind:
32 for the stranger did not lodge without, and my door was opened to everyone that came:)
33 or if also having sinned unintentionally, I hid my sin;
34 (for I did not stand in awe of a great multitude, so as not to declare boldly before them:) and if I also permitted a poor man to go out of my door with an empty bosom-
35 (Oh that I had a hearer!) And if I had not feared the hand of the Lord; and as to the written charge which I had against anyone,
36 I would place it as a chaplet on my shoulders, and read it.
37 And if I did not read it and return it, having taken nothing from the debtor:
38 If at any time the land groaned against me, and if its furrows mourned together;
39 and if I ate its strength alone without price, and if I too grieved the heart of the owner of the soil, by taking from [him],
40 then let the thistles come up to me instead of wheat, and a bramble instead of barley. And Job ceased speaking.
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC)
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC) is a modern translation of the Bible that strives to offer a clear and faithful rendering of the scriptures in contemporary language. This translation is designed to be accessible to a wide audience, providing an easy-to-read yet accurate version of the biblical text. The ABC translation aims to bridge the gap between the ancient languages in which the Bible was originally written and the modern vernacular, making it an ideal choice for both personal study and public reading.
One of the notable features of the Apostles’ Bible Complete is its dedication to maintaining the integrity of the original manuscripts. The translators of the ABC worked meticulously with the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts to ensure that their translation accurately reflects the original meaning and intent of the scriptures. By employing a balance of formal equivalence (word-for-word) and dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought) translation techniques, the ABC aims to preserve the nuances and richness of the original languages while ensuring readability and clarity for modern readers.
The ABC also incorporates extensive cross-references and study aids to enhance the reader’s understanding of the biblical text. These tools include footnotes that provide historical and cultural context, as well as explanations of difficult or ambiguous passages. This approach helps readers to grasp the deeper meanings of the scriptures and to see how different parts of the Bible interconnect. The inclusion of these study aids makes the ABC particularly useful for those who are new to the Bible, as well as for more experienced readers who are looking to deepen their understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the Apostles’ Bible Complete has faced some criticisms. Some readers feel that the translation could benefit from further refinement in certain passages, as the balance between formal and dynamic equivalence can sometimes lead to inconsistencies in style and tone. Others have noted that while the study aids are helpful, they can occasionally overwhelm the main text, making it difficult to focus on the scripture itself. Nonetheless, the ABC remains a valuable and respected translation, appreciated for its commitment to accuracy, clarity, and accessibility, and for its ability to bring the ancient words of the Bible to life for contemporary readers.