« | Job 31 | » |
1 I made a covenant with my eyes. How then should I look upon a virgin?
2 For what is the portion from God above, and the heritage from the Almighty on high?
3 Is it not calamity to the unrighteous, and disaster to the workers of iniquity?
4 Does he not see my ways, and number all my steps?
5 If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot has hastened to deceit
6 (let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know my integrity);
7 if my step has turned out of the way, and my heart walked after my eyes, and if any spot has clung to my hands,
8 then let me sow, and let another eat, yea, let the produce of my field be rooted out.
9 If my heart has been enticed to a woman, and I have laid wait at my neighbor's door,
10 then let my wife grind to another, and let others bow down upon her.
11 For that is a heinous crime, yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.
12 For it is a fire that consumes to destruction, and would root out all my increase.
13 If I have despised the case of my man-servant or of my maid-servant when they contended with me,
14 what then shall I do when God rises up? And when he visits, what shall I answer him?
15 Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?
16 If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
17 or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it
18 (no, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and her I have guided from my mother's womb);
19 if I have seen any perish for lack of clothing, or that the needy had no covering;
20 if his loins have not blessed me, and if he has not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
21 if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate,
22 then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, and my arm be broken from the bone.
23 For calamity from God is a terror to me, and I can do nothing because of his majesty.
24 If I have made gold my hope, and have said to the fine gold, Thou are my confidence;
25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much;
26 if I have beheld the sun when it shone, or the moon walking in brightness,
27 and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand
28 (this also is an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have denied the God that is above);
29 if I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him
30 (yea, I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking his life with a curse);
31 if the men of my tent have not said, Who can find one who has not been filled with his food?
32 (the sojourner has not lodged in the street, but I have opened my doors to the traveler);
33 if like Adam I have covered my transgressions by hiding my iniquity in my bosom
34 because I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me so that I kept silence, and did not go out of the door--
35 O that I had someone to hear me (Lo, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me), and that I had the indictment which my adversary has written!
36 Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder. I would bind it to me as a crown.
37 I would declare to him the number of my steps. I would go near to him as a prince.
38 If my land cries out against me, and the furrows of it weep together;
39 if I have eaten the fruits of it without money, or have caused the owners of it to lose their lives,
40 let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.
A Conservative Version (ACV)
A Conservative Version (ACV) of the Bible is a translation that aims to provide a conservative and literal interpretation of the biblical texts. Developed with a focus on maintaining fidelity to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts, the ACV emphasizes a word-for-word translation methodology. The goal is to preserve the subtleties and nuances of the original languages as accurately as possible. This approach results in a version of the Bible that seeks to remain true to the text's original meaning and context, appealing to readers who prioritize precision and doctrinal integrity.
The text of the Old Testament for A Conservative Version (ACV) came from the American Standard Version published in 1901. The main changes done for the ACV were the replacement of archaic words with more modern ones, except for the old English pronouns, which were kept because they are more communicative. The New Testament was translated from, The New Testament in the Original Greek According to the Byzantine-Majority Text form. That edition was compiled by Maurice A. Robinson and William G. Pierpont, and is of the Textus Receptus tradition from which came the King James Version.
The ACV was created in response to what its translators saw as a trend toward more liberal or dynamic-equivalence translations that prioritize readability over literal accuracy. The translators aimed to produce a text that adheres closely to the original languages, even if this makes the translation more challenging for contemporary readers. This reflects their belief in the importance of preserving the exact words and phrases used in the original scriptures. The ACV also employs traditional theological terminology and phrasing, avoiding modern slang and colloquial expressions in favor of language that conveys the gravity and solemnity of the biblical message.
While the ACV has found appreciation among conservative circles, it has faced criticism for its perceived rigidity and difficulty. Critics argue that its strict adherence to a word-for-word translation can make the text less readable and accessible, potentially alienating readers unfamiliar with the original languages or who prefer a more fluid translation. Despite these criticisms, the ACV remains a valued translation for those who prioritize a conservative and literal approach to Bible interpretation, supporting their doctrinal views with a text they believe closely reflects the original scriptures.