Shouldn’t you worship God and trust in him? Shouldn’t your honest life give you hope?

你的倚靠不是在你敬畏神吗？你的盼望不是在你行事纯正吗？

你的倚靠不是在于你敬畏上帝吗？你的盼望不是在于你行事纯正吗？

你的倚靠不是在于你敬畏神吗？你的盼望不是在于你行事纯正吗？

你敬畏上帝还没有信心吗？你行为纯全还没有盼望吗？

你所自恃的，不是敬畏神吗？你所盼望的，不是行为完全吗？

你的倚靠不是在你敬畏神嗎？你的盼望不是在你行事純正嗎？

你的倚靠不是在於你敬畏上帝嗎？你的盼望不是在於你行事純正嗎？

你的倚靠不是在於你敬畏神嗎？你的盼望不是在於你行事純正嗎？

你敬畏上帝還沒有信心嗎？你行為純全還沒有盼望嗎？

你所自恃的，不是敬畏神嗎？你所盼望的，不是行為完全嗎？

你的安心信賴豈不是在於你的敬畏上帝？你所指望的豈不是在於你行徑之純全麼？

爾之所恃、非在寅畏乎、爾之所望、非在正行乎、

舉敬畏行善之心、居恆以此自恃者安在哉。

爾敬畏天主、豈無所恃乎、既有善行、豈無可望乎、

Should not your piety be your confidence and your blameless ways your hope?

Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?

Doesn’t your reverence for God give you confidence? Doesn’t your life of integrity give you hope?

Isn’t your piety your confidence, and the integrity of your life your hope?

Is your fear of God not your confidence, And the integrity of your ways your hope?

Is not your reverence your confidence? And the integrity of your ways your hope?

Is not thy fear of God thy confidence, And the integrity of thy ways thy hope?

Isn’t your piety your confidence, and the integrity of your life your hope?

[ Is] not[ this] thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?

Is not your piety your confidence, and your blameless ways your hope?

Isn’t your piety your confidence? Isn’t the integrity of your ways your hope?

The Lord will be at your side. He will keep your feet from being caught in a trap.

There was a man who lived in the land of Uz. His name was Job. He was honest. He did what was right. He had respect for God and avoided evil.

Anyone who shows respect for the Lord has a strong tower. It will be a safe place for their children.

Then the Lord said to Satan,“ Have you thought about my servant Job? There isn’t anyone on earth like him. He is honest. He does what is right. He has respect for God and avoids evil.”“ You always give Job everything he needs,” Satan replied.“ That’s why he has respect for you.Haven’t you guarded him and his family? Haven’t you taken care of everything he has? You have blessed everything he does. His flocks and herds are spread all through the land.

“ Lord, please remember how faithful I’ve been to you. I’ve lived the way you wanted me to. I’ve served you with all my heart. I’ve done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

I’ll never admit you people are right. Until I die, I’ll say I’m telling the truth.I’ll continue to say I’m right. I’ll never let go of that. I won’t blame myself as long as I live.

My feet have closely followed his steps. I’ve stayed on his path without turning away.I haven’t disobeyed his commands. I’ve treasured his words more than my daily bread.

Even if God kills me, I’ll still put my hope in him. I’ll argue my case in front of him.

But I haven’t harmed anyone. My prayers to God are pure.

Then what hope do I have? Who can give me any hope?

So be watchful, and control yourselves completely. In this way, put your hope in the grace that lies ahead. This grace will be brought to you when Jesus Christ returns.

“ I made an agreement with my eyes. I promised not to look at a young woman with impure thoughts.What do we receive from God above? What do we get from the Mighty One in heaven?Sinful people are destroyed. Trouble comes to those who do what is wrong.Doesn’t God see how I live? Doesn’t he count every step I take?“ I haven’t told any lies. My feet haven’t hurried to cheat others.So let God weigh me in honest scales. Then he’ll know I haven’t done anything wrong.Suppose my steps have turned away from the right path. Suppose my heart has wanted what my eyes have seen. Or suppose my hands have become‘ unclean.’Then may others eat what I’ve planted. May my crops be pulled up by the roots.“ Suppose my heart has been tempted by a woman. Or suppose I’ve prowled around my neighbor’s home.Then may my wife grind another man’s grain. May other men sleep with her.Wanting another woman would have been an evil thing. It would have been a sin that should be judged.It’s like a fire that burns down to the grave. It would have caused my crops to be pulled up by the roots.“ Suppose I haven’t treated any of my male and female servants fairly when they’ve brought charges against me.Then what will I do when God opposes me? What answer will I give him when he asks me to explain myself?Didn’t he who made me make my servants also? Didn’t the same God form us inside our mothers?“ I haven’t said no to what poor people have wanted. I haven’t let widows lose their hope.I haven’t kept my bread to myself. I’ve shared it with children whose fathers had died.From the time I was young, I’ve helped those widows. I’ve raised those children as a father would.Suppose I’ve seen people dying because they didn’t have enough clothes. I’ve seen needy people who didn’t have enough to keep warm.And they didn’t give me their blessing when I warmed them with wool from my sheep.Suppose I’ve raised my hand against children whose fathers have died. And I did it because I knew I had power in the courts.Then let my arm fall from my shoulder. Let it be broken off at the joint.I was afraid God would destroy me. His glory terrifies me. So I’d never do things like that.“ Suppose I’ve put my trust in gold. I’ve said to pure gold,‘ You make me feel secure.’And I’m happy because I’m so wealthy. I’m glad because my hands have earned so much.Suppose I’ve worshiped the sun in all its glory. I’ve bowed down to the moon in all its beauty.My heart has been secretly tempted. My hand has thrown kisses to the sun and moon.Then these things would have been sins that should be judged. And I wouldn’t have been faithful to God in heaven.“ I wasn’t happy when hard times came to my enemies. I didn’t enjoy seeing the trouble they had.I didn’t allow my mouth to sin by asking for bad things to happen to them.The workers in my house always said,‘ Job always gives plenty of food to everyone.’No stranger ever had to spend the night in the street. My door was always open to travelers.I didn’t hide my sin as other people do. I didn’t hide my guilt in my heart.I was never afraid of the crowd. I never worried that my relatives might hate me. I didn’t have to keep quiet or stay inside.“ I wish someone would listen to me! I’m signing my name to everything I’ve said. I hope the Mighty One will give me his answer. I hope the one who brings charges against me will write them down.I’ll wear them on my shoulder. I’ll put them on my head like a crown.I’ll give that person a report of every step I take. I’ll present it to him like I would to a ruler.“ Suppose my land cries out against me. And all its soil is wet with tears.Suppose I’ve used up its crops without paying for them. Or I’ve broken the spirit of its renters.Then let thorns grow instead of wheat. Let stinkweed come up instead of barley.” The words of Job end here.

You call on a Father who judges each person’s work without favoring one over another. So live as outsiders during your time here. Live with the highest respect for God.

That’s because I saved poor people who cried out for help. I saved helpless children whose fathers had died.Those who were dying gave me their blessing. I made the hearts of widows sing.I put on a godly life as if it were my clothes. Fairness was my robe and my turban.I was like eyes for those who were blind. I was like feet for those who couldn’t walk.I was like a father to needy people. I stood up for strangers in court.Sinners are like animals that have powerful teeth. But I took from their mouths the people they had caught.