New International Version
8 Then may others eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted.
9 "If my heart has been enticed by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbor's door,"
10 Then may my wife grind another man's grain, and may other men sleep with her.
11 For that would have been wicked, a sin to be judged.
12 It is a fire that burns to Destruction; it would have uprooted my harvest.
13 "If I have denied justice to any of my servants, whether male or female, when they had a grievance against me,"
14 What will I do when God confronts me? What will I answer when called to account?
15 Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?
16 "If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary,"
17 If I have kept my bread to myself, not sharing it with the fatherless –
18 But from my youth I reared them as a father would, and from my birth I guided the widow –
19 If I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing, or the needy without garments
20 And their hearts did not bless me for warming them with the fleece from my sheep
21 If I have raised my hand against the fatherless, knowing that I had influence in court
22 Then let my arm fall from the shoulder, let it be broken off at the joint.
Amplified Bible
8 Then let me sow and let another eat; yes, let the produce of my field or my offspring be rooted out.
9 If my heart has been deceived and I made a fool by a woman, or if I have [covetously] laid wait at my neighbor's door [until his departure]
10 Then let my wife grind [meal, like a bondslave] for another, and let others bow down upon her.
11 For [adultery] is a heinous and chief crime, an iniquity [to demand action by] the judges and punishment. [Deut. 22:22; John 8:5.]
12 For [uncontrolled passion] is a fire which consumes to Abaddon (to destruction, ruin, and the place of final torment); [that fire once lighted would rage until all is consumed] and would burn to the root all my [life's] increase.
13 If I have despised and rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant when they contended or brought a complaint against me
14 What then shall I do when God rises up [to judge]? When He visits [to inquire of me], what shall I answer Him? [Ps. 44:21.]
15 Did not He Who made me in the womb make [my servant]? And did not One fashion us both in the womb? [Prov. 14:31; 22:2; Mal. 2:10.]
16 If I have withheld from the poor and needy what they desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to look in vain [for relief]
17 Or have eaten my morsel alone and have not shared it with the fatherless--
18 No, but from my youth [the fatherless] grew up with me as a father, and I have been [the widow's] guide from my mother's womb--
19 If I have seen anyone perish for want of clothing, or any poor person without covering
20 If his loins have not blessed me [for clothing them], and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep
21 If I have lifted my hand against the fatherless when I saw [that the judges would be favorable and be] my help at the [council] gate
22 Then let my shoulder fall away from my shoulder blade, and my arm be broken from its socket.
King James Version
8 Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.
9 If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;
10 Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.
11 For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.
12 For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.
13 If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;
14 What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?
15 Did not he that 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 myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;
18 (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;)
19 If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;
20 If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:
22 Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.
Becoming a Christian
Would you like to experience forgiveness and new life from the God of the Bible, who calls every person to believe that he sent his son Jesus Christ to make this possible?
The Bible explains why everyone needs to receive forgiveness and is called to serve Jesus Christ. The consistency of the Bible story, which was authored by people living thousands of years apart from diverse cultures and even different languages, is often cited as evidence of divine inspiration. Wikipedia has a list of many Biblical prophesies which have come true.
The story of God's plan to restore his relationship with us can be summarised in eight famous Bible verses below.
- In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1
- All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:23
- God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
- Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14:6
- If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9
- For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
Ephesians 2:8
- But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Acts 1:8
- Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19
The truth in these verses is simple, yet to embrace it means letting go of all our personal hopes and dreams and embracing God's greater purpose for our lives instead, a purpose far above anything we could dream or imagine.
This is the most important decision you will ever make, because it affects not just the rest of your life here on earth, but what comes after as well. Don't put it off until too late. If you died tonight make the decision to spend eternity with your loving Father in Heaven.
If you're wondering what to do next as a new Christian, check out these helpful suggestions from Mary Fairchild on About.com: