New International Version
23 For I dreaded destruction from God, and for fear of his splendor I could not do such things.
24 "If I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, 'You are my security,'"
25 If I have rejoiced over my great wealth, the fortune my hands had gained
26 If I have regarded the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor
27 So that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand offered them a kiss of homage,
28 Then these also would be sins to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.
29 "If I have rejoiced at my enemies' misfortune or gloated over the trouble that came to them – "
30 I have not allowed my mouth to sin by invoking a curse against their life –
31 If those of my household have never said, "Who has not been filled with Job's meat?' – "
32 But no stranger had to spend the night in the street, for my door was always open to the traveler –
33 If I have concealed my sin as people do, by hiding my guilt in my heart
34 Because I so feared the crowd and so dreaded the contempt of the clans that I kept silent and would not go outside –
35 ("Oh, that I had someone to hear me! I sign now my defense – let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser put his indictment in writing."
36 Surely I would wear it on my shoulder, I would put it on like a crown.
37 I would give him an account of my every step; I would present it to him as to a ruler.) –
Amplified Bible
23 For calamity from God was a terror to me, and because of His majesty I could not endure [to face Him] and could do nothing. [Isa. 13:6; Joel 1:15.]
24 If I have made gold my trust and hope or have said to fine gold, You are my confidence
25 If I rejoiced because my wealth was great and because my [powerful] hand [alone] had gotten much
26 If I beheld [as an object of worship] the sunlight when it shone or the moon walking in its brightness,
27 And my heart has been secretly enticed by them or my mouth has kissed my hand [in homage to them]
28 This also would have been [a heinous and principal] iniquity to demand the judges' action and punishment, for I would have denied and been false to the God Who is above. [Deut. 4:19; 17:2-7.]
29 If I rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me or lifted myself up [in malicious triumph] when evil overtook him--
30 No, I have let my mouth sin neither by cursing my enemy nor by praying that he might die--
31 [Just ask] if the men of my tent will not say, Who can find one in need who has not been satisfied with food he gave them?--
32 The temporary resident has not lodged in the street, but I have opened my door to the wayfaring man--
33 If like Adam or like [other] men I have concealed 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 Oh, for a hearing! Oh, for an answer from the Almighty! Let my adversary write out His indictment [and put His vague accusations in tangible form] in a book!
36 Surely I would [proudly] bear it on my shoulder and wind the scroll about my head as a diadem.
37 I would count out to Him the number of my steps [with every detail of my life], approaching His presence as a prince--
King James Version
23 For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.
24 If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;
25 If I rejoice because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;
26 If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;
27 And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:
28 This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.
29 If I rejoice at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:
30 Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.
31 If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.
32 The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.
33 If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:
34 Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?
35 Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.
36 Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.
37 I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.
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: