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 pooror 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 mefor 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.
23. For I dreaded destruction from God,and for fear of his splendour I could not do such things.