Job 31
1 I made a covenant with my eyes, that I would not so much as think upon a virgin.
I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
2 For what part should God from above have in me, and what inheritance the Almighty from on high?
For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
3 Is not destruction to the wicked, and aversion to them that work iniquity?
Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?
4 Doth not he consider my ways, and number all my steps?
Does not he see my ways, and count all my steps?
5 If I have walked in vanity, and my foot hath made haste to deceit:
If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot has hasted to deceit;
6 Let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity.
Let me be weighed in an even balance that God may know mine integrity.
7 If my step hath turned out of the way, and if my heart hath followed my eyes, and if a spot hath cleaved to my hands:
If my step has turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot has cleaved to mine hands;
8 Then let me sow and let another eat: and let my offspring be rooted out.
Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.
9 If my heart hath been deceived upon a woman, and if I have laid wait at my friend’s door:
If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;
10 Let my wife be the harlot of another, and let other men lie with her.
Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.
11 For this is a heinous crime, and a most grievous iniquity.
For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.
12 It is a fire that devoureth even to destruction, and rooteth up all things that spring.
For it is a fire that consumes to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.
13 If I have despised to abide judgment with my manservant, or my maidservant, when they had any controversy against me:
If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;
14 For what shall I do when God shall rise to judge? and when he shall examine, what shall I answer him?
What then shall I do when God rises up? and when he visits, what shall I answer him?
15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him also: and did not one and the same form me in the womb?
Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?
16 If I have denied to the poor what they desired, and have made the eyes of the widow wait:
If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
17 If I have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof:
Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless has not eaten thereof;
18 (For from my infancy mercy grew up with me: and it came out with me from my mother’s womb: )
(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 despised him that was perishing for want of clothing, and the poor man that had no covering:
If I have seen any perish for lack of clothing, or any poor without covering;
20 If his sides have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep:
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, even when I saw myself superior in the gate:
If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:
22 Let my shoulder fall from its joint, and let my arm with its bones be broken.
Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.
23 For I have always feared God as waves swelling over me, and his weight I was not able to bear.
For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.
24 If I have thought gold my strength, and have said to fine gold: My confidence:
If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, You are my confidence;
25 If I have rejoiced over my great riches, and because my hand had gotten much.
If I rejoice because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had got much;
26 If I beheld the sun when it shined, and the moon going in brightness:
If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;
27 And my heart in secret hath rejoiced, and I have kissed my hand with my mouth:
And my heart has been secretly enticed, or my mouth has kissed my hand:
28 Which is a very great iniquity, and a denial against the most high God.
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.
29 If I have been glad at the downfall of him that hated me, and have rejoiced that evil had found him.
If I rejoice at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:
30 For I have not given my mouth to sin, by wishing a curse to his soul.
Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.
31 If the men of my tabernacle have not said: Who will give us of his flesh that we may be filled?
If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.
32 The stranger did not stay without, my door was open to the traveller.
The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.
33 If as a man I have hid my sin, and have concealed my iniquity in my bosom.
If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:
34 If I have been afraid at a very great multitude, and the contempt of kinsmen hath terrified me: and I have not rather held my peace, and not gone out of the door.
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 Who would grant me a hearer, that the Almighty may hear my desire; and that he himself that judgeth would write a book,
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 That I may carry it on my shoulder, and put it about me as a crown?
Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.
37 At every step of mine I would pronounce it, and offer it as to a prince.
I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.
38 If my land cry against me, and with it the furrows thereof mourn:
If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;
39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have afflicted the soul of the tillers thereof:
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:
40 Let thistles grow up to me instead of wheat, and thorns instead of barley.
Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.
