Job 31
1 I made a couenant with mine eyes: why then should I thinke on a mayde?
I made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
2 For what portion should I haue of God from aboue? and what inheritance of the Almightie from on hie?
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 strange punishment to the workers of iniquitie?
Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?
4 Doeth not he beholde my wayes and tell all my steps?
Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?
5 If I haue walked in vanitie, or if my foote hath made haste to deceite,
If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;
6 Let God weigh me in the iust balance, and he shall know mine vprightnes.
Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know my integrity.
7 If my steppe hath turned out of the way, or mine heart hath walked after mine eye, or if any blot hath cleaued to mine handes,
If my step hath turned out of the way, and my heart walked after my eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to my hands;
8 Let me sowe, and let another eate: yea, let my plantes be rooted out.
Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.
9 If mine heart hath bene deceiued by a woman, or if I haue layde wayte at the doore of my neighbour,
If my heart hath been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour’s door;
10 Let my wife grinde vnto another man, and let other men bow downe vpon her:
Then let my wife grind to another, and let others bow down upon her.
11 For this is a wickednes, and iniquitie to bee condemned:
For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.
12 Yea, this is a fire that shall deuoure to destruction, and which shall roote out al mine increase,
For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all my increase.
13 If I did contemne the iudgement of my seruant, and of my mayde, when they did contend with me,
If I despised the cause of my male or female servant, when they contended with me;
14 What then shall I do when God standeth vp? and when he shall visit me, what shall I answere?
What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?
15 He that hath made me in the wombe, hath he not made him? hath not he alone facioned vs in the wombe?
Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?
16 If I restrained the poore of their desire, or haue caused the eyes of the widow to faile,
If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
17 Or haue eaten my morsels alone, and the fatherles hath not eaten thereof,
Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten of it;
18 (For from my youth hee hath growen vp with me as with a father, and from my mothers wombe I haue bene a guide vnto her)
(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 haue seene any perish for want of clothing, or any poore without couering,
If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;
20 If his loynes haue not blessed me, because he was warmed with the fleece of my sheepe,
If his loins have not blessed me, and if he hath not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
21 If I haue lift vp mine hande against the fatherlesse, when I saw that I might helpe him in the gate,
If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:
22 Let mine arme fal from my shoulder, and mine arme be broken from the bone.
Then let my arm fall from my shoulder blade, and my arm be broken from the bone.
23 For Gods punishment was fearefull vnto me, and I could not be deliuered from his highnes.
For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.
24 If I made gold mine hope, or haue sayd to the wedge of golde, Thou art my confidence,
If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;
25 If I reioyced because my substance was great, or because mine hand had gotten much,
If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gained much;
26 If I did behold the sunne, when it shined, or the moone, walking in her brightnes,
If I have beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;
27 If mine heart did flatter me in secrete, or if my mouth did kisse mine hand,
And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:
28 (This also had bene an iniquitie to be condemned: for I had denied the God aboue)
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.
29 If I reioyced at his destruction that hated me, or was mooued to ioye when euill came vpon him,
If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or have lifted up myself when evil found him:
30 Neither haue I suffred my mouth to sinne, by wishing a curse vnto his soule.
Neither have I allowed my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.
31 Did not the men of my Tabernacle say, Who shall giue vs of his flesh? we can not bee satisfied.
If the men of my tent have not said, O that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.
32 The stranger did not lodge in the streete, but I opened my doores vnto him, that went by the way.
The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.
33 If I haue hid my sinne, as Adam, concealing mine iniquitie in my bosome,
If I have covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom:
34 Though I could haue made afraid a great multitude, yet the most contemptible of the families did feare me: so I kept silence, and went not out of the doore.
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 I had some to heare me! beholde my signe that the Almightie will witnesse for me: though mine aduersary should write a booke against me,
O that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that my adversary had written a book.
36 Woulde not I take it vpon my shoulder, and binde it as a crowne vnto me?
Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.
37 I will tell him the nomber of my goings, and goe vnto him as to a prince.
I would declare to him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near to him.
38 If my lande cry against me, or the furrowes thereof complayne together,
If my land crieth against me, or its furrows likewise complain;
39 If I haue eaten the fruites thereof without siluer: or if I haue grieued the soules of the masters thereof,
If I have eaten the fruits of it without money, or have caused its owners to lose their life:
40 Let thistles growe in steade of wheate, and cockle in the stead of Barley. The wordes of Iob are ended.
Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and weeds instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.
