Job 31
1 I made a covenant with my eyes, that I would not so much as think upon a virgin.
I made a couenant with mine eyes: why then should I thinke on a mayde?
2 For what part should God from above have in me, and what inheritance the Almighty from on high?
For what portion should I haue of God from aboue? and what inheritance of the Almightie from on hie?
3 Is not destruction to the wicked, and aversion to them that work iniquity?
Is not destruction to the wicked and strange punishment to the workers of iniquitie?
4 Doth not he consider my ways, and number all my steps?
Doeth not he beholde my wayes and tell all my steps?
5 If I have walked in vanity, and my foot hath made haste to deceit:
If I haue walked in vanitie, or if my foote hath made haste to deceite,
6 Let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity.
Let God weigh me in the iust balance, and he shall know mine vprightnes.
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 steppe hath turned out of the way, or mine heart hath walked after mine eye, or if any blot hath cleaued to mine handes,
8 Then let me sow and let another eat: and let my offspring be rooted out.
Let me sowe, and let another eate: yea, let my plantes 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 hath bene deceiued by a woman, or if I haue layde wayte at the doore of my neighbour,
10 Let my wife be the harlot of another, and let other men lie with her.
Let my wife grinde vnto another man, and let other men bow downe vpon her:
11 For this is a heinous crime, and a most grievous iniquity.
For this is a wickednes, and iniquitie to bee condemned:
12 It is a fire that devoureth even to destruction, and rooteth up all things that spring.
Yea, this is a fire that shall deuoure to destruction, and which shall roote out al 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 contemne the iudgement of my seruant, and of my mayde, when they did contend 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 standeth vp? and when he shall visit me, what shall I answere?
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?
He that hath made me in the wombe, hath he not made him? hath not he alone facioned vs in the wombe?
16 If I have denied to the poor what they desired, and have made the eyes of the widow wait:
If I restrained the poore of their desire, or haue caused the eyes of the widow to faile,
17 If I have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof:
Or haue eaten my morsels alone, and the fatherles hath 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 hee hath growen vp with me as with a father, and from my mothers wombe I haue bene a guide vnto her)
19 If I have despised him that was perishing for want of clothing, and the poor man that had no covering:
If I haue seene any perish for want of clothing, or any poore without couering,
20 If his sides have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep:
If his loynes haue not blessed me, because he was warmed with the fleece of my sheepe,
21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, even when I saw myself superior in the gate:
If I haue lift vp mine hande against the fatherlesse, when I saw that I might helpe him in the gate,
22 Let my shoulder fall from its joint, and let my arm with its bones be broken.
Let mine arme fal from my shoulder, and mine arme 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 Gods punishment was fearefull vnto me, and I could not be deliuered from his highnes.
24 If I have thought gold my strength, and have said to fine gold: My confidence:
If I made gold mine hope, or haue sayd to the wedge of golde, Thou art my confidence,
25 If I have rejoiced over my great riches, and because my hand had gotten much.
If I reioyced because my substance was great, or because mine hand had gotten much,
26 If I beheld the sun when it shined, and the moon going in brightness:
If I did behold the sunne, when it shined, or the moone, walking in her brightnes,
27 And my heart in secret hath rejoiced, and I have kissed my hand with my mouth:
If mine heart did flatter me in secrete, or if my mouth did kisse mine hand,
28 Which is a very great iniquity, and a denial against the most high God.
(This also had bene an iniquitie to be condemned: for I had denied the God aboue)
29 If I have been glad at the downfall of him that hated me, and have rejoiced that evil had found him.
If I reioyced at his destruction that hated me, or was mooued to ioye when euill came vpon him,
30 For I have not given my mouth to sin, by wishing a curse to his soul.
Neither haue I suffred my mouth to sinne, by wishing a curse vnto his soule.
31 If the men of my tabernacle have not said: Who will give us of his flesh that we may be filled?
Did not the men of my Tabernacle say, Who shall giue vs of his flesh? we can not bee satisfied.
32 The stranger did not stay without, my door was open to the traveller.
The stranger did not lodge in the streete, but I opened my doores vnto him, that went by the way.
33 If as a man I have hid my sin, and have concealed my iniquity in my bosom.
If I haue hid my sinne, as Adam, concealing mine iniquitie in my bosome,
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.
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.
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 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,
36 That I may carry it on my shoulder, and put it about me as a crown?
Woulde not I take it vpon my shoulder, and binde it as a crowne vnto me?
37 At every step of mine I would pronounce it, and offer it as to a prince.
I will tell him the nomber of my goings, and goe vnto him as to a prince.
38 If my land cry against me, and with it the furrows thereof mourn:
If my lande cry against me, or the furrowes thereof complayne together,
39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have afflicted the soul of the tillers thereof:
If I haue eaten the fruites thereof without siluer: or if I haue grieued the soules of the masters thereof,
40 Let thistles grow up to me instead of wheat, and thorns instead of barley.
Let thistles growe in steade of wheate, and cockle in the stead of Barley. The wordes of Iob are ended.
