Job 31
1 I made a couenant with mine eyes: why then should I thinke on a mayde?
I reached an agreement with my eyes, that I would not so much as think about a virgin.
2 For what portion should I haue of God from aboue? and what inheritance of the Almightie from on hie?
For what portion should God from above hold for me, and what inheritance should the Almighty from on high keep?
3 Is not destruction to the wicked and strange punishment to the workers of iniquitie?
Is not destruction held for the wicked and repudiation kept for those who work injustice?
4 Doeth not he beholde my wayes and tell all my steps?
Does he not examine my ways and number all my steps?
5 If I haue walked in vanitie, or if my foote hath made haste to deceite,
If I have walked in vanity, or if my foot has hurried towards deceitfulness,
6 Let God weigh me in the iust balance, and he shall know mine vprightnes.
let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity.
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 steps have turned aside from the way, or if my heart has followed my eyes, or if a blemish has clung to my hands,
8 Let me sowe, and let another eate: yea, let my plantes be rooted out.
then may I sow, and let another consume, and let my offspring be eradicated.
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 has been deceived over a woman, or if I have waited in ambush at my friend’s door,
10 Let my wife grinde vnto another man, and let other men bow downe vpon her:
then let my wife be the harlot of another, and let other men lean over her.
11 For this is a wickednes, and iniquitie to bee condemned:
For this is a crime and a very great injustice.
12 Yea, this is a fire that shall deuoure to destruction, and which shall roote out al mine increase,
It is a fire devouring all the way to perdition, and it roots out all that springs forth.
13 If I did contemne the iudgement of my seruant, and of my mayde, when they did contend with me,
If I have despised being subject to judgment with my servant or my maid, when they had any complaint against me,
14 What then shall I do when God standeth vp? and when he shall visit me, what shall I answere?
then what will I do when God rises to judge, and, when he inquires, how will I respond to him?
15 He that hath made me in the wombe, hath he not made him? hath not he alone facioned vs in the wombe?
Is not he who created me in the womb, also he who labored to make him? And did not one and the same form me 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 denied the poor what they wanted and have made the eyes of the widow wait;
17 Or haue eaten my morsels alone, and the fatherles hath not eaten thereof,
if I have eaten my morsel of food alone, while orphans have not eaten from 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 infancy mercy grew with me, and it came out with me from my mother’s womb; )
19 If I haue seene any perish for want of clothing, or any poore without couering,
if I have looked down on him who was perishing because he had no clothing and the poor without any covering,
20 If his loynes haue not blessed me, because he was warmed with the fleece of my sheepe,
if his sides have not blessed me, and if he were not 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 over an orphan, even when it might seem to me that I have the advantage over him at the gate;
22 Let mine arme fal from my shoulder, and mine arme be broken from the bone.
then may my shoulder fall from its joint, and may my arm, with all its bones, be broken.
23 For Gods punishment was fearefull vnto me, and I could not be deliuered from his highnes.
For I have always feared God, like waves flowing over me, whose weight I was unable to bear.
24 If I made gold mine hope, or haue sayd to the wedge of golde, Thou art my confidence,
If I have considered gold to be my strength, or if I have called purified gold ‘my Trust;’
25 If I reioyced because my substance was great, or because mine hand had gotten much,
if I have rejoiced over my great success, and over the many things my hand has obtained;
26 If I did behold the sunne, when it shined, or the moone, walking in her brightnes,
if I gazed upon the sun when it shined and the moon advancing brightly,
27 If mine heart did flatter me in secrete, or if my mouth did kisse mine hand,
so that my heart rejoiced in secret and I kissed my hand with my mouth,
28 (This also had bene an iniquitie to be condemned: for I had denied the God aboue)
which is a very great iniquity and a denial against the most high God;
29 If I reioyced at his destruction that hated me, or was mooued to ioye when euill came vpon him,
if I have been glad at the ruin of him who hated me and have exulted that evil found him,
30 Neither haue I suffred my mouth to sinne, by wishing a curse vnto his soule.
for I have not been given my throat to sin by asking for a curse on 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 around my tabernacle have not said: “He might give us some of his food, so that we will be filled,”
32 The stranger did not lodge in the streete, but I opened my doores vnto him, that went by the way.
for the foreigner did not remain at the door, my door was open to the traveler;
33 If I haue hid my sinne, as Adam, concealing mine iniquitie in my bosome,
if, as man does, I have hidden my sin and have concealed 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.
if I became frightened by an excessive crowd, and the disrespect of close relatives alarmed me, so that I would much rather have remained silent or have gone out 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,
then, would he grant me a hearing, so that the Almighty would listen to my desire, and he who judges would himself write a book,
36 Woulde not I take it vpon my shoulder, and binde it as a crowne vnto me?
which I would then carry on my shoulder and wrap around me like a crown?
37 I will tell him the nomber of my goings, and goe vnto him as to a prince.
With each of my steps, I would pronounce and offer it, as if to a prince.
38 If my lande cry against me, or the furrowes thereof complayne together,
So, if my land cries out against me, and if its furrows weep with it,
39 If I haue eaten the fruites thereof without siluer: or if I haue grieued the soules of the masters thereof,
if I have used its fruits for nothing but money and have afflicted the souls of its tillers,
40 Let thistles growe in steade of wheate, and cockle in the stead of Barley. The wordes of Iob are ended.
then, may thistles spring forth for me instead of grain, and thorns instead of barley. (This ended the words of Job.)
