Job 31
1 I made a couenant with mine eyes: why then should I thinke on a mayde?
I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then should I look with desire on a virgin?
2 For what portion should I haue of God from aboue? and what inheritance of the Almightie from on hie?
For what is the portion from God above, the inheritance from the Almighty on high?
3 Is not destruction to the wicked and strange punishment to the workers of iniquitie?
I used to think that calamity is for unrighteous people, and that disaster is for doers of wickedness.
4 Doeth not he beholde my wayes and tell all my steps?
Does not God 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 falsehood, if my foot has hurried 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 so that God will 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 has turned aside from the way, if my heart has gone after my eyes, if any spot has stuck 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, and let my crops be uprooted.
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 by a woman, if I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door,
10 Let my wife grinde vnto another man, and let other men bow downe vpon her:
then let my wife grind grain for another, and let others bow down on her.
11 For this is a wickednes, and iniquitie to bee condemned:
For that would be a terrible crime; indeed, it would be a crime to be punished by judges.
12 Yea, this is a fire that shall deuoure to destruction, and which shall roote out al mine increase,
For that is a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn all my harvest to the root.
13 If I did contemne the iudgement of my seruant, and of my mayde, when they did contend with me,
If I ignored the plea for justice from my male or female servant when they argued with me,
14 What then shall I do when God standeth vp? and when he shall visit me, what shall I answere?
what then would I do when God rises up to accuse me? When he comes to judge me, how would 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 the one who made me in the womb not make them also? Did not the same one mold us all 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 poor people from their desire, or if I have caused the eyes of the widow to grow dim from crying,
17 Or haue eaten my morsels alone, and the fatherles hath not eaten thereof,
or if I have eaten my morsel alone and not allowed those without fathers to eat it also—
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)
because from my youth the orphan grew up with me as with a father, and I have guided his mother, a widow, from my own mother's womb.
19 If I haue seene any perish for want of clothing, or any poore without couering,
If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or if I have seen that a needy man had no clothing;
20 If his loynes haue not blessed me, because he was warmed with the fleece of my sheepe,
if his heart has not blessed me because he has not been warmed with the wool 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 fatherless people because I saw my support in the city gate, then bring charges against me!
22 Let mine arme fal from my shoulder, and mine arme be broken from the bone.
If I have done these things, then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder blade, and let my arm be broken from its joint.
23 For Gods punishment was fearefull vnto me, and I could not be deliuered from his highnes.
For I dreaded destruction from God; because of his majesty, I was not able to do those things.
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, and if I have said to fine gold, 'You are what I am confident in';
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, because my hand had gotten many possessions, then bring charges against me!
26 If I did behold the sunne, when it shined, or the moone, walking in her brightnes,
If I have seen the sun when it shone, or the moon walking in its brightness,
27 If mine heart did flatter me in secrete, or if my mouth did kisse mine hand,
and if my heart has been secretly attracted, so that my mouth has kissed my hand in worship of them—
28 (This also had bene an iniquitie to be condemned: for I had denied the God aboue)
this also would be a crime to be punished by judges, for I would have denied the God who 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 anyone who hated me or congratulated myself when disaster overtook him, then bring charges against me!
30 Neither haue I suffred my mouth to sinne, by wishing a curse vnto his soule.
Indeed, I have not even allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse.
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 never said, 'Who can find one who has not been filled with Job's food?'
32 The stranger did not lodge in the streete, but I opened my doores vnto him, that went by the way.
(even the foreigner has never had to stay in the city square, because I have always opened my doors to the traveler), and if that is not so, then bring charges against me!
33 If I haue hid my sinne, as Adam, concealing mine iniquitie in my bosome,
If, like mankind, I have hidden my sins by hiding my guilt inside my tunic
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.
(because I feared the great multitude, because the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silent and would not go outside), then bring charges against me!
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,
Oh, if only I had someone to hear me! See, here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me! If only I had the indictment that my opponent has written!
36 Woulde not I take it vpon my shoulder, and binde it as a crowne vnto me?
Surely I would carry it openly on my shoulder; I would put it on like a crown.
37 I will tell him the nomber of my goings, and goe vnto him as to a prince.
I would declare to him an accounting for my steps; as a confident prince I would go up to him.
38 If my lande cry against me, or the furrowes thereof complayne together,
If my land ever cries out against me, and its furrows weep together,
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 its harvest without paying for it or have caused its owners to lose their lives,
40 Let thistles growe in steade of wheate, and cockle in the stead of Barley. The wordes of Iob are ended.
then let thorns grow instead of wheat and weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are finished.
