Job 31
1 pepigi foedus cum oculis meis ut ne cogitarem quidem de virgine
“I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I gaze with desire at a virgin?
2 quam enim partem haberet Deus in me desuper et hereditatem Omnipotens de excelsis
For what is the allotment of God from above, or the heritage from the Almighty on high?
3 numquid non perditio est iniquo et alienatio operantibus iniustitiam
Does not disaster come to the unjust and calamity to the workers of iniquity?
4 nonne ipse considerat vias meas et cunctos gressus meos dinumerat
Does He not see my ways and count my every step?
5 si ambulavi in vanitate et festinavit in dolo pes meus
If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit,
6 adpendat me in statera iusta et sciat Deus simplicitatem meam
let God weigh me with honest scales, that He may know my integrity.
7 si declinavit gressus meus de via et si secutum est oculos meos cor meum et in manibus meis adhesit macula
If my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has followed my eyes, or if impurity has stuck to my hands,
8 seram et alius comedat et progenies mea eradicetur
then may another eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted.
9 si deceptum est cor meum super mulierem et si ad ostium amici mei insidiatus sum
If my heart has been enticed by my neighbor’s wife, or I have lurked at his door,
10 scortum sit alteri uxor mea et super illam incurventur alii
then may my own wife grind grain for another, and may other men sleep with her.
11 hoc enim nefas est et iniquitas maxima
For that would be a heinous crime, an iniquity to be judged.
12 ignis est usque ad perditionem devorans et omnia eradicans genimina
For it is a fire that burns down to Abaddon; it would root out my entire harvest.
13 si contempsi subire iudicium cum servo meo et ancillae meae cum disceptarent adversum me
If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they made a complaint against me,
14 quid enim faciam cum surrexerit ad iudicandum Deus et cum quaesierit quid respondebo illi
what will I do when God rises to judge? How will I answer when called to account?
15 numquid non in utero fecit me qui et illum operatus est et formavit in vulva unus
Did not He who made me in the womb also make them? Did not the same One form us in the womb?
16 si negavi quod volebant pauperibus et oculos viduae expectare feci
If I have denied the desires of the poor or allowed the widow’s eyes to fail,
17 si comedi buccellam meam solus et non comedit pupillus ex ea
if I have eaten my morsel alone, not sharing it with the fatherless—
18 quia ab infantia mea crevit mecum miseratio et de utero matris meae egressa est mecum
though from my youth I reared him as would a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow—
19 si despexi pereuntem eo quod non habuerit indumentum et absque operimento pauperem
if I have seen one perish for lack of clothing, or a needy man without a cloak,
20 si non benedixerunt mihi latera eius et de velleribus ovium mearum calefactus est
if his heart has not blessed me for warming him with the fleece of my sheep,
21 si levavi super pupillum manum meam etiam cum viderem me in porta superiorem
if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless because I saw that I had support in the gate,
22 umerus meus a iunctura sua cadat et brachium meum cum suis ossibus confringatur
then may my arm fall from my shoulder and be torn from its socket.
23 semper enim quasi tumentes super me fluctus timui Deum et pondus eius ferre non potui
For calamity from God terrifies me, and His splendor I cannot overpower.
24 si putavi aurum robur meum et obrizae dixi fiducia mea
If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security,
25 si laetatus sum super multis divitiis meis et quia plurima repperit manus mea
if I have rejoiced in my great wealth because my hand had gained so much,
26 si vidi solem cum fulgeret et lunam incedentem clare
if I have beheld the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor,
27 et lactatum est in abscondito cor meum et osculatus sum manum meam ore meo
so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,
28 quae est iniquitas maxima et negatio contra Deum altissimum
this would also be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have denied God on high.
29 si gavisus sum ad ruinam eius qui me oderat et exultavi quod invenisset eum malum
If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin, or exulted when evil befell him—
30 non enim dedi ad peccandum guttur meum ut expeterem maledicens animam eius
I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse—
31 si non dixerunt viri tabernaculi mei quis det de carnibus eius ut saturemur
if the men of my house have not said, ‘Who is there who has not had his fill?’—
32 foris non mansit peregrinus ostium meum viatori patuit
but no stranger had to lodge on the street, for my door has been open to the traveler—
33 si abscondi quasi homo peccatum meum et celavi in sinu meo iniquitatem meam
if I have covered my transgressions like Adam by hiding my guilt in my heart,
34 si expavi ad multitudinem nimiam et despectio propinquorum terruit me et non magis tacui nec egressus sum ostium
because I greatly feared the crowds and the contempt of the clans terrified me, so that I kept silent and would not go outside—
35 quis mihi tribuat auditorem ut desiderium meum Omnipotens audiat et librum scribat ipse qui iudicat
(Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment.
36 ut in umero meo portem illum et circumdem illum quasi coronam mihi
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder and wear it like a crown.
37 per singulos gradus meos pronuntiabo illum et quasi principi offeram eum
I would give account of all my steps; I would approach Him like a prince.)—
38 si adversum me terra mea clamat et cum ipsa sulci eius deflent
if my land cries out against me and its furrows weep together,
39 si fructus eius comedi absque pecunia et animam agricolarum eius adflixi
if I have devoured its produce without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants,
40 pro frumento oriatur mihi tribulus et pro hordeo spina finita sunt verba Iob
then let briers grow instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley.” Thus conclude the words of Job.
