Job 31

1 I made a covenant with my eyes. How then should I look upon a virgin?

“I made a covenant with my eyes; how then should I look lustfully at a young woman?

2 For what is the portion from God above, and the heritage from the Almighty on high?

For what is the portion from God above, and the heritage from the Almighty on high?

3 Is it not calamity to the unrighteous, and disaster to the workers of iniquity?

Is it not calamity to the unrighteous, and disaster to the workers of iniquity?

4 Does he not see my ways, and number all my steps?

Doesn’t he see my ways, and count all my steps?

5 If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot has hastened to deceit

“If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot has hurried to deceit

6 (let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know my integrity);

(let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know my integrity);

7 if my step has turned out of the way, and my heart walked after my eyes, and if any spot has clung to my hands,

if my step has turned out of the way, if my heart walked after my eyes, if any defilement has stuck to my hands,

8 then let me sow, and let another eat, yea, let the produce of my field be rooted out.

then let me sow, and let another eat. Yes, let the produce of my field be rooted out.

9 If my heart has been enticed to a woman, and I have laid wait at my neighbor's door,

“If my heart has been enticed to a woman, and I have laid wait at my neighbour’s door,

10 then let my wife grind to another, and let others bow down upon her.

then let my wife grind for another, and let others sleep with her.

11 For that is a heinous crime, yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.

For that would be a heinous crime. Yes, it would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges,

12 For it is a fire that consumes to destruction, and would root out all my increase.

for it is a fire that consumes to destruction, and would root out all my increase.

13 If I have despised the case of my man-servant or of my maid-servant when they contended with me,

“If I have despised the cause of my male servant or of my female servant, when they contended with me,

14 what then shall I do when God rises up? And when he visits, what shall I answer him?

what then will I do when God rises up? When he visits, what will I answer him?

15 Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?

Didn’t he who made me in the womb make him? Didn’t one fashion us in the womb?

16 If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

“If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

17 or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it

or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it

18 (no, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and her I have guided from my mother's womb);

(no, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, I have guided her from my mother’s womb);

19 if I have seen any perish for lack of clothing, or that the needy had no covering;

if I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or that the needy had no covering;

20 if his loins have not blessed me, and if he has not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

if his heart hasn’t blessed me, if he hasn’t been warmed with my sheep’s fleece;

21 if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate,

if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate;

22 then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, and my arm be broken from the bone.

then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder blade, and my arm be broken from the bone.

23 For calamity from God is a terror to me, and I can do nothing because of his majesty.

For calamity from God is a terror to me. Because of his majesty, I can do nothing.

24 If I have made gold my hope, and have said to the fine gold, Thou are my confidence;

“If I have made gold my hope, and have said to the fine gold, ‘You are my confidence;’

25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much;

If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much;

26 if I have beheld the sun when it shone, or the moon walking in brightness,

if I have seen the sun when it shined, or the moon moving in splendour,

27 and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand

and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my hand threw a kiss from my mouth;

28 (this also is an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have denied the God that is above);

this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have denied the God who is above.

29 if I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him

“If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him

30 (yea, I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking his life with a curse);

(I have certainly not allowed my mouth to sin by asking his life with a curse);

31 if the men of my tent have not said, Who can find one who has not been filled with his food?

if the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who can find one who has not been filled with his meat?’

32 (the sojourner has not lodged in the street, but I have opened my doors to the traveler);

(the foreigner has not camped in the street, but I have opened my doors to the traveller);

33 if like Adam I have covered my transgressions by hiding my iniquity in my bosom

if like Adam I have covered my transgressions, by hiding my iniquity in my heart,

34 because I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me so that I kept silence, and did not go out of the door-

because I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and didn’t go out of the door—

35 O that I had someone to hear me (Lo, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me), and that I had the indictment which my adversary has written!

oh that I had one to hear me! Behold, here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me! Let the accuser write my indictment!

36 Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder. I would bind it to me as a crown.

Surely I would carry it on my shoulder, and I would bind it to me as a crown.

37 I would declare to him the number of my steps. I would go near to him as a prince.

I would declare to him the number of my steps. I would go near to him like a prince.

38 If my land cries out against me, and the furrows of it weep together;

If my land cries out against me, and its furrows weep together;

39 if I have eaten the fruits of it without money, or have caused the owners of it to lose their lives,

if I have eaten its fruits without money, or have caused its owners to lose their life,

40 let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.

let briers grow instead of wheat, and stinkweed instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended.