Job 31
1 I made a covenant with mine eyes, and I will not think upon a virgin.
I made a covenant with mine eyes, and I will not think upon a virgin.
2 Now what portion has God given from above? and is there an inheritance [given] of the Mighty One from the highest?
Now what portion has God given from above? and is there an inheritance [given] of the Mighty One from the highest?
3 Alas! destruction to the unrighteous, and rejection to them that do iniquity.
Alas! destruction to the unrighteous, and rejection to them that do iniquity.
4 Will he not see my way, and number all my steps?
Will he not see my way, and number all my steps?
5 But if I had gone with scorners, and if too my foot has hasted to deceit:
But if I had gone with scorners, and if too my foot has hasted to deceit:
6 (for I am weighed in a just balance, and the Lord knows my innocence: )
(for I am weighed in a just balance, and the Lord knows my innocence: )
7 if my foot has turned aside out of the way, or if mine heart has followed mine eye, and if too I have touched gifts with my hands;
if my foot has turned aside out of the way, or if mine heart has followed mine eye, and if too I have touched gifts with my hands;
8 then let me sow, and let others eat; and let me be uprooted on the earth.
then let me sow, and let others eat; and let me be uprooted on the earth.
9 If my heart has gone forth after another man's wife, and if I laid wait at her doors;
If my heart has gone forth after another man's wife, and if I laid wait at her doors;
10 then let my wife also please another, and let my children be brought low.
then let my wife also please another, and let my children be brought low.
11 For the rage of anger is not to be controlled, [in the case] of defiling [another] man's wife.
For the rage of anger is not to be controlled, [in the case] of defiling [another] man's wife.
12 For it is a fire burning on every side, and whoever it attacks, it utterly destroys.
For it is a fire burning on every side, and whomsoever it attacks, it utterly destroys.
13 And if too I despised the judgement of my servant or [my] handmaid, when they pleaded with me;
And if too I despised the judgment of my servant or [my] handmaid, when they pleaded with me;
14 what then shall I do if the Lord should try me? and if also he should at all visit me, can I make an answer?
what then shall I do if the Lord should try me? and if also he should at all visit me, can I make an answer?
15 Were not they too formed as I also was formed in the womb? yes, we were formed in the same womb.
Were not they too formed as I also was formed in the womb? yea, we were formed in the same womb.
16 But the helpless missed not whatever need they had, and I did not cause the eye of the widow to fail.
But the helpless missed not whatever need they had, and I did not cause the eye of the widow to fail.
17 And if too I ate my morsel alone, and did not impart [of it] to the orphan;
And if too I ate my morsel alone, and did not impart [of it] to the orphan;
18 (for I nourished [them] as a father from my youth and guided [them] from my mother's womb.)
(for I nourished [them] as a father from my youth and guided [them] from my mother's womb.)
19 And if too I overlooked the naked as he was perishing, and did not clothe him;
And if too I overlooked the naked as he was perishing, and did not clothe him;
20 and if the poor did not bless me, and their shoulders were [not] warmed with the fleece of my lambs;
and if the poor did not bless me, and their shoulders were [not] warmed with the fleece of my lambs;
21 if I lifted my hand against an orphan, trusting that my strength was far superior [to his]:
if I lifted my hand against an orphan, trusting that my strength was far superior [to his]:
22 let them my shoulder start from the blade-bone, and my arm be crushed off from the elbow.
let them my shoulder start from the blade-bone, and my arm be crushed off from the elbow.
23 For the fear of the Lord constrained me, and I can’t bear up by reason of his burden.
For the fear of the Lord constrained me, and I cannot bear up by reason of his burden.
24 If I made gold my treasure, and if too I trusted the precious stone;
If I made gold my treasure, and if too I trusted the precious stone;
25 and if too I rejoiced when my wealth was abundant, and if too I laid my hand on innumerable [treasures]:
and if too I rejoiced when my wealth was abundant, and if too I laid my hand on innumerable [treasures]:
26 (do we not see the shining sun eclipsed, and the moon waning? for they have not [power to continue]: )
(do we not see the shining sun eclipsed, and the moon waning? for they have not [power to continue]: )
27 and if my heart was secretly deceived, and if I have laid my hand upon my mouth and kissed it:
and if my heart was secretly deceived, and if I have laid my hand upon my mouth and kissed it:
28 let this also then be reckoned to me as the greatest iniquity: for I [should] have lied against the Lord Most High.
let this also then be reckoned to me as the greatest iniquity: for I [should] have lied against the Lord Most High.
29 And if too I was glad at the fall of mine enemies, and mine heart said, Aha!
And if too I was glad at the fall of mine enemies, and mine heart said, Aha!
30 let then mine ear hear my curse, and let me be a byword amongst my people in my affliction.
let then mine ear hear my curse, and let me be a byword among my people in my affliction.
31 And if too my handmaids have often said, Oh that we might be satisfied with his flesh; (whereas I was very kind:
And if too my handmaids have often said, Oh that we might be satisfied with his flesh; (whereas I was very kind:
32 for the stranger did not lodge without, and my door was opened to every one that came: )
for the stranger did not lodge without, and my door was opened to every one that came: )
33 or if too having sinned unintentionally, I hid my sin;
or if too having sinned unintentionally, I hid my sin;
34 (for I did not stand in awe of a great multitude, so as not to declare boldly before them: ) and if too I permitted a poor man to go out of my door with an empty bosom:
(for I did not stand in awe of a great multitude, so as not to declare boldly before them: ) and if too I permitted a poor man to go out of my door with an empty bosom:
35 (Oh that I had a hearer, ) and if I had not feared the hand of the Lord; and [as to] the written charge which I had against any one,
(Oh that I had a hearer, ) and if I had not feared the hand of the Lord; and [as to] the written charge which I had against any one,
36 I would place [it] as a chaplet on my shoulders, and read it.
I would place [it] as a chaplet on my shoulders, and read it.
37 And if I did not read it and return it, having taken nothing from the debtor:
And if I did not read it and return it, having taken nothing from the debtor:
38 If at any time the land groaned against me, and if its furrows mourned together;
If at any time the land groaned against me, and if its furrows mourned together;
39 and if I ate its strength alone without price, and if I too grieved the heart of the owner of the soil, by taking [anything] from [him]:
and if I ate its strength alone without price, and if I too grieved the heart of the owner of the soil, by taking [aught] from [him]:
40 then let the nettle come up to me instead of wheat, and a bramble instead of barley. And Job ceased speaking.
then let the nettle come up to me instead of wheat, and a bramble instead of barley. And Job ceased speaking.
