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; How then could I gaze upon a maid?

2 Now what portion has God given from above? and is there an inheritance [given] of the Mighty One from the highest?

For what is the portion appointed by God from above, And the inheritance allotted by the Almighty from on high?

3 Alas! destruction to the unrighteous, and rejection to them that do iniquity.

Is not destruction for the wicked, And ruin for the workers of iniquity?

4 Will he not see my way, and number all my steps?

Doth He not see my ways, And number all my steps?

5 But if I had gone with scorners, and if too my foot has hasted to deceit:

If I have walked with falsehood, And if my foot hath hasted to deceit,

6 (for I am weighed in a just balance, and the Lord knows my innocence: )

Let him weigh me in an even balance; Yea, let God know my integrity!

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 steps have turned aside from the way, And my heart gone after mine eyes, Or if any stain hath cleaved to my hand,

8 then let me sow, and let others eat; and let me be uprooted on the earth.

Then I may sow, and another eat; And what I plant, may it be rooted up!

9 If my heart has gone forth after another man's wife, and if I laid wait at her doors;

If my heart hath been enticed by a woman, Or if I have watched at my neighbor's door,

10 then let my wife also please another, and let my children be brought low.

Then let my wife grind for another, And let other men lie with her!

11 For the rage of anger is not to be controlled, [in the case] of defiling [another] man's wife.

For this were a heinous crime, Even a transgression to be punished by the judges;

12 For it is a fire burning on every side, and whoever it attacks, it utterly destroys.

Yea, it were a fire that would consume to destruction, And root out all my increase.

13 And if too I despised the judgement of my servant or [my] handmaid, when they pleaded with me;

If I have refused justice to my man-servant or maid-servant, When they had a controversy 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?

Then what shall I do when God riseth up? And when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?

15 Were not they too formed as I also was formed in the womb? yes, we were formed in the same womb.

Did not He that made me in the womb make him? Did not one fashion us in the womb?

16 But the helpless missed not whatever need they had, and I did not cause the eye of the widow to fail.

If I have refused the poor their desire, And caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

17 And if too I ate my morsel alone, and did not impart [of it] to the orphan;

If I have eaten my morsel alone, And the fatherless hath not partaken of it;

18 (for I nourished [them] as a father from my youth and guided [them] from my mother's womb.)

(Nay, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And I have helped the widow from my mother's womb; )

19 And if too I overlooked the naked as he was perishing, and did not clothe him;

If I have seen any one perishing for want of clothing, Or any poor man without covering;

20 and if the poor did not bless me, and their shoulders were [not] warmed with the fleece of my lambs;

If his loins have not blessed me, And he hath not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

21 if I lifted my hand against an orphan, trusting that my strength was far superior [to his]:

If I have shaken my hand against the fatherless, Because I saw my help in the gate, —

22 let them my shoulder start from the blade-bone, and my arm be crushed off from the elbow.

Then may my shoulder fill from its blade, And my fore-arm be broken from its bone!

23 For the fear of the Lord constrained me, and I can’t bear up by reason of his burden.

For destruction from God was a terror to me, And before his majesty I could do nothing.

24 If I made gold my treasure, and if too I trusted the precious stone;

If I have made gold my trust, Or said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;

25 and if too I rejoiced when my wealth was abundant, and if too I laid my hand on innumerable [treasures]:

If I have rejoiced, because my wealth was great, And my hand had found abundance;

26 (do we not see the shining sun eclipsed, and the moon waning? for they have not [power to continue]: )

If I have beheld the sun in his splendor, Or the moon advancing in brightness,

27 and if my heart was secretly deceived, and if I have laid my hand upon my mouth and kissed it:

And my heart hath been secretly enticed, And my mouth hath kissed my hand,

28 let this also then be reckoned to me as the greatest iniquity: for I [should] have lied against the Lord Most High.

This also were a crime to be punished by the judge; For I should have denied the God who is above.

29 And if too I was glad at the fall of mine enemies, and mine heart said, Aha!

If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, And exulted when evil came upon him;

30 let then mine ear hear my curse, and let me be a byword amongst my people in my affliction.

(Nay, I have not suffered my mouth to sin, By asking with curses his life; )

31 And if too my handmaids have often said, Oh that we might be satisfied with his flesh; (whereas I was very kind:

If the men of my tent have not exclaimed, “Who is there that hath not been satisfied with his meat?”

32 for the stranger did not lodge without, and my door was opened to every one that came: )

The stranger did not lodge in the street; I opened my doors to the traveller.

33 or if too having sinned unintentionally, I hid my sin;

Have I, after the manner of men, hidden my transgression, Concealing my iniquity in my bosom,

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:

Then let me be confounded before the great multitude! Let the contempt of families cover me with shame! Yea, let me keep silence! let me never appear abroad!

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,

O that there were one who would hear me! Behold my signature! let the Almighty answer me. And let mine adversary write down his charge!

36 I would place [it] as a chaplet on my shoulders, and read it.

Truly I would wear it upon my shoulder; I would bind it upon me as a crown.

37 And if I did not read it and return it, having taken nothing from the debtor:

I would disclose to him all my steps; I would approach him like a prince.

38 If at any time the land groaned against me, and if its furrows mourned together;

If my land cry out against me, And its furrows bewail 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]:

If I have eaten of its fruits without payment, And wrung out the life of its owners,

40 then let the nettle come up to me instead of wheat, and a bramble instead of barley. And Job ceased speaking.

Let thorns grow up instead of wheat, And noxious weeds instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.