Job 31

1 I made a covenant with my eyes, that I would not so much as think upon a virgin.

I made an agreement with my eyes; how then might my eyes be looking on a virgin?

2 For what part should God from above have in me, and what inheritance the Almighty from on high?

For what is God's reward from on high, or the heritage given by the Ruler of all from heaven?

3 Is not destruction to the wicked, and aversion to them that work iniquity?

Is it not trouble for the sinner, and destruction for the evil-doers?

4 Doth not he consider my ways, and number all my steps?

Does he not see my ways, and are not my steps all numbered?

5 If I have walked in vanity, and my foot hath made haste to deceit:

If I have gone in false ways, or my foot has been quick in working deceit;

6 Let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity.

(Let me be measured in upright scales, and let God see my righteousness: )

7 If my step hath turned out of the way, and if my heart hath followed my eyes, and if a spot hath cleaved to my hands:

If my steps have been turned out of the way, or if my heart went after my eyes, or if the property of another is in my hands;

8 Then let me sow and let another eat: and let my offspring be rooted out.

Let me put seed in the earth for another to have the fruit of it, and let my produce be uprooted.

9 If my heart hath been deceived upon a woman, and if I have laid wait at my friend’s door:

If my heart went after another man's wife, or if I was waiting secretly at my neighbour's door;

10 Let my wife be the harlot of another, and let other men lie with her.

Then let my wife give pleasure to another man and let others make use of her body.

11 For this is a heinous crime, and a most grievous iniquity.

For that would be a crime; it would be an act for which punishment would be measured out by the judges:

12 It is a fire that devoureth even to destruction, and rooteth up all things that spring.

It would be a fire burning even to destruction, and taking away all my produce.

13 If I have despised to abide judgment with my manservant, or my maidservant, when they had any controversy against me:

If I did wrong in the cause of my man-servant, or my woman-servant, when they went to law with me;

14 For what shall I do when God shall rise to judge? and when he shall examine, what shall I answer him?

What then will I do when God comes as my judge? and what answer may I give to his questions?

15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him also: and did not one and the same form me in the womb?

Did not God make him as well as me? did he not give us life in our mothers' bodies?

16 If I have denied to the poor what they desired, and have made the eyes of the widow wait:

If I kept back the desire of the poor; if the widow's eye was looking for help to no purpose;

17 If I have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof:

If I kept my food for myself, and did not give some of it to the child with no father;

18 (For from my infancy mercy grew up with me: and it came out with me from my mother’s womb: )

(For I was cared for by God as by a father from my earliest days; he was my guide from the body of my mother; )

19 If I have despised him that was perishing for want of clothing, and the poor man that had no covering:

If I saw one near to death for need of clothing, and that the poor had nothing covering him;

20 If his sides have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep:

If his back did not give me a blessing, and the wool of my sheep did not make him warm;

21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, even when I saw myself superior in the gate:

If my hand had been lifted up against him who had done no wrong, when I saw that I was supported by the judges;

22 Let my shoulder fall from its joint, and let my arm with its bones be broken.

May my arm be pulled from my body, and be broken from its base.

23 For I have always feared God as waves swelling over me, and his weight I was not able to bear.

For the fear of God kept me back, and because of his power I might not do such things.

24 If I have thought gold my strength, and have said to fine gold: My confidence:

If I made gold my hope, or if I ever said to the best gold, I have put my faith in you;

25 If I have rejoiced over my great riches, and because my hand had gotten much.

If I was glad because my wealth was great, and because my hand had got together a great store;

26 If I beheld the sun when it shined, and the moon going in brightness:

If, when I saw the sun shining, and the moon moving on its bright way,

27 And my heart in secret hath rejoiced, and I have kissed my hand with my mouth:

A secret feeling of worship came into my heart, and my hand gave kisses from my mouth;

28 Which is a very great iniquity, and a denial against the most high God.

That would have been another sin to be rewarded with punishment by the judges; for I would have been false to God on high.

29 If I have been glad at the downfall of him that hated me, and have rejoiced that evil had found him.

If I was glad at the trouble of my hater, and gave cries of joy when evil overtook him;

30 For I have not given my mouth to sin, by wishing a curse to his soul.

(For I did not let my mouth give way to sin, in putting a curse on his life; )

31 If the men of my tabernacle have not said: Who will give us of his flesh that we may be filled?

If the men of my tent did not say, Who has not had full measure of his meat?

32 The stranger did not stay without, my door was open to the traveller.

The traveller did not take his night's rest in the street, and my doors were open to anyone on a journey;

33 If as a man I have hid my sin, and have concealed my iniquity in my bosom.

If I kept my evil doings covered, and my sin in the secret of my breast,

34 If I have been afraid at a very great multitude, and the contempt of kinsmen hath terrified me: and I have not rather held my peace, and not gone out of the door.

For fear of the great body of people, or for fear that families might make sport of me, so that I kept quiet, and did not go out of my door;

35 Who would grant me a hearer, that the Almighty may hear my desire; and that he himself that judgeth would write a book,

If only God would give ear to me, and the Ruler of all would give me an answer! or if what he has against me had been put in writing!

36 That I may carry it on my shoulder, and put it about me as a crown?

Truly I would take up the book in my hands; it would be to me as a crown;

37 At every step of mine I would pronounce it, and offer it as to a prince.

I would make clear the number of my steps, I would put it before him like a prince! The words of Job are ended.

38 If my land cry against me, and with it the furrows thereof mourn:

If my land has made an outcry against me, or the ploughed earth has been in sorrow;

39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have afflicted the soul of the tillers thereof:

If I have taken its produce without payment, causing the death of its owners;

40 Let thistles grow up to me instead of wheat, and thorns instead of barley.

Then in place of grain let thorns come up, and in place of barley evil-smelling plants.