Job 31

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

I vowed to myself never to look with desire at young women.

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

What should people expect to receive from God? What reward should the Almighty on high give them?

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

Isn't it disaster for the wicked and destruction for those who do wrong?

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

Doesn't God see everything I do—even count every step I take?

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

Have I lived a deceitful life? Have I been eager to tell lies?

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

No! Let God weigh me on the scales of his justice and let him discover my integrity.

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 I have wandered from God's way, if I have let what I see become my desires, if there's any stain of sin on my hands,

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

then let someone else eat what I have sown, and all that I have grown be uprooted.

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

If a woman has seduced me, or if I have looked for an opportunity to sleep with my neighbor's wife,

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

then let my wife serve another, let other men sleep with her.

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

For that would be wicked, a sin deserving punishment,

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

for this sin is like a fire that leads to destruction, destroying everything I have.

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

If I had refused to listen to my menservants or maidservants when they brought their complaints to me,

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

what would I do when God came to judge me? How would I reply if he investigated me?

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?

Didn't the same God make all of us?

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

Have I refused to give the poor what they needed, or caused widows to despair?

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

Have I even eaten just a piece of bread by myself? Haven't I always shared my food with orphans?

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

From when I was young I was a father to orphans and took care of widows.

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

If ever I saw someone needing clothes, the poor without anything to wear,

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

they always thanked me for the wool clothing that kept them warm.

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

If I raised my hand to hit an orphan, confident that if it came to court the judges would be on my side,

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

then let my shoulder be pulled from its joint, my arm wrenched out of its socket.

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

Since I'm terrified of what punishment God may have in store for me, and because of his majesty, I could never do this.

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

Have I put my trust in gold, calling fine gold, ‘My security’?

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

Have I delighted in being rich, happy at all my wealth I had gained?

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

Have I looked at the sun shining so brilliantly or the moon moving in majesty across the sky

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

and been tempted to secretly worship them by kissing my hand to them in devotion?

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

This too would be a sin deserving punishment for it would mean I had denied God above.

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

Have I ever been happy when disaster destroyed those who hated me, or celebrated when evil took them down?

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

I have never allowed my mouth to sin by putting a curse on someone's life.

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

Haven't my family asked, ‘Is there anyone who has not eaten as much as they wanted of his food?’

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

I have never let strangers sleep in the street; I have opened my doors to travelers.

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

Have I concealed my sins from others, hiding my wrongdoing deep inside me?

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.

Was I afraid of what everybody else would think, scared of the contempt families would show me, so that I kept quiet and didn't go outside?

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

Why won't anyone listen to what I'm saying! I'm signing my name to endorse everything I've said. Let the Almighty answer me. Let my accuser write down what he is charging me with.

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

I would hold them up high; I would wear them on my head like a crown.

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

I would explain to him everything I'd done; I would hold my head high before him.

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

If my land has cried out against me; if her furrows have wept over me;

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

if I have taken its crops without payment or if I have caused harm to the farmers;

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

then let thorns grow instead of wheat, and weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended.