Job 31

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

A covenant had I made with my eyes: how then should I fix my look on a virgin?

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

And what then would have been my portion of God from above? and what lot of the Almighty from on high?

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

Is not calamity [ready] for the unjust? and misfortune for the wrong-doers?

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

Behold, he truly seeth my ways, and numbereth all my steps;

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

[And knoweth] whether I have walked with vain desires, or if my foot hath hastened after deceit.

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

Let him weigh me then in a righteous balance, and let God acknowledge 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 my step have turned aside from the [proper] way, and my heart have walked after my eyes, and if any blemish have cleaved to my hands:

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

Then let me sow, and let another eat; and let what I have growing be rooted out.

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

If my heart have been beguiled toward a woman, or if I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door:

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

Then may my wife labor at the mill for another, and may strangers ill-use her;

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

For this would be incest; yea, it would be an iniquity [to be punished by] the judges;

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

For it would be a fire that consumeth down to the place of corruption, and would root out all my products.

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

If ever I cast aside the justice due to my man-servant and my maid-servant, when they contended 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 could I do when God should rise up? and when he should investigate, what could I answer him?

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 he that made me make him born or a woman? and did not the same one fashion us in the womb?

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

If ever I denied the wish of the indigent, or ever allowed the eyes of the widow to fall [in vain hopes];

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

Or if ever I ate my bread by myself alone, and the fatherless did not eat thereof;

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

(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as though we were of one father, and I have guided her [as though she was sprung] from my mother's womb; )

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 any one perishing for want of clothing, or the needy without covering:

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

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

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

If I have swung my hand against the fatherless, because I saw in the gate those that would help me:

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

Then may my shoulder fall from my shoulder-blade, and my arm be broken from the channel-bone;

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

For dreaded by me was the calamitous punishment of God, and against his highness I can accomplish nothing.

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

If I have made gold my confidence, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my trust:

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

If ever I rejoiced because my wealth was abundant, and because my hand had gotten much;

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

If ever I looked at the light [of the sun] when he shone brightly and on the moon walking in splendor:

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

And my heart became misled in secret, and my hand kissed my mouth:

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

This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge; for thus would I have denied the God that is above.

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

If ever I rejoiced at the downfall of him that hated me, or was elated when evil befell him; —

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

But I suffered not my mouth to sin by denouncing with a curse his soul: —

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 said not, Oh is there one that is not satisfied of his flesh; —

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

In the street a stranger had not to lodge; my doors I held open to the roadside;

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

If I covered up my transgressions like a common man, by hiding in my bosom my iniquity;

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.

Because I dreaded the great multitude, or because the contempt of families did terrify me, so that I kept silence, and dared not to go out of the 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,

Oh who will bring me one that would hear me! behold, here is my plea; may the Almighty answer me; and any record which my opponent may have written, —

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

Surely upon my shoulder would I carry it: I would bind it as a crown unto me.

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

The number of my steps would I tell him: as [to] a prince would I go near unto him.—

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

If my land ever cried out because of me, or if its furrows wept together;

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

If I ever consumed its strength without payment, or caused the soul of its owners to grieve:

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

Then may instead of wheat, thorns come forth, and instead of barley, cockle. (Here end the words of Job.)