Job 31

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

I made a covenant with mine eyes; How then could I gaze upon a maid?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let him weigh me in an even balance; Yea, let God know 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 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 another eat: and let my offspring be rooted out.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Then what shall I do when God riseth up? And when he visiteth, what shall 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 in the womb make him? Did not 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 I have refused the poor their desire, And caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

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

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

18 (For from my infancy mercy grew up with me: and it came out with me 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 If I have despised him that was perishing for want of clothing, and the poor man that had no covering:

If I have seen any one perishing for want of clothing, Or any poor man 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 he hath 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 shaken my hand against the fatherless, Because I saw my help in the gate, —

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This also were a crime to be punished by the judge; For I should have denied the God who 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 I have rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, And exulted when evil came upon him;

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

(Nay, I have not suffered my mouth to sin, By asking with curses 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 have not exclaimed, “Who is there that hath not been satisfied with his meat?”

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

If my land cry out against me, And its furrows bewail together;

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

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

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

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