Job 31

1 I made a couenant with mine eyes: why then should I thinke on a mayde?

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

2 For what portion should I haue of God from aboue? and what inheritance of the Almightie from on hie?

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

3 Is not destruction to the wicked and strange punishment to the workers of iniquitie?

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

4 Doeth not he beholde my wayes and tell all my steps?

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

5 If I haue walked in vanitie, or if my foote hath made haste to deceite,

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

6 Let God weigh me in the iust balance, and he shall know mine vprightnes.

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

7 If my steppe hath turned out of the way, or mine heart hath walked after mine eye, or if any blot hath cleaued to mine handes,

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:

8 Let me sowe, and let another eate: yea, let my plantes be rooted out.

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

9 If mine heart hath bene deceiued by a woman, or if I haue layde wayte at the doore of my neighbour,

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

10 Let my wife grinde vnto another man, and let other men bow downe vpon her:

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

11 For this is a wickednes, and iniquitie to bee condemned:

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

12 Yea, this is a fire that shall deuoure to destruction, and which shall roote out al mine increase,

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

13 If I did contemne the iudgement of my seruant, and of my mayde, when they did contend with me,

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

14 What then shall I do when God standeth vp? and when he shall visit me, what shall I answere?

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

15 He that hath made me in the wombe, hath he not made him? hath not he alone facioned vs in the wombe?

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

16 If I restrained the poore of their desire, or haue caused the eyes of the widow to faile,

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

17 Or haue eaten my morsels alone, and the fatherles hath not eaten thereof,

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

18 (For from my youth hee hath growen vp with me as with a father, and from my mothers wombe I haue bene a guide vnto her)

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

19 If I haue seene any perish for want of clothing, or any poore without couering,

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

20 If his loynes haue not blessed me, because he was warmed with the fleece of my sheepe,

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

21 If I haue lift vp mine hande against the fatherlesse, when I saw that I might helpe him in the gate,

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

22 Let mine arme fal from my shoulder, and mine arme be broken from the bone.

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

23 For Gods punishment was fearefull vnto me, and I could not be deliuered from his highnes.

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

24 If I made gold mine hope, or haue sayd to the wedge of golde, Thou art my confidence,

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

25 If I reioyced because my substance was great, or because mine hand had gotten much,

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

26 If I did behold the sunne, when it shined, or the moone, walking in her brightnes,

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

27 If mine heart did flatter me in secrete, or if my mouth did kisse mine hand,

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

28 (This also had bene an iniquitie to be condemned: for I had denied the God aboue)

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

29 If I reioyced at his destruction that hated me, or was mooued to ioye when euill came vpon him,

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

30 Neither haue I suffred my mouth to sinne, by wishing a curse vnto his soule.

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

31 Did not the men of my Tabernacle say, Who shall giue vs of his flesh? we can not bee satisfied.

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

32 The stranger did not lodge in the streete, but I opened my doores vnto him, that went by the way.

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

33 If I haue hid my sinne, as Adam, concealing mine iniquitie in my bosome,

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

34 Though I could haue made afraid a great multitude, yet the most contemptible of the families did feare me: so I kept silence, and went not out of the doore.

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.

35 Oh that I had some to heare me! beholde my signe that the Almightie will witnesse for me: though mine aduersary should write a booke against me,

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

36 Woulde not I take it vpon my shoulder, and binde it as a crowne vnto me?

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

37 I will tell him the nomber of my goings, and goe vnto him as to a prince.

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

38 If my lande cry against me, or the furrowes thereof complayne together,

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

39 If I haue eaten the fruites thereof without siluer: or if I haue grieued the soules of the masters thereof,

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

40 Let thistles growe in steade of wheate, and cockle in the stead of Barley. The wordes of Iob are ended.

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