Job 31

1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

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

2 For what portion of God [is there] from above? and [what] inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

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 a strange [punishment] to the workers of iniquity?

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

4 Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?

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

5 If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;

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

6 Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.

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

7 If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;

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 [Then] let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.

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

9 If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or [if] I have laid wait at my neighbour’s door;

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

10 [Then] let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.

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

11 For this [is] an heinous crime; yea, it [is] an iniquity [to be punished by] the judges.

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

12 For it [is] a fire [that] consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

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

13 If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended 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 riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?

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

15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?

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 have withheld the poor from [their] desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

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

17 Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;

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

18 (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as [with] a father, and I have guided her from my mother’s womb; )

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

19 If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;

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

20 If his loins have not blessed me, and [if] he were [not] warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

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

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

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

22 [Then] let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.

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

23 For destruction [from] God [was] a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.

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

24 If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, [Thou art] my confidence;

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

25 If I rejoiced because my wealth [was] great, and because mine hand had gotten much;

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

26 If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking [in] brightness;

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

27 And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:

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

28 This also [were] an iniquity [to be punished by] the judge: for I should have denied the God [that is] above.

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

29 If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:

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

30 Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.

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

31 If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be 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 street: [but] I opened my doors to the traveller.

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

33 If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:

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

34 Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, [and] went not out of the door?

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 one would hear me! behold, my desire [is, that] the Almighty would answer me, and [that] mine adversary had written a book.

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

36 Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, [and] bind it [as] a crown to me.

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

37 I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.

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

38 If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;

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

39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:

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

40 Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.

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