Job 31

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

I MADE a covenant with mine eyes; how then should I look upon a maid?

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

For what [is] the portion of God from above, and the heritage of the Almighty from on high?

3 [Is] not destruction to the wicked? and a strange [punishment] to the workers of iniquity?

Is it not calamity to the unrighteous, and disaster to the workers of iniquity?

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

Doth not he see 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 with vanity, and my foot hath hasted to deceit;

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

(Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity; )

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 mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any spot hath cleaved to mine 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; yea, let the produce of my field 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 mine heart have been enticed unto a woman, and I have laid wait at my neighbour’s door:

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

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

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

For that were an heinous crime; yea, it were an iniquity to be punished by the judges:

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

For it is a fire that consumeth unto Destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

13 If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;

If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me:

14 What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?

What then 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? and did not one fashion us in the womb?

Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us 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 withheld the poor from [their] desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

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

Or 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; )

(Nay, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and I have been her guide from my mother’s womb; )

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

If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or that the needy 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 loins 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, because I saw my help in the gate:

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

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

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

For calamity from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his excellency I could do nothing.

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

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

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

If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine 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, or the moon walking in brightness;

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

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

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

This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges: for I should have lied to God that is above.

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

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

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

(Yea, I suffered not my mouth to sin by asking his life with a curse; )

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 tent said not, Who can find one that hath not been satisfied with his flesh?

32 The stranger did not lodge in the street: [but] I opened my doors to the traveller.

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

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

If like Adam I covered my transgressions, by hiding mine 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?

Because I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and went not 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.

Oh that I had one to hear me! (lo, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me; ) and [that I had] the indictment which mine adversary hath written!

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

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

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

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

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

If my land cry out against me, and the furrows thereof weep together;

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, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:

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

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