Job 31

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

“I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I gaze with desire at a virgin?

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

For what is the allotment of God from above, or the heritage from the Almighty on high?

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

Does not disaster come to the unjust and calamity to the workers of iniquity?

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

Does He not see my ways and count my every step?

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

If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit,

6 Let him weigh me in an even balance; Yea, let God know my integrity!

let God weigh me with honest scales, that He may know my integrity.

7 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,

If my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has followed my eyes, or if impurity has stuck to my hands,

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

then may another eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted.

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

If my heart has been enticed by my neighbor’s wife, or I have lurked at his door,

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

then may my own wife grind grain for another, and may other men sleep with her.

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

For that would be a heinous crime, an iniquity to be judged.

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

For it is a fire that burns down to Abaddon; it would root out my entire harvest.

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

If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they made a complaint against me,

14 Then what shall I do when God riseth up? And when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?

what will I do when God rises to judge? How will I answer when called to account?

15 Did not He that made me in the womb make him? Did not one fashion us in the womb?

Did not He who made me in the womb also make them? Did not the same One form us in the womb?

16 If I have refused the poor their desire, And caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

If I have denied the desires of the poor or allowed the widow’s eyes to fail,

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

if I have eaten my morsel alone, not sharing it with the fatherless—

18 (Nay, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And I have helped the widow from my mother's womb; )

though from my youth I reared him as would a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow—

19 If I have seen any one perishing for want of clothing, Or any poor man without covering;

if I have seen one perish for lack of clothing, or a needy man without a cloak,

20 If his loins have not blessed me, And he hath not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

if his heart has not blessed me for warming him with the fleece of my sheep,

21 If I have shaken my hand against the fatherless, Because I saw my help in the gate, —

if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless because I saw that I had support in the gate,

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

then may my arm fall from my shoulder and be torn from its socket.

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

For calamity from God terrifies me, and His splendor I cannot overpower.

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

If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security,

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

if I have rejoiced in my great wealth because my hand had gained so much,

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

if I have beheld the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor,

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

so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,

28 This also were a crime to be punished by the judge; For I should have denied the God who is above.

this would also be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have denied God on high.

29 If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, And exulted when evil came upon him;

If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin, or exulted when evil befell him—

30 (Nay, I have not suffered my mouth to sin, By asking with curses his life; )

I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse—

31 If the men of my tent have not exclaimed, “Who is there that hath not been satisfied with his meat?”

if the men of my house have not said, ‘Who is there who has not had his fill?’—

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

but no stranger had to lodge on the street, for my door has been open to the traveler—

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

if I have covered my transgressions like Adam by hiding my guilt in my heart,

34 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!

because I greatly feared the crowds and the contempt of the clans terrified me, so that I kept silent and would not go outside—

35 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!

(Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment.

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

Surely I would carry it on my shoulder and wear it like a crown.

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

I would give account of all my steps; I would approach Him like a prince.)—

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

if my land cries out against me and its furrows weep together,

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

if I have devoured its produce without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants,

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

then let briers grow instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley.” Thus conclude the words of Job.