Job 31

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

I Made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God 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 step hath turned out of the way, and my heart walked after my eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to my hands;

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

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

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

If my heart hath been deceived by a woman, or [if] I have laid wait at my neighbor's door;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If I despised the cause of my man-servant or of my maid-servant, when they contended with me;

14 Then what 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? 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 refused the poor their desire, And 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 If I have eaten my morsel alone, And the fatherless hath not partaken of it;

Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten of it;

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; )

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

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

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

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

If his loins have not blessed me, and [if] he hath not been warmed 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, when I saw my help in the gate:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If I have rejoiced because my wealth [was] great, and because my hand had gained much;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 tabernacle have not said, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.

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

The stranger did not lodge in the street: [but] I opened my doors 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 as Adam, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom:

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!

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

If my land crieth against me, or its furrows likewise complain;

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

If I have eaten the fruits of it without money, or have caused its owners to lose their life:

40 Let thorns grow up instead of wheat, And noxious weeds 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.