Job 31
1 I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then should I look with desire on a virgin?
I made a covenant with my eyes, that I would not so much as think upon a virgin.
2 For what is the portion from God above, the inheritance from the Almighty on high?
For what part should God from above have in me, and what inheritance the Almighty from on high?
3 I used to think that calamity is for unrighteous people, and that disaster is for doers of wickedness.
Is not destruction to the wicked, and aversion to them that work iniquity?
4 Does not God 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 falsehood, if my foot has hurried 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 so that God will know my integrity.
Let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity.
7 If my step has turned aside from the way, if my heart has gone after my eyes, if any spot has stuck to my 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, and let my crops be uprooted.
Then let me sow and let another eat: and let my offspring be rooted out.
9 If my heart has been deceived by a woman, if I have lain in wait at my neighbor'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 grain for another, and let others bow down on her.
Let my wife be the harlot of another, and let other men lie with her.
11 For that would be a terrible crime; indeed, it would be a crime to be punished by judges.
For this is a heinous crime, and a most grievous iniquity.
12 For that is a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn all my harvest to the root.
It is a fire that devoureth even to destruction, and rooteth up all things that spring.
13 If I ignored the plea for justice from my male or female servant when they argued 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 would I do when God rises up to accuse me? When he comes to judge me, how would 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 the one who made me in the womb not make them also? Did not the same one mold us all 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 poor people from their desire, or if I have caused the eyes of the widow to grow dim from crying,
If I have denied to the poor what they desired, and have made the eyes of the widow wait:
17 or if I have eaten my morsel alone and not allowed those without fathers to eat it also—
If I have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof:
18 because from my youth the orphan grew up with me as with a father, and I have guided his mother, a widow, from my own 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 anyone perish for lack of clothing, or if I have seen that a needy man had no clothing;
If I have despised him that was perishing for want of clothing, and the poor man that had no covering:
20 if his heart has not blessed me because he has not been warmed with the wool 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 fatherless people because I saw my support in the city gate, then bring charges against me!
If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, even when I saw myself superior in the gate:
22 If I have done these things, then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder blade, and let my arm be broken from its joint.
Let my shoulder fall from its joint, and let my arm with its bones be broken.
23 For I dreaded destruction from God; because of his majesty, I was not able to do those things.
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, and if I have said to fine gold, 'You are what I am confident in';
If I have thought gold my strength, and have said to fine gold: My confidence:
25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, because my hand had gotten many possessions, then bring charges against me!
If I have rejoiced over my great riches, and because my hand had gotten much.
26 If I have seen the sun when it shone, or the moon walking in its brightness,
If I beheld the sun when it shined, and the moon going in brightness:
27 and if my heart has been secretly attracted, so that my mouth has kissed my hand in worship of them—
And my heart in secret hath rejoiced, and I have kissed my hand with my mouth:
28 this also would be a crime to be punished by judges, for I would have denied the God who is above.
Which is a very great iniquity, and a denial against the most high God.
29 If I have rejoiced at the destruction of anyone who hated me or congratulated myself when disaster overtook him, then bring charges against me!
If I have been glad at the downfall of him that hated me, and have rejoiced that evil had found him.
30 Indeed, I have not even allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse.
For I have not given my mouth to sin, by wishing a curse to his soul.
31 If the men of my tent have never said, 'Who can find one who has not been filled with Job's food?'
If the men of my tabernacle have not said: Who will give us of his flesh that we may be filled?
32 (even the foreigner has never had to stay in the city square, because I have always opened my doors to the traveler), and if that is not so, then bring charges against me!
The stranger did not stay without, my door was open to the traveller.
33 If, like mankind, I have hidden my sins by hiding my guilt inside my tunic
If as a man I have hid my sin, and have concealed my iniquity in my bosom.
34 (because I feared the great multitude, because the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silent and would not go outside), then bring charges against me!
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, if only I had someone to hear me! See, here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me! If only I had the indictment that my opponent has written!
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 carry it openly on my shoulder; I would put it on like a crown.
That I may carry it on my shoulder, and put it about me as a crown?
37 I would declare to him an accounting for my steps; as a confident prince I would go up to him.
At every step of mine I would pronounce it, and offer it as to a prince.
38 If my land ever cries out against me, and its furrows weep together,
If my land cry against me, and with it the furrows thereof mourn:
39 if I have eaten its harvest without paying for it or have caused its owners to lose their lives,
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have afflicted the soul of the tillers thereof:
40 then let thorns grow instead of wheat and weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are finished.
Let thistles grow up to me instead of wheat, and thorns instead of barley.
