Job 31

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

"I made a covenant with my eyes, how then should I look lustfully at a young woman?

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

For what is the portion from God above, and the heritage from Shaddai on high?

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

Is it not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for evildoers?

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

Doesn't 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 falsehood, and my foot has hurried to deceit

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

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

7 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;

if my step has turned out of the way, if my heart walked after my eyes, if any defilement has stuck 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. Yes, let the produce of my field be rooted out.

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

"If my heart has been enticed to a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door,

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

then let my wife grind for another, and let others sleep with her.

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

For that would be a heinous crime. Yes, it would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges:

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

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

13 If I despised the cause of my male or female servant, when they contended with me;

"If I have despised the cause of my male servant or of my female servant, 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 rises up? When he visits, 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 who made me in the womb make him? Did not the same 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 of it;

or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it

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; )

(no, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, her have I guided 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 hath not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

if his heart hasn't blessed me, if he hasn't been warmed with my sheep's fleece;

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

then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder blade, and my 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 is a terror to me. Because his majesty, I can 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, 'You are my confidence;'

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

If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much;

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

if I have seen the sun when it shined, or the moon moving in splendor,

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

and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,

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

this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges; for I should have denied the God who is above.

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

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

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

(yes, I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking his life with a curse);

31 If the men of my tent have not said, O that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.

if the men of my tent have not said, 'Who can find one who has not been filled with his meat?'

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

(the foreigner has not lodged in the street, but I have opened my doors to the traveler);

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

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

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 did not go out of the door—

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

oh that I had one to hear me. (look, here is my signature, let Shaddai answer me); let the accuser write my indictment.

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

Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; and I would bind it to me as a crown.

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

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

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

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

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

if I have eaten its fruits without money, or have caused its owners to lose their life,

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

let briars grow instead of wheat, and stinkweed instead of barley." The words of Job are ended.