Job 31

1 [Pepigi fœdus cum oculis meis, ut ne cogitarem quidem de virgine.

I vowed to myself never to look with desire at young women.

2 Quam enim partem haberet in me Deus desuper, et hæreditatem Omnipotens de excelsis?

What should people expect to receive from God? What reward should the Almighty on high give them?

3 Numquid non perditio est iniquo, et alienatio operantibus injustitiam?

Isn't it disaster for the wicked and destruction for those who do wrong?

4 Nonne ipse considerat vias meas, et cunctos gressus meos dinumerat?

Doesn't God see everything I do—even count every step I take?

5 Si ambulavi in vanitate, et festinavit in dolo pes meus,

Have I lived a deceitful life? Have I been eager to tell lies?

6 appendat me in statera justa, et sciat Deus simplicitatem meam.

No! Let God weigh me on the scales of his justice and let him discover my integrity.

7 Si declinavit gressus meus de via, et si secutum est oculos meos cor meum, et si manibus meis adhæsit macula,

If I have wandered from God's way, if I have let what I see become my desires, if there's any stain of sin on my hands,

8 seram, et alius comedat, et progenies mea eradicetur.

then let someone else eat what I have sown, and all that I have grown be uprooted.

9 Si deceptum est cor meum super muliere, et si ad ostium amici mei insidiatus sum,

If a woman has seduced me, or if I have looked for an opportunity to sleep with my neighbor's wife,

10 scortum alterius sit uxor mea, et super illam incurventur alii.

then let my wife serve another, let other men sleep with her.

11 Hoc enim nefas est, et iniquitas maxima.

For that would be wicked, a sin deserving punishment,

12 Ignis est usque ad perditionem devorans, et omnia eradicans genimina.

for this sin is like a fire that leads to destruction, destroying everything I have.

13 Si contempsi subire judicium cum servo meo et ancilla mea, cum disceptarent adversum me:

If I had refused to listen to my menservants or maidservants when they brought their complaints to me,

14 quid enim faciam cum surrexerit ad judicandum Deus? et cum quæsierit, quid respondebo illi?

what would I do when God came to judge me? How would I reply if he investigated me?

15 Numquid non in utero fecit me, qui et illum operatus est, et formavit me in vulva unus?

Didn't the same God make all of us?

16 Si negavi quod volebant pauperibus, et oculos viduæ expectare feci;

Have I refused to give the poor what they needed, or caused widows to despair?

17 si comedi buccellam meam solus, et non comedit pupillus ex ea

Have I even eaten just a piece of bread by myself? Haven't I always shared my food with orphans?

18 (quia ab infantia mea crevit mecum miseratio, et de utero matris meæ egressa est mecum);

From when I was young I was a father to orphans and took care of widows.

19 si despexi pereuntem, eo quod non habuerit indumentum, et absque operimento pauperem;

If ever I saw someone needing clothes, the poor without anything to wear,

20 si non benedixerunt mihi latera ejus, et de velleribus ovium mearum calefactus est;

they always thanked me for the wool clothing that kept them warm.

21 si levavi super pupillum manum meam, etiam cum viderem me in porta superiorem:

If I raised my hand to hit an orphan, confident that if it came to court the judges would be on my side,

22 humerus meus a junctura sua cadat, et brachium meum cum suis ossibus confringatur.

then let my shoulder be pulled from its joint, my arm wrenched out of its socket.

23 Semper enim quasi tumentes super me fluctus timui Deum, et pondus ejus ferre non potui.

Since I'm terrified of what punishment God may have in store for me, and because of his majesty, I could never do this.

24 Si putavi aurum robur meum, et obrizo dixi: Fiducia mea;

Have I put my trust in gold, calling fine gold, ‘My security’?

25 si lætatus sum super multis divitiis meis, et quia plurima reperit manus mea;

Have I delighted in being rich, happy at all my wealth I had gained?

26 si vidi solem cum fulgeret, et lunam incedentem clare,

Have I looked at the sun shining so brilliantly or the moon moving in majesty across the sky

27 et lætatum est in abscondito cor meum, et osculatus sum manum meam ore meo:

and been tempted to secretly worship them by kissing my hand to them in devotion?

28 quæ est iniquitas maxima, et negatio contra Deum altissimum.

This too would be a sin deserving punishment for it would mean I had denied God above.

29 Si gavisus sum ad ruinam ejus qui me oderat, et exsultavi quod invenisset eum malum:

Have I ever been happy when disaster destroyed those who hated me, or celebrated when evil took them down?

30 non enim dedi ad peccandum guttur meum, ut expeterem maledicens animam ejus.

I have never allowed my mouth to sin by putting a curse on someone's life.

31 Si non dixerunt viri tabernaculi mei: Quis det de carnibus ejus, ut saturemur?

Haven't my family asked, ‘Is there anyone who has not eaten as much as they wanted of his food?’

32 foris non mansit peregrinus: ostium meum viatori patuit.

I have never let strangers sleep in the street; I have opened my doors to travelers.

33 Si abscondi quasi homo peccatum meum, et celavi in sinu meo iniquitatem meam;

Have I concealed my sins from others, hiding my wrongdoing deep inside me?

34 si expavi ad multitudinem nimiam, et despectio propinquorum terruit me: et non magis tacui, nec egressus sum ostium.

Was I afraid of what everybody else would think, scared of the contempt families would show me, so that I kept quiet and didn't go outside?

35 Quis mihi tribuat auditorem, ut desiderium meum audiat Omnipotens, et librum scribat ipse qui judicat,

Why won't anyone listen to what I'm saying! I'm signing my name to endorse everything I've said. Let the Almighty answer me. Let my accuser write down what he is charging me with.

36 ut in humero meo portem illum, et circumdem illum quasi coronam mihi?

I would hold them up high; I would wear them on my head like a crown.

37 Per singulos gradus meos pronuntiabo illum, et quasi principi offeram eum.

I would explain to him everything I'd done; I would hold my head high before him.

38 Si adversum me terra mea clamat, et cum ipsa sulci ejus deflent:

If my land has cried out against me; if her furrows have wept over me;

39 si fructus ejus comedi absque pecunia, et animam agricolarum ejus afflixi:

if I have taken its crops without payment or if I have caused harm to the farmers;

40 pro frumento oriatur mihi tribulus, et pro hordeo spina.] Finita sunt verba Job.

then let thorns grow instead of wheat, and weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended.