Job 31

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

I made a covenant with mine eyes; how then should I look upon a maid?

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

For what would be the portion of God from above, and the heritage of the Almighty from on high?

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

Is it not calamity to the unrighteous, and disaster to the workers of iniquity?

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

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

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

If I have walked with vanity, and my foot hath hasted to deceit —

6 Appendat me in statera iusta, et sciat Deus simplicitatem meam.

Let me be weighed in a just balance, that God may know mine integrity —

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

If my step hath turned out of the way, and my heart walked after mine eyes, and if any spot hath cleaved to my hands;

8 Seram, et alium comedat: et progenies mea eradicetur.

Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let the produce of my field be rooted out.

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

If my heart have been enticed unto a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbour's door;

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

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

11 Hoc enim nefas est, et iniquitas maxima.

For that were a heinous crime; yea, it were an iniquity to be punished by the judges.

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

For it is a fire that consumeth unto destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

13 Si contempsi subire iudicium cum servo meo, et ancilla mea, cum disceptarent adversum me.

If I did despise the cause of my man-servant, or of my maid-servant, when they contended with me —

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

What then shall I do when God riseth up? And when He remembereth, what shall I answer Him?

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

Did not He that made me in the womb make him? And did not One fashion us in the womb?

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

If I have withheld aught that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

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

Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof —

18 (Quia ab infantia mea crevit mecum miseratio: et de utero matris meæ egressa est mecum.)

Nay, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and I have been her guide from my mother's womb.

19 Si despexi pereuntem, eo quod non habuerit indumentum, et absque operimento pauperem:

If I have seen any wanderer in want of clothing, or that the needy had no covering;

20 Si non benedixerunt mihi latera eius, et de velleribus ovium mearum calefactus est:

If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

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

If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate;

22 Humerus meus a iunctura sua cadat, et brachium meum cum suis ossibus confringatur.

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

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

For calamity from God was a terror to me, and by reason of His majesty I could do nothing.

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

If I have made gold my hope, and have said to the fine gold: 'Thou art my confidence';

25 Si lætatus sum super multis divitiis meis, et quia plurima reperit manus mea.

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

26 Si vidi solem cum fulgeret, et lunam incedentem clare:

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

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

And my heart hath been secretly enticed, and my mouth hath kissed my hand;

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

This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges; for I should have lied to God that is above.

29 Si gavisus sum ad ruinam eius, qui me oderat, et exultavi quod invenisset eum malum.

If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or exulted when evil found him —

30 Non enim dedi ad peccandum guttur meum, ut expeterem maledicens animam eius.

Yea, I suffered not my mouth to sin by asking his life with a curse.

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

If the men of my tent said not: 'Who can find one that hath not been satisfied with his meat?'

32 Foris non mansit peregrinus, ostium meum viatori patuit.

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

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

If after the manner of men I covered my transgressions, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom —

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

Because I feared the great multitude, and the most contemptible among families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and went not out of the door.

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

Oh that I had one to hear me! — Lo, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me — and that I had the indictment which mine adversary hath written!

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

Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder; I would bind it unto me as a crown.

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

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

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

If my land cry out against me, and the furrows thereof weep together;

39 Si fructus eius comedi absque pecunia, et animam agricolarum eius afflixi:

If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the tillers thereof to be disappointed —

40 Pro frumento oriatur mihi tribulus, et pro hordeo spina. Finita sunt verba Iob.

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