Job 31

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

I MADE a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

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

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

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

Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment 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, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;

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

Let me be weighed in an even 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 mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;

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

Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.

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

If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid 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 this is an heinous crime; yea, it is 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 to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

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

If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;

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

What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, 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 the poor from their desire, 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);

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

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

20 si non benedixerunt mihi latera ejus, 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, when I saw my help in the gate:

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

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

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

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

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

If I have made gold my hope, or 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 mine 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, or 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 judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.

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

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

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

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

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

If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.

32 foris non mansit peregrinus: ostium meum viatori patuit.

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

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

If I covered my transgressions as Adam, 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.

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

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

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

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

37 Per singulos gradus meos pronuntiabo 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 ejus deflent:

If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;

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

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

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

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