Job 31

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

I Made a covenant with my 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 my 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 my eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to my hands;

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

[Then] let me sow, and let another eat; yes, let my offspring be rooted out.

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

If my heart hath been deceived by a woman, or [if] I have laid wait at my neighbor's door;

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

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

11 Hoc enim nefas est, et iniquitas maxima.

For this [is] a hainous 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 my increase.

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

If I despised the cause of my man-servant or of my maid-servant, 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 of it;

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 hath not been 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 my arm fall from my shoulder-blade, and my 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 have rejoiced because my wealth [was] great, and because my hand had gained much;

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

If I have 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 have rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or have 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 have not said, 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 traveler.

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

If I have covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding my 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] my 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 to him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near to him.

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

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

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

If I have eaten the fruits of it without money, or have caused its owners 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.