Job 31

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

I made a couenant with mine eyes: why then should I thinke on a mayde?

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

For what portion should I haue of God from aboue? and what inheritance of the Almightie from on hie?

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

Is not destruction to the wicked and strange punishment to the workers of iniquitie?

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

Doeth not he beholde my wayes and tell all my steps?

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

If I haue walked in vanitie, or if my foote hath made haste to deceite,

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

Let God weigh me in the iust balance, and he shall know mine vprightnes.

7 Si declinavit gressus meus de via, et si secutus est oculus meus cor meum, et si manibus meis adhaesit macula:

If my steppe hath turned out of the way, or mine heart hath walked after mine eye, or if any blot hath cleaued to mine handes,

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

Let me sowe, and let another eate: yea, let my plantes be rooted out.

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

If mine heart hath bene deceiued by a woman, or if I haue layde wayte at the doore of my neighbour,

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

Let my wife grinde vnto another man, and let other men bow downe vpon her:

11 Hoc enim nefas est, et iniquitas maxima.

For this is a wickednes, and iniquitie to bee condemned:

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

Yea, this is a fire that shall deuoure to destruction, and which shall roote out al mine increase,

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

If I did contemne the iudgement of my seruant, and of my mayde, when they did contend with me,

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

What then shall I do when God standeth vp? and when he shall visit me, what shall I answere?

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

He that hath made me in the wombe, hath he not made him? hath not he alone facioned vs in the wombe?

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

If I restrained the poore of their desire, or haue caused the eyes of the widow to faile,

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

Or haue eaten my morsels alone, and the fatherles hath not eaten thereof,

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

(For from my youth hee hath growen vp with me as with a father, and from my mothers wombe I haue bene a guide vnto her)

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

If I haue seene any perish for want of clothing, or any poore without couering,

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

If his loynes haue not blessed me, because he was warmed with the fleece of my sheepe,

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

If I haue lift vp mine hande against the fatherlesse, when I saw that I might helpe him in the gate,

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

Let mine arme fal from my shoulder, and mine arme be broken from the bone.

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

For Gods punishment was fearefull vnto me, and I could not be deliuered from his highnes.

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

If I made gold mine hope, or haue sayd to the wedge of golde, Thou art my confidence,

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

If I reioyced because my substance was great, or because mine hand had gotten much,

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

If I did behold the sunne, when it shined, or the moone, walking in her brightnes,

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

If mine heart did flatter me in secrete, or if my mouth did kisse mine hand,

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

(This also had bene an iniquitie to be condemned: for I had denied the God aboue)

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

If I reioyced at his destruction that hated me, or was mooued to ioye when euill came vpon him,

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

Neither haue I suffred my mouth to sinne, by wishing a curse vnto his soule.

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

Did not the men of my Tabernacle say, Who shall giue vs of his flesh? we can not bee satisfied.

32 Foris non mansit peregrinus, ostium meum viatori patuit.

The stranger did not lodge in the streete, but I opened my doores vnto him, that went by the way.

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

If I haue hid my sinne, as Adam, concealing mine iniquitie in my bosome,

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

Though I could haue made afraid a great multitude, yet the most contemptible of the families did feare me: so I kept silence, and went not out of the doore.

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

Oh that I had some to heare me! beholde my signe that the Almightie will witnesse for me: though mine aduersary should write a booke against me,

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

Woulde not I take it vpon my shoulder, and binde it as a crowne vnto me?

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

I will tell him the nomber of my goings, and goe vnto him as to a prince.

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

If my lande cry against me, or the furrowes thereof complayne together,

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

If I haue eaten the fruites thereof without siluer: or if I haue grieued the soules of the masters thereof,

40 Pro frumento oriatur mihi tribulus, et pro hordeo spina.

Let thistles growe in steade of wheate, and cockle in the stead of Barley. The wordes of Iob are ended.