Job 31

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

A covenant had I made with my eyes: how then should I fix my look on a virgin?

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

And what then would have been my portion of God from above? and what lot of the Almighty from on high?

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

Is not calamity [ready] for the unjust? and misfortune for the wrong-doers?

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

Behold, he truly seeth my ways, and numbereth all my steps;

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

[And knoweth] whether I have walked with vain desires, or if my foot hath hastened after deceit.

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

Let him weigh me then in a righteous balance, and let God acknowledge my integrity,

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

If my step have turned aside from the [proper] way, and my heart have walked after my eyes, and if any blemish have cleaved to my hands:

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

Then let me sow, and let another eat; and let what I have growing be rooted out.

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

If my heart have been beguiled toward a woman, or if I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door:

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

Then may my wife labor at the mill for another, and may strangers ill-use her;

11 Hoc enim nefas est, et iniquitas maxima.

For this would be incest; yea, it would be an iniquity [to be punished by] the judges;

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

For it would be a fire that consumeth down to the place of corruption, and would root out all my products.

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

If ever I cast aside the justice due to my man-servant and my maid-servant, when they contended with me:

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

What then could I do when God should rise up? and when he should investigate, what could 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 make him born or a woman? and did not the same one fashion us in the womb?

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

If ever I denied the wish of the indigent, or ever allowed the eyes of the widow to fall [in vain hopes];

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

Or if ever I ate my bread by myself alone, and the fatherless did not eat thereof;

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

(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as though we were of one father, and I have guided her [as though she was sprung] from my mother's womb; )

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

If ever I saw any one perishing for want of clothing, or the needy without 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 have 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 swung my hand against the fatherless, because I saw in the gate those that would help me:

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

Then may my shoulder fall from my shoulder-blade, and my arm be broken from the channel-bone;

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

For dreaded by me was the calamitous punishment of God, and against his highness I can accomplish nothing.

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

If I have made gold my confidence, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my trust:

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

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

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

If ever I looked at the light [of the sun] when he shone brightly and on the moon walking in splendor:

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

And my heart became misled in secret, and my hand kissed my mouth:

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

This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge; for thus would I have denied the God that is above.

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

If ever I rejoiced at the downfall of him that hated me, or was elated when evil befell him; —

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

But I suffered not my mouth to sin by denouncing with a curse his soul: —

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

If the men of my tent said not, Oh is there one that is not satisfied of his flesh; —

32 Foris non mansit peregrinus, ostium meum viatori patuit.

In the street a stranger had not to lodge; my doors I held open to the roadside;

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

If I covered up my transgressions like a common man, by hiding in my bosom my iniquity;

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

Because I dreaded the great multitude, or because the contempt of families did terrify me, so that I kept silence, and dared not to go out of the door; —

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

Oh who will bring me one that would hear me! behold, here is my plea; may the Almighty answer me; and any record which my opponent may have written, —

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

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

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

The number of my steps would I tell him: as [to] a prince would I go near unto him.—

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

If my land ever cried out because of me, or if its furrows wept together;

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

If I ever consumed its strength without payment, or caused the soul of its owners to grieve:

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

Then may instead of wheat, thorns come forth, and instead of barley, cockle. (Here end the words of Job.)