Job 31

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

I made a covenant with mine eyes; How then could I gaze upon a maid?

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

For what is the portion appointed by God from above, And the inheritance allotted by the Almighty from on high?

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

Is not destruction for the wicked, And ruin for the workers of iniquity?

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

Doth He not see my ways, And number all my steps?

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

If I have walked with falsehood, And if my foot hath hasted to deceit,

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

Let him weigh me in an even balance; Yea, let God know 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 steps have turned aside from the way, And my heart gone after mine eyes, Or if any stain hath cleaved to my hand,

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

Then I may sow, and another eat; And what I plant, may it be rooted up!

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

If my heart hath been enticed by a woman, Or if I have watched at my neighbor's door,

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

Then let my wife grind for another, And let other men lie with her!

11 Hoc enim nefas est, et iniquitas maxima.

For this were a heinous crime, Even a transgression to be punished by the judges;

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

Yea, it were a fire that would consume to destruction, And root out all my increase.

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

If I have refused justice to my man-servant or maid-servant, When they had a controversy with me,

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

Then what 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? Did not one fashion us in the womb?

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

If I have refused the poor their desire, And caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

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

If I have eaten my morsel alone, And the fatherless hath not partaken of it;

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

(Nay, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And I have helped the widow from my mother's womb; )

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

If I have seen any one perishing for want of clothing, Or any poor man without covering;

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

If his loins have not blessed me, And 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 shaken 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 may my shoulder fill from its blade, And my fore-arm be broken from its bone!

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

For destruction from God was a terror to me, And before his majesty I could do nothing.

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

If I have made gold my trust, Or said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;

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

If I have rejoiced, because my wealth was great, And my hand had found abundance;

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

If I have beheld the sun in his splendor, Or the moon advancing in brightness,

27 Et laetatum 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 Quae est iniquitas maxima, et negatio contra Deum altissimum.

This also were a crime to be punished by the judge; For I should have denied the God who is above.

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

If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, And exulted when evil came upon him;

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

(Nay, I have not suffered my mouth to sin, By asking with curses his life; )

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

If the men of my tent have not exclaimed, “Who is there 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; I opened my doors to the traveller.

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

Have I, after the manner of men, hidden my transgression, Concealing my iniquity in my bosom,

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

Then let me be confounded before the great multitude! Let the contempt of families cover me with shame! Yea, let me keep silence! let me never appear abroad!

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

O that there were one who would hear me! Behold my signature! let the Almighty answer me. And let mine adversary write down his charge!

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

Truly I would wear it upon my shoulder; I would bind it upon me as a crown.

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

I would disclose to him all my steps; I would approach him like a prince.

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

If my land cry out against me, And its furrows bewail together;

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

If I have eaten of its fruits without payment, And wrung out the life of its owners,

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

Let thorns grow up instead of wheat, And noxious weeds instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.