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 Deus in me 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 adpendat 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 secutum est oculos meos cor meum et in manibus meis adhesit 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 mulierem 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 sit alteri 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 ancillae meae 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 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 umerus 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 obrizae 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 repperit 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 lactatum 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 Omnipotens audiat 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 umero 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 pronuntiabo 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 adflixi

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 finita sunt verba Iob

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