Job 31

1 pepigi foedus cum oculis meis ut ne cogitarem quidem de virgine

I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then should I look with desire on a virgin?

2 quam enim partem haberet Deus in me desuper et hereditatem Omnipotens de excelsis

For what is the portion from God above, the inheritance from the Almighty on high?

3 numquid non perditio est iniquo et alienatio operantibus iniustitiam

I used to think that calamity is for unrighteous people, and that disaster is for doers of wickedness.

4 nonne ipse considerat vias meas et cunctos gressus meos dinumerat

Does not God see my ways and count all my steps?

5 si ambulavi in vanitate et festinavit in dolo pes meus

If I have walked with falsehood, if my foot has hurried to deceit,

6 adpendat me in statera iusta et sciat Deus simplicitatem meam

let me be weighed in an even balance so that God will 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 step has turned aside from the way, if my heart has gone after my eyes, if any spot has stuck to my hands,

8 seram et alius comedat et progenies mea eradicetur

then let me sow, and let another eat, and let my crops be uprooted.

9 si deceptum est cor meum super mulierem et si ad ostium amici mei insidiatus sum

If my heart has been deceived by a woman, if I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door,

10 scortum sit alteri uxor mea et super illam incurventur alii

then let my wife grind grain for another, and let others bow down on her.

11 hoc enim nefas est et iniquitas maxima

For that would be a terrible crime; indeed, it would be a crime to be punished by judges.

12 ignis est usque ad perditionem devorans et omnia eradicans genimina

For that is a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn all my harvest to the root.

13 si contempsi subire iudicium cum servo meo et ancillae meae cum disceptarent adversum me

If I ignored the plea for justice from my male or female servant when they argued with me,

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

what then would I do when God rises up to accuse me? When he comes to judge me, how would I answer him?

15 numquid non in utero fecit me qui et illum operatus est et formavit in vulva unus

Did the one who made me in the womb not make them also? Did not the same one mold us all in the womb?

16 si negavi quod volebant pauperibus et oculos viduae expectare feci

If I have withheld poor people from their desire, or if I have caused the eyes of the widow to grow dim from crying,

17 si comedi buccellam meam solus et non comedit pupillus ex ea

or if I have eaten my morsel alone and not allowed those without fathers to eat it also—

18 quia ab infantia mea crevit mecum miseratio et de utero matris meae egressa est mecum

because from my youth the orphan grew up with me as with a father, and I have guided his mother, a widow, from my own mother's womb.

19 si despexi pereuntem eo quod non habuerit indumentum et absque operimento pauperem

If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or if I have seen that a needy man had no clothing;

20 si non benedixerunt mihi latera eius et de velleribus ovium mearum calefactus est

if his heart has not blessed me because he has not been warmed with the wool 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 fatherless people because I saw my support in the city gate, then bring charges against me!

22 umerus meus a iunctura sua cadat et brachium meum cum suis ossibus confringatur

If I have done these things, then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder blade, and let my arm be broken from its joint.

23 semper enim quasi tumentes super me fluctus timui Deum et pondus eius ferre non potui

For I dreaded destruction from God; because of his majesty, I was not able to do those things.

24 si putavi aurum robur meum et obrizae dixi fiducia mea

If I have made gold my hope, and if I have said to fine gold, 'You are what I am confident in';

25 si laetatus sum super multis divitiis meis et quia plurima repperit manus mea

if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, because my hand had gotten many possessions, then bring charges against me!

26 si vidi solem cum fulgeret et lunam incedentem clare

If I have seen the sun when it shone, or the moon walking in its brightness,

27 et lactatum est in abscondito cor meum et osculatus sum manum meam ore meo

and if my heart has been secretly attracted, so that my mouth has kissed my hand in worship of them—

28 quae est iniquitas maxima et negatio contra Deum altissimum

this also would be a crime to be punished by judges, for I would 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 anyone who hated me or congratulated myself when disaster overtook him, then bring charges against me!

30 non enim dedi ad peccandum guttur meum ut expeterem maledicens animam eius

Indeed, I have not even allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse.

31 si non dixerunt viri tabernaculi mei quis det de carnibus eius ut saturemur

If the men of my tent have never said, 'Who can find one who has not been filled with Job's food?'

32 foris non mansit peregrinus ostium meum viatori patuit

(even the foreigner has never had to stay in the city square, because I have always opened my doors to the traveler), and if that is not so, then bring charges against me!

33 si abscondi quasi homo peccatum meum et celavi in sinu meo iniquitatem meam

If, like mankind, I have hidden my sins by hiding my guilt inside my tunic

34 si expavi ad multitudinem nimiam et despectio propinquorum terruit me et non magis tacui nec egressus sum ostium

(because I feared the great multitude, because the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silent and would not go outside), then bring charges against me!

35 quis mihi tribuat auditorem ut desiderium meum Omnipotens audiat et librum scribat ipse qui iudicat

Oh, if only I had someone to hear me! See, here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me! If only I had the indictment that my opponent has written!

36 ut in umero meo portem illum et circumdem illum quasi coronam mihi

Surely I would carry it openly on my shoulder; I would put it on like a crown.

37 per singulos gradus meos pronuntiabo illum et quasi principi offeram eum

I would declare to him an accounting for my steps; as a confident prince I would go up to him.

38 si adversum me terra mea clamat et cum ipsa sulci eius deflent

If my land ever cries out against me, and its furrows weep together,

39 si fructus eius comedi absque pecunia et animam agricolarum eius adflixi

if I have eaten its harvest without paying for it or have caused its owners to lose their lives,

40 pro frumento oriatur mihi tribulus et pro hordeo spina finita sunt verba Iob

then let thorns grow instead of wheat and weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are finished.