31
1 A covenant had I made with my eyes: how then should I fix my look on a virgin? 2 And what then would have been my portion of God from above? and what lot of the Almighty from on high? 3 Is not calamity [ready] for the unjust? and misfortune for the wrong-doers? 4 Behold, he truly seeth my ways, and numbereth all my steps; 5 [And knoweth] whether I have walked with vain desires, or if my foot hath hastened after deceit. 6 Let him weigh me then in a righteous balance, and let God acknowledge my integrity, 7 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 Then let me sow, and let another eat; and let what I have growing be rooted out. 9 If my heart have been beguiled toward a woman, or if I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door: 10 Then may my wife labor at the mill for another, and may strangers ill-use her; 11 For this would be incest; yea, it would be an iniquity [to be punished by] the judges; 12 For it would be a fire that consumeth down to the place of corruption, and would root out all my products. 13 If ever I cast aside the justice due to my man-servant and my maid-servant, when they contended with me: 14 What then could I do when God should rise up? and when he should investigate, what could I answer him? 15 Did not he that made me make him born or a woman? and did not the same one fashion us in the womb? 16 If ever I denied the wish of the indigent, or ever allowed the eyes of the widow to fall [in vain hopes]; 17 Or if ever I ate my bread by myself alone, and the fatherless did not eat thereof; 18 (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 If ever I saw any one perishing for want of clothing, or the needy without covering: 20 If his loins have not blessed me, and if he have not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep; 21 If I have swung my hand against the fatherless, because I saw in the gate those that would help me: 22 Then may my shoulder fall from my shoulder-blade, and my arm be broken from the channel-bone; 23 For dreaded by me was the calamitous punishment of God, and against his highness I can accomplish nothing. 24 If I have made gold my confidence, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my trust: 25 If ever I rejoiced because my wealth was abundant, and because my hand had gotten much; 26 If ever I looked at the light [of the sun] when he shone brightly and on the moon walking in splendor: 27 And my heart became misled in secret, and my hand kissed my mouth: 28 This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge; for thus would I have denied the God that is above. 29 If ever I rejoiced at the downfall of him that hated me, or was elated when evil befell him;— 30 But I suffered not my mouth to sin by denouncing with a curse his soul:— 31 If the men of my tent said not, Oh is there one that is not satisfied of his flesh;— 32 In the street a stranger had not to lodge; my doors I held open to the roadside; 33 If I covered up my transgressions like a common man, by hiding in my bosom my iniquity; 34 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 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 Surely upon my shoulder would I carry it: I would bind it as a crown unto me. 37 The number of my steps would I tell him: as [to] a prince would I go near unto him.— 38 If my land ever cried out because of me, or if its furrows wept together; 39 If I ever consumed its strength without payment, or caused the soul of its owners to grieve: 40 Then may instead of wheat, thorns come forth, and instead of barley, cockle. (Here end the words of Job.)