Job 31
1. I made * a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think * upon a maid?
2. For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
3. Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers * of iniquity?
4. Doth not he see * my ways, and count * all my steps?
5. If I have walked * with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted * to deceit;
6. Let me be weighed * in an even balance, that God may know * mine integrity.
7. If my step hath turned out * of the way, and mine heart walked * after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved * to mine hands;
8. Then let me sow * , and let another eat * ; yea, let my offspring be rooted out * .
9. If mine heart have been deceived * by a woman, or if I have laid wait * at my neighbour's door;
10. Then let my wife grind * unto another, and let others bow down * upon her.
11. For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.
12. For it is a fire that consumeth * to destruction, and would root out * all mine increase.
13. If I did despise * the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;
14. What then shall I do * when God riseth up * ? and when he visiteth * , what shall I answer * him?
15. Did not he that made * me in the womb make * him? and did not one fashion * us in the womb?
16. If I have withheld * the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail * ;
17. Or have eaten * my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten * thereof;
18. (For from my youth he was brought up * with me, as with a father, and I have guided * her from my mother's womb;)
19. If I have seen * any perish * for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;
20. If his loins have not blessed * me, and if he were not warmed * with the fleece of my sheep;
21. If I have lifted up * my hand against the fatherless, when I saw * my help in the gate:
22. Then let mine arm fall * from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken * from the bone.
23. For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could * not endure.
24. If I have made * gold my hope,or have said * to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;
25. If I rejoiced * because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten * much;
26. If I beheld * the sun when it shined * , or the moon walking * in brightness;
27. And my heart hath been secretly enticed * , or my mouth hath kissed * my hand:
28. This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied * the God that is above.
29. If I rejoiced * at the destruction of him that hated * me, or lifted up * myself when evil found * him:
30. Neither have I suffered * my mouth to sin * by wishing * a curse to his soul.
31. If the men of my tabernacle said * not, Oh that we had * of his flesh ! we cannot be satisfied * .
32. The stranger did not lodge * in the street: but I opened * my doors to the traveller.
33. If I covered * my transgressions as Adam, by hiding * mine iniquity in my bosom:
34. Did I fear * a great multitude,or did the contempt of families terrify * me, that I kept silence * , and went not out * of the door?
35. Oh that * one would hear * me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer * me, and that mine adversary had written * a book.
36. Surely I would take * it upon my shoulder, and bind * it as a crown to me.
37. I would declare * unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near * unto him.
38. If my land cry * against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain * ;
39. If I have eaten * the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose * their life:
40. Let thistles grow * instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended * .
