31:1 "I made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I look upon a virgin? |
31:2 For what is the portion from God above? And what is the inheritance of the Almighty from on high? |
31:3 Is not destruction for the wicked, and calamity to the workers of iniquity? |
31:4 Does He not see my ways, and count all my steps? |
31:5 If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot has hurried to deceit, |
31:6 Let me be weighed in an even balance so that God may know that I am blameless. |
31:7 If my step has turned out of the way, or my heart has walked after my eyes, and if any spot has cleaved to my hands; |
31:8 Then let me sow, and let another eat; and let my harvests be rooted out. |
31:9 If my heart has been enticed by a woman, or I have laid wait at my neighbor's door, |
31:10 Then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down upon her. |
31:11 For that would be a heinous crime; yea, it would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges. |
31:12 For it is a fire that devours to destruction, and it would root out all my increase. |
31:13 If I despised the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they complained against me; |
31:14 What then shall I do when God rises up? And when He calls me to account, what shall I answer Him? |
31:15 Did not He who made me in the womb make him also? And did not one fashion us in the womb? |
31:16 If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, |
31:17 Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it— |
31:18 For from my youth he grew up with me, as with a father, and from infancy I guided her— |
31:19 If I have seen any perish for lack of clothing, or there was no covering for the needy; |
31:20 If his loins have not blessed me, and he warmed himself with the fleece of my sheep; |
31:21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless when I watched over my help in the gate; |
31:22 Then let my arm fall from the shoulder blade, and let my arm be broken from the elbow. |
31:23 For calamity from God is a terror to me, and by reason of His majesty I could do nothing. |
31:24 If I have made gold my hope, or have called fine gold my confidence; |
31:25 If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much; |
31:26 If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness, |
31:27 And my heart has been secretly enticed, or my mouth has kissed my hand; |
31:28 This also would be an iniquity for the judges to punish; for I would have lied to God who is above. |
31:29 If I rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, or exulted myself when evil found him; |
31:30 Verily I have not allowed my mouth to sin by wishing for a curse on his life; |
31:31 If the men of my tabernacle did not say, 'Who can find one who has not been satisfied with his meat?' |
31:32 The stranger did not sleep in the street, for I opened my doors to the traveler. |
31:33 If I covered my transgressions like Adam, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom, |
31:34 Then let me tremble before a great multitude, and be terrified by the scorn of families; and I will be silent and not go out the door. |
31:35 Oh, that I had one to hear me! Behold, my desire is that the Almighty would answer me, and the indictment that my adversary had written. |
31:36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder, and bind it like a crown upon my head. |
31:37 I would declare to Him the number of my steps; like a prince I would come before Him. |
31:38 If my land cry against me, or its furrows weep together; |
31:39 If I have eaten its strength without paying for it, or have caused its owners to lose their life, |
31:40 Let thorns come forth instead of wheat, and weeds instead of barley." The words of Job are ended. |