Job 31 — DBY

31Verse 1I made a covenant with mine eyes; and how should I fix my regard upon a maid?^{Verse 2}For what would have been [my] portion of⁺God from above, and what the heritage of the Almighty from on high?^{Verse 3}Is not calamity for the unrighteous? and misfortune for the workers of iniquity?^{Verse 4}Doth not he see my ways, and number all my steps?^{Verse 5}If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot hath hasted to deceit,^{Verse 6}(Let me be weighed in an even balance, and⁺God will take knowledge of my blamelessness;)^{Verse 7}If my step have turned out of the way, and my heart followed mine eyes, and if any blot cleaveth to my hands;^{Verse 8}Let me sow, and another eat; and let mine offspring be rooted out.^{Verse 9}If my heart have been enticed unto a woman, so that I laid wait at my neighbour's door,^{Verse 10}Let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down upon her.^{Verse 11}For this is an infamy; yea, it is an iniquity [to be judged by] the judges:^{Verse 12}For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.^{Verse 13}If I have despised the cause of my bondman or of my bondmaid, when they contended with me,^{Verse 14}What then should I do when^*God riseth up? and if he visited, what should I answer him?^{Verse 15}Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not One fashion us in the womb?^{Verse 16}If I have withheld the poor from [their] desire, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail;^{Verse 17}Or have eaten my morsel alone, so that the fatherless ate not thereof,^{Verse 18}(For from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and I have guided the [widow] from my mother's womb;)^{Verse 19}If I have seen any perishing for want of clothing, or any needy without covering;^{Verse 20}If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my lambs;^{Verse 21}If I have lifted up my hand against an orphan, because I saw my help in the gate:^{Verse 22}[Then] let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone!^{Verse 23}For calamity from^*God was a terror to me, and by reason of his excellency I was powerless.^{Verse 24}If I have made gold my hope, or said to the fine gold, My confidence!^{Verse 25}If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much;^{Verse 26}If I beheld the sun when it shone, or the moon walking in brightness,^{Verse 27}And my heart have been secretly enticed, so that my mouth kissed my hand:^{Verse 28}This also would be an iniquity for the judge, for I should have denied the^*God who is above.^{Verse 29}If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, and exulted when evil befell him;^{Verse 30}(Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by asking his life with a curse;)^{Verse 31}If the men of my tent said not, Who shall find one that hath not been satisfied with his meat? —^{Verse 32}The stranger did not lodge without; I opened my doors to the pathway.^{Verse 33}If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom,^{Verse 34}Because I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and went not out of the door, ...^{Verse 35}Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold my signature: let the Almighty answer me! And let mine opponent write an accusation!^{Verse 36}Would I not take it upon my shoulder? I would bind it on to me [as] a crown;^{Verse 37}I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I come near to him.^{Verse 38}If my land cry out against me, and its furrows weep together;^{Verse 39}If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have tormented to death the souls of its owners:^{Verse 40}Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and tares instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.