Job 31 — ULB

31Verse 1I have made a covenant with my eyes;
how then should I look with desire on a virgin?
^{Verse 2}For what is the portion from God above,
the inheritance from the Almighty on high?
^{Verse 3}I used to think that calamity is for unrighteous people,
and that disaster is for doers of wickedness.
^{Verse 4}Does not God see my ways
and count all my steps?^{Verse 5}If I have walked with falsehood,
if my foot has hurried to deceit,
^{Verse 6}let me be weighed in an even balance
so that God will know my integrity.
^{Verse 7}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,
^{Verse 8}then let me sow, and let another eat,
and let my crops be uprooted.^{Verse 9}If my heart has been deceived by a woman,
if I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door,
^{Verse 10}then let my wife grind grain for another,
and let others bow down on her.
^{Verse 11}For that would be a terrible crime;
indeed, it would be a crime to be punished by judges.
^{Verse 12}For that is a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon,
and it would burn all my harvest to the root.
^{Verse 13}If I ignored the plea for justice from my male or female servant
when they argued with me,
^{Verse 14}what then would I do when God rises up to accuse me?
When he comes to judge me, how would I answer him?
^{Verse 15}Did the one who made me in the womb not make them also?
Did not the same one mold us all in the womb?^{Verse 16}If I have withheld poor people from their desire,
or if I have caused the eyes of the widow to grow dim from crying,
^{Verse 17}or if I have eaten my morsel alone
and not allowed those without fathers to eat it also—
^{Verse 18}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.
^{Verse 19}If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,
or if I have seen that a needy man had no clothing;
^{Verse 20}if his heart has not blessed me
because he has not been warmed with the wool of my sheep,
^{Verse 21}if I have lifted up my hand against fatherless people
because I saw my support in the city gate,
then bring charges against me!
^{Verse 22}If I have done these things, then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder blade,
and let my arm be broken from its joint.
^{Verse 23}For I dreaded destruction from God;
because of his majesty, I was not able to do those things.^{Verse 24}If I have made gold my hope,
and if I have said to fine gold, 'You are what I am confident in';
^{Verse 25}if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great,
because my hand had gotten many possessions,
then bring charges against me!
^{Verse 26}If I have seen the sun when it shone,
or the moon walking in its brightness,
^{Verse 27}and if my heart has been secretly attracted,
so that my mouth has kissed my hand in worship of them—
^{Verse 28}this also would be a crime to be punished by judges,
for I would have denied the God who is above.
^{Verse 29}If I have rejoiced at the destruction of anyone who hated me
or congratulated myself when disaster overtook him,
then bring charges against me!
^{Verse 30}Indeed, I have not even allowed my mouth to sin
by asking for his life with a curse.
^{Verse 31}If the men of my tent have never said,
'Who can find one who has not been filled with Job's food?'
^{Verse 32}(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!
^{Verse 33}If, like mankind, I have hidden my sins
by hiding my guilt inside my tunic
^{Verse 34}(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!
^{Verse 35}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!
^{Verse 36}Surely I would carry it openly on my shoulder;
I would put it on like a crown.
^{Verse 37}I would declare to him an accounting for my steps;
as a confident prince I would go up to him.
^{Verse 38}If my land ever cries out against me,
and its furrows weep together,
^{Verse 39}if I have eaten its harvest without paying for it
or have caused its owners to lose their lives,
^{Verse 40}then let thorns grow instead of wheat
and weeds instead of barley.”The words of Job are finished.