Job 31

1 I made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I look upon a maid? 2 For what reward would God [give me] from above and [what] inheritance of the Almighty from on high? 3 Is there no destruction for the wicked? And banishment for the workers of iniquity? 4 Does he not see my ways and count all my steps? 5 If I have walked with falsehood or if my foot has hastened to deceit, 6 let me be weighed in a just balance, that God may know my integrity. 7 If my step has turned out of the way and my heart walked after my eyes and if any blot has cleaved to my hands, 8 [then] let me sow, and let another eat, and let my offspring be rooted out. 9 If my heart has been deceived regarding a woman, or [if] I have laid in wait at my neighbour's door, 10 [then] let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down upon her. 11 For this is lewdness and iniquity that is proven. 12 For it [is] a fire [that] consumes unto Sheol and would root out all my increase. 13 If I had despised the right of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me; 14 what then would I do when God rises up? And when he visits, what would I answer him? 15 Did not he that made me in the belly [also] make him? And did not [the same] one fashion us in the womb? 16 If I have disturbed the desire of the poor or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail; 17 or have eaten my morsel alone and the fatherless has not eaten thereof; 18 (for from my youth the [fatherless] was brought up with me, as [with] a father, and I have guided the [widow] from my mother's womb) 19 if I have seen any perish for want of clothing or any needy without [a] 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, even when I saw that they would all help me in the gate; 22 [then] let my back fall from my shoulder blade, and my arm be broken from its joint. 23 For I feared destruction [from] God, against whose highness I could have no power. 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] being multiplied, and because my hand had gotten much; 26 if I beheld the sun when it shone or the moon walking [in] beauty; 27 and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth kissed my hand; 28 this would also be a proven iniquity; for I should have denied the God that is sovereign. 29 If I rejoiced at the destruction of the one that hated me or lifted up myself when evil found him; 30 for I have never even suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse upon his soul; 31 when the servants of my tent said, Oh that we had of his flesh! We would never 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 my iniquity in my bosom; 34 if I feared a great multitude or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, [and] did not go out of the door? 35 Oh that someone would hear me! Behold, my mark [is], [that] the Almighty will testify for me, even though my adversary had written down the charges. 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 I would go near unto him. 38 If my land cries against me and all its furrows likewise complain; 39 if I ate of its strength without money or have afflicted the soul of its owners; 40 let thistles grow up unto me instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.: