Chapter 31

I made¹ a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think¹¹³ upon a maid?

For what portion of God [is there] from above? and [what] inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

[Is] not destruction to the wicked? and a strange [punishment] to the workers⁶ of iniquity?

Doth not he see⁴ my ways, and count⁴ all my steps?

If I have walked¹ with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted⁴ to deceit;

Let me be weighed⁴ in an even balance, that God may know⁴ mine integrity.

If my step hath turned⁴ out of the way, and mine heart walked¹ after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved¹ to mine hands;

[Then] let me sow,⁴ and let another eat;⁴ yea, let my offspring be rooted out.²⁹

If mine heart have been deceived⁸ by a woman, or [if] I have laid wait¹ at my neighbour's door;

[Then] let my wife grind⁴ unto another, and let others bow down⁴ upon her.

For this [is] an heinous crime; yea, it [is] an iniquity [to be punished by] the judges.

For it [is] a fire [that] consumeth⁴ to destruction, and would root out¹⁷ all mine increase.

If I did despise⁴ the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;

What then shall I do⁴ when God riseth up?⁴ and when he visiteth,⁴ what shall I answer⁵⁵ him?

Did not he that made⁶ me in the womb make¹ him? and did not one fashion³⁴ us in the womb?

If I have withheld⁴ the poor from [their] desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;¹⁷

Or have eaten⁴ my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten¹ thereof;

(For from my youth he was brought up¹ with me, as [with] a father, and I have guided⁵⁵ her from my mother's womb;)

If I have seen⁴ any perish⁶ for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;

If his loins have not blessed¹⁴ me, and [if] he were [not] warmed¹⁰¹ with the fleece of my sheep;

If I have lifted up⁵² my hand against the fatherless, when I saw⁴ my help in the gate:

[Then] let mine arm fall⁴ from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken¹¹ from the bone.

For destruction [from] God [was] a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could⁴ not endure.

If I have made¹ gold my hope, or have said¹ to the fine gold, [Thou art] my confidence;

If I rejoiced⁴ because my wealth [was] great, and because mine hand had gotten¹ much;

If I beheld⁴ the sun when it shined,⁵⁵ or the moon walking⁶ [in] brightness;

And my heart hath been secretly enticed,⁴ or my mouth hath kissed⁴ my hand:

This also [were] an iniquity [to be punished by] the judge: for I should have denied¹⁴ the God [that is] above.

If I rejoiced⁴ at the destruction of him that hated¹⁸ me, or lifted up¹¹⁰ myself when evil found¹ him:

Neither have I suffered¹ my mouth to sin² by wishing² a curse to his soul.

If the men of my tabernacle said¹ not, Oh that⁴ we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.⁴

The stranger did not lodge⁴ in the street: [but] I opened⁴ my doors to the traveller.

If I covered¹⁴ my transgressions as Adam, by hiding² mine iniquity in my bosom:

Did I fear⁴ a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify⁵⁵ me, that I kept silence,⁴ [and] went not out⁴ of the door?

Oh that⁴ one would hear⁶ me! behold, my desire [is, that] the Almighty would answer⁴ me, and [that] mine adversary ⁷³⁷⁹ had written¹ a book.

Surely I would take⁴ it upon my shoulder, [and] bind⁴ it [as] a crown to me.

I would declare⁵⁵ unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near¹⁷ unto him.

If my land cry⁴ against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;⁴

If I have eaten¹ the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose⁵² their life:

Let thistles grow⁴ instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.¹