Job 31

¹I made a couenant with mine eyes: why then should I thinke on a mayde?

²For what portion should I haue of God from aboue? and what inheritance of the Almightie from on hie?

³Is not destruction to the wicked and strange punishment to the workers of iniquitie?

⁴Doeth not he beholde my wayes and tell all my steps?

⁵If I haue walked in vanitie, or if my foote hath made haste to deceite,

⁶Let God weigh me in the iust balance, and he shall know mine vprightnes.

⁷If my steppe hath turned out of the way, or mine heart hath walked after mine eye, or if any blot hath cleaued to mine handes,

⁸Let me sowe, and let another eate: yea, let my plantes be rooted out.

⁹If mine heart hath bene deceiued by a woman, or if I haue layde wayte at the doore of my neighbour,

¹⁰Let my wife grinde vnto another man, and let other men bow downe vpon her:

¹¹For this is a wickednes, and iniquitie to bee condemned:

¹²Yea, this is a fire that shall deuoure to destruction, and which shall roote out al mine increase,

¹³If I did contemne the iudgement of my seruant, and of my mayde, when they did contend with me,

¹⁴What then shall I do when God standeth vp? and when he shall visit me, what shall I answere?

¹⁵He that hath made me in the wombe, hath he not made him? hath not he alone facioned vs in the wombe?

¹⁶If I restrained the poore of their desire, or haue caused the eyes of the widow to faile,

¹⁷Or haue eaten my morsels alone, and the fatherles hath not eaten thereof,

¹⁸(For from my youth hee hath growen vp with me as with a father, and from my mothers wombe I haue bene a guide vnto her)

¹⁹If I haue seene any perish for want of clothing, or any poore without couering,

²⁰If his loynes haue not blessed me, because he was warmed with the fleece of my sheepe,

²¹If I haue lift vp mine hande against the fatherlesse, when I saw that I might helpe him in the gate,

²²Let mine arme fal from my shoulder, and mine arme be broken from the bone.

²³For Gods punishment was fearefull vnto me, and I could not be deliuered from his highnes.

²⁴If I made gold mine hope, or haue sayd to the wedge of golde, Thou art my confidence,

²⁵If I reioyced because my substance was great, or because mine hand had gotten much,

²⁶If I did behold the sunne, when it shined, or the moone, walking in her brightnes,

²⁷If mine heart did flatter me in secrete, or if my mouth did kisse mine hand,

²⁸(This also had bene an iniquitie to be condemned: for I had denied the God aboue)

²⁹If I reioyced at his destruction that hated me, or was mooued to ioye when euill came vpon him,

³⁰Neither haue I suffred my mouth to sinne, by wishing a curse vnto his soule.

³¹Did not the men of my Tabernacle say, Who shall giue vs of his flesh? we can not bee satisfied.

³²The stranger did not lodge in the streete, but I opened my doores vnto him, that went by the way.

³³If I haue hid my sinne, as Adam, concealing mine iniquitie in my bosome,

³⁴Though I could haue made afraid a great multitude, yet the most contemptible of the families did feare me: so I kept silence, and went not out of the doore.

³⁵Oh that I had some to heare me! beholde my signe that the Almightie will witnesse for me: though mine aduersary should write a booke against me,

³⁶Woulde not I take it vpon my shoulder, and binde it as a crowne vnto me?

³⁷I will tell him the nomber of my goings, and goe vnto him as to a prince.

³⁸If my lande cry against me, or the furrowes thereof complayne together,

³⁹If I haue eaten the fruites thereof without siluer: or if I haue grieued the soules of the masters thereof,

⁴⁰Let thistles growe in steade of wheate, and cockle in the stead of Barley. The wordes of Iob are ended.

Job 31

¹I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

²For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

³Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?

⁴Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?

⁵If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;

⁶Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.

⁷If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;

⁸Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.

⁹If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour’s door;

¹⁰Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.

¹¹For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.

¹²For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

¹³If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;

¹⁴What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?

¹⁵Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?

¹⁶If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

¹⁷Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;

¹⁸(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother’s womb;)

¹⁹If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;

²⁰If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

²¹If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:

²²Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.

²³For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.

²⁴If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;

²⁵If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;

²⁶If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;

²⁷And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:

²⁸This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.

²⁹If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:

³⁰Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.

³¹If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.

³²The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.

³³If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:

³⁴Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?

³⁵Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.

³⁶Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.

³⁷I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.

³⁸If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;

³⁹If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:

⁴⁰Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.