Job 31

1 "I made a covenant with my eyes
not to look lustfully at a young woman.

2 For what is our lot from God above,
our heritage from the Almighty on high?

3 Is it not ruin for the wicked,
disaster for those who do wrong?

4 Does he not see my ways
and count my every step?

5 "If I have walked with falsehood
or my foot has hurried after deceit—

6 let God weigh me in honest scales
and he will know that I am blameless—

7 if my steps have turned from the path,
if my heart has been led by my eyes,
or if my hands have been defiled,

8 then may others eat what I have sown,
and may my crops be uprooted.

9 "If my heart has been enticed by a woman,
or if I have lurked at my neighbor's door,

10 then may my wife grind another man's grain,
and may other men sleep with her.

11 For that would have been wicked,
a sin to be judged.

12 It is a fire that burns to Destructiont;
it would have uprooted my harvest.

13 "If I have denied justice to any of my servants,
whether male or female,
when they had a grievance against me,

14 what will I do when God confronts me?
What will I answer when called to account?

15 Did not he who made me in the womb make them?
Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?

16 "If I have denied the desires of the poor
or let the eyes of the widow grow weary,

17 if I have kept my bread to myself,
not sharing it with the fatherless—

18 but from my youth I reared them as a father would,
and from my birth I guided the widow—

19 if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing,
or the needy without garments,

20 and their hearts did not bless me
for warming them with the fleece from my sheep,

21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless,
knowing that I had influence in court,

22 then let my arm fall from the shoulder,
let it be broken off at the joint.

23 For I dreaded destruction from God,
and for fear of his splendor I could not do such things.

24 "If I have put my trust in gold
or said to pure gold, 'You are my security,'

25 if I have rejoiced over my great wealth,
the fortune my hands had gained,

26 if I have regarded the sun in its radiance
or the moon moving in splendor,

27 so that my heart was secretly enticed
and my hand offered them a kiss of homage,

28 then these also would be sins to be judged,
for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.

29 "If I have rejoiced at my enemy's misfortune
or gloated over the trouble that came to him—

30 I have not allowed my mouth to sin
by invoking a curse against their life—

31 if those of my household have never said,
'Who has not been filled with Job's meat?'—

32 but no stranger had to spend the night in the street,
for my door was always open to the traveler—

33 if I have concealed my sin as people do,t
by hiding my guilt in my heart

34 because I so feared the crowd
and so dreaded the contempt of the clans
that I kept silent and would not go outside—

35 ("Oh, that I had someone to hear me!
I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me;
let my accuser put his indictment in writing.

36 Surely I would wear it on my shoulder,
I would put it on like a crown.

37 I would give him an account of my every step;
I would present it to him as to a ruler.)—

38 "if my land cries out against me
and all its furrows are wet with tears,

39 if I have devoured its yield without payment
or broken the spirit of its tenants,

40 then let briers come up instead of wheat
and stinkweed instead of barley."
The words of Job are ended.

Job 31

Job Asserts His Integrity

1 "I have made a covenant with my eyes;
How then could I gaze at a virgin?

2 "And what is the portion of God from above
Or the heritage of the Almighty from on high?

3 "Is it not calamity to the unjust
And disaster to those who work iniquity?

4 "Does He not see my ways
And number all my steps?

5 "If I have walked with falsehood,
And my foot has hastened after deceit,

6 Let Him weigh me with accurate scales,
And let God know my integrity.

7 "If my step has turned from the way,
Or my heart followed my eyes,
Or if any spot has stuck to my hands,

8 Let me sow and another eat,
And let my crops be uprooted.

9 "If my heart has been enticed by a woman,
Or I have lurked at my neighbor's doorway,

10 May my wife grind for another,
And let others kneel down over her.

11 "For that would be a lustful crime;
Moreover, it would be an iniquity punishable by judges.

12 "For it would be fire that consumes to Abaddon,
And would uproot all my increase.

13 "If I have despised the claim of my male or female slaves
When they filed a complaint against me,

14 What then could I do when God arises?
And when He calls me to account, what will I answer Him?

15 "Did not He who made me in the womb make him,
And the same one fashion us in the womb?

16 "If I have kept the poor from their desire,
Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

17 Or have eaten my morsel alone,
And the orphan has not shared it

18 (But from my youth he grew up with me as with a father,
And from infancy I guided her),

19 If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,
Or that the needy had no covering,

20 If his loins have not thanked me,
And if he has not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep,

21 If I have lifted up my hand against the orphan,
Because I saw I had support in the gate,

22 Let my shoulder fall from the socket,
And my arm be broken off at the elbow.

23 "For calamity from God is a terror to me,
And because of His majesty I can do nothing.

24 "If I have put my confidence in gold,
And called fine gold my trust,

25 If I have gloated because my wealth was great,
And because my hand had secured so much;

26 If I have looked at the sun when it shone
Or the moon going in splendor,

27 And my heart became secretly enticed,
And my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,

28 That too would have been an iniquity calling for judgment,
For I would have denied God above.

29 "Have I rejoiced at the extinction of my enemy,
Or exulted when evil befell him?

30 "No, I have not allowed my mouth to sin
By asking for his life in a curse.

31 "Have the men of my tent not said,
'Who can find one who has not been satisfied with his meat'?

32 "The alien has not lodged outside,
For I have opened my doors to the traveler.

33 "Have I covered my transgressions like Adam,
By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,

34 Because I feared the great multitude,
And the contempt of families terrified me,
And kept silent and did not go out of doors?

35 "Oh that I had one to hear me!
Behold, here is my signature;
Let the Almighty answer me!
And the indictment which my adversary has written,

36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder,
I would bind it to myself like a crown.

37 "I would declare to Him the number of my steps;
Like a prince I would approach Him.

38 "If my land cries out against me,
And its furrows weep together;

39 If I have eaten its fruit without money,
Or have caused its owners to lose their lives,

40 Let briars grow instead of wheat,
And stinkweed instead of barley."
The words of Job are ended.