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