Job 31

1I have made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I gaze at a virgin?

2And what portion is from God above, and what inheritance from the Almighty on high?

3Is not disaster for the unjust, and calamity for those who do evil?

4Does he not see my ways and count all my steps?

5If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot has hurried toward deceit—

6Let him weigh me with honest scales, and let God know my integrity.

7if my step has turned aside from the way, and my heart has followed my eyes, and any stain has clung to my hands,

8then let me sow and another eat, and let my offspring be uprooted.

9If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door,

10then let my wife grind for another man, and let other men lie with her.

11For that is a disgraceful act, and it is an offense punishable by judges.

12For it is a fire that devours as far as destruction, and it would uproot all my produce.

13If I have rejected the case of my male servant or my female servant when they brought a complaint against me,

14And what would I do when God rises up? And when he calls me to account, what would I answer him?

15Did not he who made me in the womb make him, and did not one form us in the womb?

16If I have denied the poor what they desired, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

17if I ate my morsel by myself, and the fatherless did not eat from it—

18for from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided her.

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

20if his loins have not blessed me, and if he was not warmed by the fleece of my sheep—

21if I have raised my hand against the fatherless because I saw that I had support in the gate—

22then let my shoulder fall from its socket, and let my arm be broken from its bone.

23For calamity from God was a terror to me, and because of his majesty I was powerless.

24If I have made gold my confidence, and said to fine gold, ‘You are my security,’

25if I rejoiced because my wealth was abundant, and because my hand had gained much—

26if I looked at the light when it shone, or at the moon moving in splendor,

27and my heart was secretly enticed, and my hand kissed my mouth—

28this too would be an offense punishable by judges, for I would have been false to God above.

29If I rejoiced at the ruin of the one who hates me, and exulted when harm found him—

30I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse.

31surely the men of my tent have said, “Who has not eaten his fill of Job’s meat?”

32The sojourner did not spend the night outside; I opened my doors to the traveler.

33if I have covered my transgressions like a man, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom—

34because I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of clans terrified me, so that I kept silent and did not go out the door—

35Oh, that I had someone to hear me! Here is my mark; let the Almighty answer me, and let my accuser write out the indictment.

36Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would wear it like a crown.

37I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him.

38If my land cries out against me, and its furrows weep together,

39if I have eaten its produce without payment, or caused its owners to breathe their last—

40Instead of wheat, let thorns come up, and instead of barley, foul weeds. The words of Job are ended.