Job 31 Job Declares His Integrity in His Duties

 Job 31

Job Declares His Integrity in His Duties

1 I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then should I look upon a virgin?

2 For what is the portion of God from above, or the inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

3 Is not destruction to the wicked, and destruction to those who do iniquity?

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

5 If I have walked in vanity, and if my foot has hastened to deceit,

6 (Let him weigh me in the balances of truth, and God will know my integrity);

7 If my steps have turned out of the way, and if my heart has followed my eyes, and if anything has taken hold of my hands,

8 Then let me sow, and another eat, and let my offspring be plucked up by the roots.

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

10 then let my wife be crushed for another, and let others bow down over her. 

11 For that would be an infamous thing, and an offense to be dealt with by the judges. 

12 For it is a fire that consumes to destruction, and it would destroy all my income. 

13 If I have despised the right of my manservant or my maidservant when they contended with me, 

14 then what should I do when God arises? And when he inquires into the matter, what should I answer him? 

15 Did not he who formed me in the womb make them? Or did he not also form us in the womb? 

16 If I have withheld what the poor desired, or caused the widow's eyes to fail; 

17 Or have I eaten only my morsel, and the fatherless has not eaten thereof;

18 (For from my youth he grew up with me, as with his father; and I have guided him from my mother's womb);

19 If I have seen any perish for lack of clothing, and the needy for lack of covering;

20 If his loins have not blessed me, if he has not been warmed with the skins of my lambs;

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

22 Then my shoulder shall fall from my shoulder, and my arm shall be broken from the bone.

23 For the chastening of God was a terror to me, and I could not bear its greatness.

24 If I have put my hope in gold, or said to fine gold, "You are my trust;" 

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

26 If I looked at the sun when it shone, or at the moon when it walked in glory, 

27 And my heart was deceived in secret, and my mouth kissed my hand; 

28 This also would be an offense to the judge, for thus I would deny God who is above. 

29 If I rejoiced at the misfortune of him who hated me, or if I rejoiced when evil found him; 

30 (I also did not let my palate sin, wishing his death with a curse); 

31 If the people of my tent did not say, "Ah, who has not been satisfied with his meat!" 

32 The stranger did not spend the night in the street; I opened my gates to the traveler; 

33 If, like Adam, I covered my transgressions, hiding my sin in my bosom;

 34 Let me tremble before a great multitude, and let the contempt of families terrify me, and let me be silent, and not go out of the door.

35 Oh, that one might hear me! Behold, my purpose is that the Almighty would answer me, and that my adversary would write a book.

36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder, I would bind it upon me as a crown.

37 I would show him the number of my steps; I would come to him as a prince.

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

39 If I have eaten its increase without money, and choked the soul of its owners.

40 Let thistles bring forth instead of wheat, and tares instead of barley. The words of Job are finished.