[1] "I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I look upon a
virgin? [2] What would be my portion from God above, and my heritage from
the Almighty on high? [3] Does not calamity befall the unrighteous, and
disaster the workers of iniquity? [4] Does not he see my ways, and number
all my steps? [5] "If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot has
hastened to deceit; [6] (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God
know my integrity!) [7] if my step has turned aside from the way, and my
heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has cleaved to my hands; [8]
then let me sow, and another eat; and let what grows for me be rooted out.
[9] "If my heart has been enticed to a woman, and I have lain in wait at my
neighbor's door; [10] then let my wife grind for another, and let others
bow down upon her. [11] For that would be a heinous crime; that would be an
iniquity to be punished by the judges; [12] for that would be a fire which
consumes unto Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase. [13]
"If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they
brought a complaint against me; [14] what then shall I do when God rises
up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him? [15] Did not he who
made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb? [16]
"If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes
of the widow to fail, [17] or have eaten my morsel alone, and the
fatherless has not eaten of it [18] (for from his youth I reared him as a
father, and from his mother's womb I guided him); [19] if I have seen any
one perish for lack of clothing, or a poor man without covering; [20] if
his loins have not blessed me, and if he was not warmed with the fleece of
my sheep; [21] if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, because I
saw help in the gate; [22] then let my shoulder blade fall from my
shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket. [23] For I was in
terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty. [24]
"If I have made gold my trust, or called fine gold my confidence; [25] if I
have rejoiced because my wealth was great, or because my hand had gotten
much; [26] if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in
splendor, [27] and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has
kissed my hand; [28] this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the
judges, for I should have been false to God above. [29] "If I have rejoiced
at the ruin of him that hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him [30] (I
have not let my mouth sin by asking for his life with a curse); [31] if the
men of my tent have not said, `ho is there that has not been filled with
his meat?' [32] (the sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened
my doors to the wayfarer); [33] if I have concealed my transgressions from
men, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom, [34] because I stood in great fear
of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept
silence, and did not go out of doors-- [35] Oh, that I had one to hear me!
(Here is my signature! let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the
indictment written by my adversary! [36] Surely I would carry it on my
shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown; [37] I would give him an
account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him. [38] "If my
land has cried out against me, and its furrows have wept together; [39] if
I have eaten its yield without payment, and caused the death of its owners;
[40] let thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley."
The words of Job are ended.