[1] "I made a covenant with my eyes, How then should I look lustfully at
a young woman? [2] For what is the portion from God above, And the
heritage from the Almighty on high? [3] Is it not calamity to the
unrighteous, And disaster to the workers of iniquity? [4] Doesn`t he see
my ways, And number all my steps? [5] "If I have walked with falsehood,
And my foot has hurried to deceit [6] (Let me be weighed in an even
balance, That God may know my integrity); [7] If my step has turned out
of the way, If my heart walked after my eyes, If any defilement has
stuck to my hands, [8] Then let me sow, and let another eat; Yes, let
the produce of my field be rooted out. [9] "If my heart has been enticed to
a woman, And I have laid wait at my neighbor`s door; [10] Then let my
wife grind for another, And let others sleep with her. [11] For that
would be a heinous crime; Yes, it would be an iniquity to be punished by
the judges: [12] For it is a fire that consumes to destruction, And
would root out all my increase. [13] "If I have despised the cause of my
man-servant Or of my maid-servant, When they contended with me; [14]
What then shall I do when God rises up? When he visits, what shall I
answer him? [15] Didn`t he who made me in the womb make him? Didn`t one
fashion us in the womb? [16] "If I have withheld the poor from their
desire, 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] (No, from
my youth he grew up with me as with a father, Her have I guided from my
mother`s womb); [19] If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, Or
that the needy had no covering; [20] If his heart hasn`t blessed me, If
he hasn`t been warmed with my sheep`s fleece; [21] If I have lifted up my
hand against the fatherless, Because I saw my help in the gate: [22]
Then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, And my arm be broken
from the bone. [23] For calamity from God is a terror to me, By reason
of his majesty I can do nothing. [24] "If I have made gold my hope, And
have said to the fine gold, `You are my confidence;` [25] If I have
rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gotten
much; [26] If I have seen the sun when it shined, Or the moon moving in
splendor, [27] And my heart has been secretly enticed, My hand threw a
kiss from my mouth: [28] This also would be an iniquity to be punished by
the judges; For I should have denied the God who is above. [29] "If I
have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, Or lifted up
myself when evil found him; [30] (Yes, I have not allowed my mouth to sin
By asking his life with a curse); [31] If the men of my tent have not
said, `Who can find one who has not been filled with his meat?` [32]
(The sojourner has not lodged in the street; But I have opened my doors
to the traveler); [33] If like Adam I have covered my transgressions, By
hiding my iniquity in my heart, [34] Because I feared the great multitude,
And the contempt of families terrified me, So that I kept silence, and
didn`t go out of the door-- [35] Oh that I had one to hear me! (Behold,
here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me); Let the accuser write
my indictment! [36] Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; And I would
bind it to me as a crown. [37] I would declare to him the number of my
steps. As a prince would I go near to him. [38] If my land cries out
against me, And the furrows of it weep together; [39] If I have eaten
the fruits of it without money, Or have caused the owners of it to lose
their life: [40] Let briars grow instead of wheat, And stinkweed instead
of barley." The words of Job are ended.
