Job 31

I Made a Covenant with My Eyes

1“I made a covenant with my eyes;
how then could I gaze upon a young woman? 2For what is the portion from God above,
or the inheritance from the Almighty on high? 3Is not calamity for the unjust
and disaster for workers of harm? 4Does he not see my ways
and count all my steps?

Let God Weigh Me in Honest Scales

5If I have walked with falsehood
or my foot hurried toward deceit, 6let him weigh me in honest scales,
and let God know my integrity. 7If my step has turned from the way,
if my heart has gone after my eyes,
or if any stain has clung to my hands, 8then let me sow and another eat,
and let my crops be uprooted.

If My Heart Was Enticed by a Woman

9If my heart was enticed by a woman,
or I lay in wait at my neighbor’s door, 10then let my wife grind for another,
and let others bow down over her. 11For that would be a disgraceful thing;
it would be guilt for the judges. 12For it is a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon,
and it would uproot all my produce.

If I Rejected the Case of My Servants

13If I rejected the case of my male servant or my female servant
when they contended with me, 14what then would I do when God rises?
When he visits, what would I answer him? 15Did not the one who made me in the womb make him?
Did not one form us both in the womb?

If I Withheld from the Poor

16If I withheld the poor from their desire,
or caused the eyes of the widow to fail, 17or ate my morsel alone
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 the widow— 19if I saw anyone perishing for lack of clothing,
or a needy person without covering, 20if his loins did not bless me,
and he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep, 21if I raised my hand against the fatherless
because I saw my help in the gate, 22then let my shoulder fall from its socket,
and let my arm be broken from its joint. 23For calamity from God was terror to me,
and because of his majesty I could not do such things.

If I Made Gold My Confidence

24If I made gold my confidence
or said to fine gold, ‘You are my security,’ 25if I rejoiced because my wealth was great
and because my hand had found much, 26if I saw the sun when it shone
or the moon walking in splendor, 27and my heart was secretly enticed
and my hand kissed my mouth, 28this also would be guilt for the judges,
for I would have denied God above.

If I Rejoiced at My Enemy’s Ruin

29If I rejoiced at the ruin of the one who hated me
or exulted when evil found him— 30I have not allowed my mouth to sin
by asking for his life with a curse— 31if the men of my tent have not said,
‘Who has not been satisfied with his meat?’ 32The resident alien did not spend the night outside;
I opened my doors to the traveler.

If I Covered My Transgressions

33If I covered my transgressions like Adam,
hiding my guilt in my bosom, 34because I feared a great crowd
and the contempt of clans terrified me,
so that I kept silent
and did not go outside—

Let the Almighty Answer Me

35If only I had someone to hear me!
Look, here is my mark.
Let the Almighty answer me!
Let my accuser write the indictment! 36Surely I would carry it on my shoulder;
I would bind it upon myself like a crown. 37I would declare to him the number of my steps;
like a prince I would approach him.

If My Land Has Cried Out Against Me

38If my land has cried out against me
and its furrows have wept together, 39if I have eaten its strength without payment
or caused the life of its owners to breathe out, 40then let thorns grow instead of wheat,
and stinkweed instead of barley.”

The words of Job are ended.