Job 31 · איוב

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

For what would be my portion from God above, and my heritage from the Almighty on high?

Is not destruction due to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?

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

If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;

let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know my integrity.

If my step has turned out of the way, and my heart walked after my eyes, and if anything has cleaved to my hands;

then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.

If my heart has been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour’s door;

then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down upon her.

For that would be a heinous crime; yea, it would be iniquity to be punished by the judges.

For it is a fire that consumes to Avaddon, and would root out all my increase.

If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;

what then shall I do when God rises up? and when he remembers, what shall I answer him?

Did not he who made me in the belly make him? and did not the same one fashion us in the womb?

If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless have not eaten thereof;

(for from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother’s womb;)

if I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;

if his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, even though I saw my help in the gate:

then let my arm fall from my shoulder blade, and my arm be broken from the bone.

For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his majesty I could do nothing.

If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;

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

if I beheld the sun when it shone, or the moon walking in brightness;

and my heart had been secretly enticed, or my mouth had kissed my hand:

this also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges: for I should have betrayed the God that is above.

Did I rejoice at the destruction of him who hates me, or did I exult when evil found him?

Indeed I have not suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.

Have not the men of my tent said, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied?

But the stranger did not lodge in the street: I opened my doors to the traveller.

Have I covered my transgressions like Adam, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom?

Did I fear the great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me? but I kept silence, and went not out of the door.

Oh that one would hear me! here is my mark, let the Almighty answer me! and would that my adversary would pen his writ!

Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.

I would declare to him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near to him.

If my land cry against me, or its furrows complain together;

if I have eaten its fruits without money, or have caused its owners to sigh:

let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Iyyov are ended.