1
I made a covenant with mine eyes; and how should I fix my regard upon a maid?
2
For what would have been [my] portion of +God from above, and what the heritage of the Almighty from on high?
3
Is not calamity for the unrighteous? and misfortune for the workers of iniquity?
4
Doth not he see my ways, and number all my steps?
5
If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot hath hasted to deceit,
6
(Let me be weighed in an even balance, and +God will take knowledge of my blamelessness;)
7
If my step have turned out of the way, and my heart followed mine eyes, and if any blot cleaveth to my hands;
8
Let me sow, and another eat; and let mine offspring be rooted out.
9
If my heart have been enticed unto a woman, so that I laid wait at my neighbour's door,
10
Let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down upon her.
11
For this is an infamy; yea, it is an iniquity [to be judged by] the judges:
12
For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.
13
If I have despised the cause of my bondman or of my bondmaid, when they contended with me,
14
What then should I do when ùGod riseth up? and if he visited, what should I answer him?
15
Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not One fashion us in the womb?
16
If I have withheld the poor from [their] desire, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
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Or have eaten my morsel alone, so that the fatherless ate not thereof,
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(For from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and I have guided the [widow] from my mother's womb;)
19
If I have seen any perishing for want of clothing, or any needy without covering;
20
If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my lambs;
21
If I have lifted up my hand against an orphan, because I saw my help in the gate:
22
[Then] let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone!
23
For calamity from ùGod was a terror to me, and by reason of his excellency I was powerless.
24
If I have made gold my hope, or said to the fine gold, My confidence!
25
If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much;
26
If I beheld the sun when it shone, or the moon walking in brightness,
27
And my heart have been secretly enticed, so that my mouth kissed my hand:
28
This also would be an iniquity for the judge, for I should have denied the ùGod who is above.
29
If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, and exulted when evil befell him;
30
(Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by asking his life with a curse;)
31
If the men of my tent said not, Who shall find one that hath not been satisfied with his meat? --
32
The stranger did not lodge without; I opened my doors to the pathway.
33
If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom,
34
Because I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and went not out of the door, ...
35
Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold my signature: let the Almighty answer me! And let mine opponent write an accusation!
36
Would I not take it upon my shoulder? I would bind it on to me [as] a crown;
37
I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I come near to him.
38
If my land cry out against me, and its furrows weep together;
39
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have tormented to death the souls of its owners:
40
Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and tares instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.