“1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a
maid? 2 For what portion of God [is there] from above? and [what]
inheritance of the Almighty from on high? 3 [Is] not destruction to the
wicked? and a strange [punishment] to the workers of iniquity? 4 Doth
not he see my ways, and count all my steps? 5 If I have walked with
vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; 6 Let me be weighed in an
even balance, that God may know mine integrity. 7 If my step hath turned
out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot
hath cleaved to mine hands; 8 [Then] let me sow, and let another eat;
yea, let my offspring be rooted out.”
“9 If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or [if] I have laid
wait at my neighbour’s door; 10 [Then] let my wife grind unto another,
and let others bow down upon her. 11 For this [is] an heinous crime;
yea, it [is] an iniquity [to be punished by] the judges. 12 For it [is]
a fire [that] consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine
increase. 13 If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my
maidservant, when they contended with me; 14 What then shall I do when
God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall 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 have caused
the eyes of the widow to fail; 17 Or have eaten my morsel myself alone,
and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof; 18 (For from my youth he was
brought up with me, as [with] a father, and I have guided her from my
mother’s womb;) 19 If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or
any poor without covering; 20 If his loins have not blessed me, and [if]
he were [not] warmed with the fleece of my sheep; 21 If I have lifted up
my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate: 22
[Then] let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken
from the bone. 23 For destruction [from] God [was] a terror to me, and
by reason of his highness I could not endure.”
“24 If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, [Thou
art] my confidence; 25 If I rejoiced because my wealth [was] great, and
because mine hand had gotten much; 26 If I beheld the sun when it
shined, or the moon walking [in] brightness; 27 And my heart hath been
secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand: 28 This also [were]
an iniquity [to be punished by] the judge: for I should have denied the
God [that is] above. 29 If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that
hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him: 30 Neither have I
suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul. 31 If the men
of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be
satisfied. 32 The stranger did not lodge in the street: [but] I opened
my doors to the traveller.”
“33 If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in
my bosom: 34 Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of
families terrify me, that I kept silence, [and] went not out of the
door? 35 Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire [is, that] the
Almighty would answer me, and [that] mine adversary had written a book.
36 Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, [and] bind it [as] a crown
to me. 37 I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince
would I go near unto him. 38 If my land cry against me, or that the
furrows likewise thereof complain; 39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof
without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life: 40
Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The
words of Job are ended.” (Job 31:1-40 AV)
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