|
I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? (31:1) For what portion of God [is there] from above? and [what] inheritance of the Almighty from on high? (31:2) [Is] not destruction to the wicked? and a strange [punishment] to the workers of iniquity? (31:3) Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? (31:4) If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; (31:5) Let me be weighed in an even balance that God may know mine integrity (31:6) 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; (31:7) [Then] let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out (31:8) If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or [if] I have laid wait at my neighbour's door; (31:9) [Then] let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her (31:10) For this [is] an heinous crime; yea, it [is] an iniquity [to be punished by] the judges (31:11) For it [is] a fire [that] consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase (31:12) If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me; (31:13) What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? (31:14) Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb? (31:15) If I have withheld the poor from [their] desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail; (31:16) Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof; (31:17) (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as [with] a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;) (31:18) If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering; (31:19) If his loins have not blessed me, and [if] he were [not] warmed with the fleece of my sheep; (31:20) If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate: (31:21) [Then] let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone (31:22) For destruction [from] God [was] a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure (31:23) If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, [Thou art] my confidence; (31:24) If I rejoiced because my wealth [was] great, and because mine hand had gotten much; (31:25) If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking [in] brightness; (31:26) And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand: (31:27) This also [were] an iniquity [to be punished by] the judge: for I should have denied the God [that is] above (31:28) If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him: (31:29) Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul (31:30) If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied (31:31) The stranger did not lodge in the street: [but] I opened my doors to the traveller (31:32) If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom: (31:33) 04 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? (31:34) Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire [is, that] the Almighty would answer me, and [that] mine adversary had written a book (31:35) Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, [and] bind it [as] a crown to me (31:36) I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him (31:37) If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain; (31:38) If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life: (31:39) Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended
(31:40)
|