Ijob 31

1I made a covenant with my eyes, that I would not so much as think upon a virgin.

2For what part should God from above have in me, and what inheritance the Almighty from on high?

3Is not destruction to the wicked, and aversion to them that work iniquity?

4Doth not he consider my ways, and number all my steps?

5If I have walked in vanity, and my foot hath made haste to deceit:

6Let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity.

7If my step hath turned out of the way, and if my heart hath followed my eyes, and if a spot hath cleaved to my hands:

8Then let me sow and let another eat: and let my offspring be rooted out.

9If my heart hath been deceived upon a woman, and if I have laid wait at my friend’s door:

10Let my wife be the harlot of another, and let other men lie with her.

11For this is a heinous crime, and a most grievous iniquity.

12It is a fire that devoureth even to destruction, and rooteth up all things that spring.

13If I have despised to abide judgment with my manservant, or my maidservant, when they had any controversy against me:

14For what shall I do when God shall rise to judge? and when he shall examine, what shall I answer him?

15Did not he that made me in the womb make him also: and did not one and the same form me in the womb?

16If I have denied to the poor what they desired, and have made the eyes of the widow wait:

17If I have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof:

18(For from my infancy mercy grew up with me: and it came out with me from my mother’s womb:)

19If I have despised him that was perishing for want of clothing, and the poor man that had no covering:

20If his sides have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep:

21If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, even when I saw myself superior in the gate:

22Let my shoulder fall from its joint, and let my arm with its bones be broken.

23For I have always feared God as waves swelling over me, and his weight I was not able to bear.

24If I have thought gold my strength, and have said to fine gold: My confidence:

25If I have rejoiced over my great riches, and because my hand had gotten much.

26If I beheld the sun when it shined, and the moon going in brightness:

27And my heart in secret hath rejoiced, and I have kissed my hand with my mouth:

28Which is a very great iniquity, and a denial against the most high God.

29If I have been glad at the downfall of him that hated me, and have rejoiced that evil had found him.

30For I have not given my mouth to sin, by wishing a curse to his soul.

31If the men of my tabernacle have not said: Who will give us of his flesh that we may be filled?

32The stranger did not stay without, my door was open to the traveller.

33If as a man I have hid my sin, and have concealed my iniquity in my bosom.

34If I have been afraid at a very great multitude, and the contempt of kinsmen hath terrified me: and I have not rather held my peace, and not gone out of the door.

35Who would grant me a hearer, that the Almighty may hear my desire; and that he himself that judgeth would write a book,

36That I may carry it on my shoulder, and put it about me as a crown?

37At every step of mine I would pronounce it, and offer it as to a prince.

38If my land cry against me, and with it the furrows thereof mourn:

39If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have afflicted the soul of the tillers thereof:

40Let thistles grow up to me instead of wheat, and thorns instead of barley.

1[Pepigi fœdus cum oculis meis, ut ne cogitarem quidem de virgine.

2Quam enim partem haberet in me Deus desuper, et hæreditatem Omnipotens de excelsis?

3Numquid non perditio est iniquo, et alienatio operantibus injustitiam?

4Nonne ipse considerat vias meas, et cunctos gressus meos dinumerat?

5Si ambulavi in vanitate, et festinavit in dolo pes meus,

6appendat me in statera justa, et sciat Deus simplicitatem meam.

7Si declinavit gressus meus de via, et si secutum est oculos meos cor meum, et si manibus meis adhæsit macula,

8seram, et alius comedat, et progenies mea eradicetur.

9Si deceptum est cor meum super muliere, et si ad ostium amici mei insidiatus sum,

10scortum alterius sit uxor mea, et super illam incurventur alii.

11Hoc enim nefas est, et iniquitas maxima.

12Ignis est usque ad perditionem devorans, et omnia eradicans genimina.

13Si contempsi subire judicium cum servo meo et ancilla mea, cum disceptarent adversum me:

14quid enim faciam cum surrexerit ad judicandum Deus? et cum quæsierit, quid respondebo illi?

15Numquid non in utero fecit me, qui et illum operatus est, et formavit me in vulva unus?

16Si negavi quod volebant pauperibus, et oculos viduæ expectare feci;

17si comedi buccellam meam solus, et non comedit pupillus ex ea

18(quia ab infantia mea crevit mecum miseratio, et de utero matris meæ egressa est mecum);

19si despexi pereuntem, eo quod non habuerit indumentum, et absque operimento pauperem;

20si non benedixerunt mihi latera ejus, et de velleribus ovium mearum calefactus est;

21si levavi super pupillum manum meam, etiam cum viderem me in porta superiorem:

22humerus meus a junctura sua cadat, et brachium meum cum suis ossibus confringatur.

23Semper enim quasi tumentes super me fluctus timui Deum, et pondus ejus ferre non potui.

24Si putavi aurum robur meum, et obrizo dixi: Fiducia mea;

25si lætatus sum super multis divitiis meis, et quia plurima reperit manus mea;

26si vidi solem cum fulgeret, et lunam incedentem clare,

27et lætatum est in abscondito cor meum, et osculatus sum manum meam ore meo:

28quæ est iniquitas maxima, et negatio contra Deum altissimum.

29Si gavisus sum ad ruinam ejus qui me oderat, et exsultavi quod invenisset eum malum:

30non enim dedi ad peccandum guttur meum, ut expeterem maledicens animam ejus.

31Si non dixerunt viri tabernaculi mei: Quis det de carnibus ejus, ut saturemur?

32foris non mansit peregrinus: ostium meum viatori patuit.

33Si abscondi quasi homo peccatum meum, et celavi in sinu meo iniquitatem meam;

34si expavi ad multitudinem nimiam, et despectio propinquorum terruit me: et non magis tacui, nec egressus sum ostium.

35Quis mihi tribuat auditorem, ut desiderium meum audiat Omnipotens, et librum scribat ipse qui judicat,

36ut in humero meo portem illum, et circumdem illum quasi coronam mihi?

37Per singulos gradus meos pronuntiabo illum, et quasi principi offeram eum.

38Si adversum me terra mea clamat, et cum ipsa sulci ejus deflent:

39si fructus ejus comedi absque pecunia, et animam agricolarum ejus afflixi:

40pro frumento oriatur mihi tribulus, et pro hordeo spina.] Finita sunt verba Job.

1I reached an agreement with my eyes, that I would not so much as think about a virgin.

2For what portion should God from above hold for me, and what inheritance should the Almighty from on high keep?

3Is not destruction held for the wicked and repudiation kept for those who work injustice?

4Does he not examine my ways and number all my steps?

5If I have walked in vanity, or if my foot has hurried towards deceitfulness,

6let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity.

7If my steps have turned aside from the way, or if my heart has followed my eyes, or if a blemish has clung to my hands,

8then may I sow, and let another consume, and let my offspring be eradicated.

9If my heart has been deceived over a woman, or if I have waited in ambush at my friend’s door,

10then let my wife be the harlot of another, and let other men lean over her.

11For this is a crime and a very great injustice.

12It is a fire devouring all the way to perdition, and it roots out all that springs forth.

13If I have despised being subject to judgment with my servant or my maid, when they had any complaint against me,

14then what will I do when God rises to judge, and, when he inquires, how will I respond to him?

15Is not he who created me in the womb, also he who labored to make him? And did not one and the same form me in the womb?

16If I have denied the poor what they wanted and have made the eyes of the widow wait;

17if I have eaten my morsel of food alone, while orphans have not eaten from it;

18(for from my infancy mercy grew with me, and it came out with me from my mother’s womb;)

19if I have looked down on him who was perishing because he had no clothing and the poor without any covering,

20if his sides have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

21if I have lifted up my hand over an orphan, even when it might seem to me that I have the advantage over him at the gate;

22then may my shoulder fall from its joint, and may my arm, with all its bones, be broken.

23For I have always feared God, like waves flowing over me, whose weight I was unable to bear.

24If I have considered gold to be my strength, or if I have called purified gold ‘my Trust;’

25if I have rejoiced over my great success, and over the many things my hand has obtained;

26if I gazed upon the sun when it shined and the moon advancing brightly,

27so that my heart rejoiced in secret and I kissed my hand with my mouth,

28which is a very great iniquity and a denial against the most high God;

29if I have been glad at the ruin of him who hated me and have exulted that evil found him,

30for I have not been given my throat to sin by asking for a curse on his soul;

31if the men around my tabernacle have not said: “He might give us some of his food, so that we will be filled,”

32for the foreigner did not remain at the door, my door was open to the traveler;

33if, as man does, I have hidden my sin and have concealed my iniquity in my bosom;

34if I became frightened by an excessive crowd, and the disrespect of close relatives alarmed me, so that I would much rather have remained silent or have gone out the door;

35then, would he grant me a hearing, so that the Almighty would listen to my desire, and he who judges would himself write a book,

36which I would then carry on my shoulder and wrap around me like a crown?

37With each of my steps, I would pronounce and offer it, as if to a prince.

38So, if my land cries out against me, and if its furrows weep with it,

39if I have used its fruits for nothing but money and have afflicted the souls of its tillers,

40then, may thistles spring forth for me instead of grain, and thorns instead of barley. (This ended the words of Job.)