1 I made a covenant with my eyesnot to gaze upon a virgin.
2 What portion comes from God above,what heritage from the Almighty on high?
3 Is it not calamity for the unrighteous,and woe for evildoers?
4 Does he not see my ways,and number all my steps?
5 If I have walked in falsehoodand my foot has hastened to deceit,
6 Let God weigh me in the scales of justice;thus will he know my innocence!
7 If my steps have turned out of the way,and my heart has followed my eyes,or any stain clings to my hands,
8 Then may I sow, but another eat,and may my produce be rooted up!
9 If my heart has been enticed toward a woman,and I have lain in wait at my neighbor’s door;
10 Then may my wife grind for another,and may others kneel over her!
11 For that would be heinous,a crime to be condemned,
12 A fire that would consume down to Abaddontill it uprooted all my crops.
13 Had I refused justice to my manservantor to my maidservant, when they had a complaint against me,
14 What then should I do when God rises up?What could I answer when he demands an account?
15 Did not he who made me in the belly make him?Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?
16 If I have denied anything that the poor desired,or allowed the eyes of the widow to languish
17 While I ate my portion alone,with no share in it for the fatherless,
18 Though like a father he has reared me from my youth,guiding me even from my mother’s womb—
19 If I have seen a wanderer without clothing,or a poor man without covering,
20 Whose limbs have not blessed mewhen warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
21 If I have raised my hand against the innocentbecause I saw that I had supporters at the gate—
22 Then may my arm fall from the shoulder,my forearm be broken at the elbow!
23 For I dread calamity from God,and his majesty will overpower me.
24 Had I put my trust in goldor called fine gold my security;
25 Or had I rejoiced that my wealth was great,or that my hand had acquired abundance—
26 Had I looked upon the light as it shone,or the moon in the splendor of its progress,
27 And had my heart been secretly enticedto blow them a kiss with my hand,
28 This too would be a crime for condemnation,for I should have denied God above.
29 Had I rejoiced at the destruction of my enemyor exulted when evil came upon him,
30 Even though I had not allowed my mouth to sinby invoking a curse against his life—
31 Had not the men of my tent exclaimed,“Who has not been filled with his meat!”
32 No stranger lodged in the street,for I opened my door to wayfarers—
33 Had I, all too human, hidden my sinsand buried my guilt in my bosom
34 Because I feared the great multitudeand the scorn of the clans terrified me—then I should have remained silent, and not come out of doors!
35 Oh, that I had one to hear my case:here is my signature: let the Almighty answer me!Let my accuser write out his indictment!
36 Surely, I should wear it on my shoulderor put it on me like a diadem;
37 Of all my steps I should give him an account;like a prince I should present myself before him.
38 If my land has cried out against metill its furrows wept together;
39 If I have eaten its strength without paymentand grieved the hearts of its tenants;
40 Then let the thorns grow instead of wheatand stinkweed instead of barley!The words of Job are ended.