Job 31:1-40 NET

[1] "I made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I entertain thoughts against a virgin? [2] What then would be one's lot from God above, one's heritage from the Almighty on high? [3] Is it not misfortune for the unjust, and disaster for those who work iniquity? [4] Does he not see my ways and count all my steps? [5] If I have walked in falsehood, and if my foot has hastened to deceit- [6] let him weigh me with honest scales; then God will discover my integrity. [7] If my footsteps have strayed from the way, if my heart has gone after my eyes, or if anything has defiled my hands, [8] then let me sow and let another eat, and let my crops be uprooted. [9] If my heart has been enticed by a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door, [10] then let my wife turn the millstone for another man, and may other men commit adultery with her. [11] For I would have committed a shameful act, an iniquity to be judged. [12] For it is a fire that devours even to Destruction, and it would uproot all my harvest. [13] "If I have disregarded the right of my male servants or my female servants when they disputed with me, [14] then what will I do when God confronts me in judgment; when he intervenes, how will I respond to him? [15] Did not the one who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us in the womb? [16] If I have refused to give the poor what they desired, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail, [17] If I ate my morsel of bread myself, and did not share any of it with orphans- [18] but from my youth I raised the orphan like a father, and from my mother's womb I guided the widow- [19] If I have seen anyone about to perish for lack of clothing, or a poor man without a coat, [20] whose heart did not bless me as he warmed himself with the fleece of my sheep, [21] if I have raised my hand to vote against the orphan, when I saw my support in the court, [22] then let my arm fall from the shoulder, let my arm be broken off at the socket. [23] For the calamity from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his majesty I was powerless. [24] "If I have put my confidence in gold or said to pure gold, 'You are my security!' [25] if I have rejoiced because of the extent of my wealth, or because of the great wealth my hand had gained, [26] if I looked at the sun when it was shining, and the moon advancing as a precious thing, [27] so that my heart was secretly enticed, and my hand threw them a kiss from my mouth, [28] then this also would be iniquity to be judged, for I would have been false to God above. [29] If I have rejoiced over the misfortune of my enemy or exulted because calamity found him- [30] I have not even permitted my mouth to sin by asking for his life through a curse- [31] if the members of my household have never said, 'If only there were someone who has not been satisfied from Job's meat!'- [32] But no stranger had to spend the night outside, for I opened my doors to the traveler- [33] if I have covered my transgressions as men do, by hiding iniquity in my heart, [34] because I was terrified of the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I remained silent and would not go outdoors- [35] "If only I had someone to hear me! Here is my signature-let the Almighty answer me! If only I had an indictment that my accuser had written. [36] Surely I would wear it proudly on my shoulder, I would bind it on me like a crown; [37] I would give him an accounting of my steps; like a prince I would draw near to him. [38] "If my land cried out against me and all its furrows wept together, [39] if I have eaten its produce without paying, or caused the death of its owners, [40] then let thorns sprout up in place of wheat, and in place of barley, noxious weeds." The words of Job are ended.