Job 31:1-40 LSB

[1] “I have cut a covenant with my eyes; How then could I gaze at a virgin? [2] “And what is the portion of God from above Or the inheritance of the Almighty from on high? [3] “Is it not disaster to the unjust And misfortune to those who work iniquity? [4] “Does He not see my ways And number all my steps? [5] “If I have walked with worthlessness, And my foot has hastened after deceit, [6] Let Him weigh me with just scales, And let God know my integrity. [7] “If my step has turned from the way, Or my heart followed my eyes, Or if any spot has stuck to my hands, [8] Let me sow and another eat, And let my crops be uprooted. [9] “If my heart has been enticed by a woman, Or I have lain in wait at my neighbor’s doorway, [10] May my wife grind for another, And let others kneel down over her. [11] “For that would be lewdness; Moreover, it would be an iniquity punishable by judges. [12] “For it would be fire that consumes to Abaddon, And would uproot all my produce. [13] “If I have rejected the justice of my male or female slaves When they filed a complaint against me, [14] What then could I do when God arises? And when He calls me to account, with what will I respond to Him? [15] “Did not He who made me in the womb make him, And the same one fashion us in the womb? [16] “If I have held back the poor from their desire, Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, [17] Or have eaten my morsel alone, And the orphan has not eaten from it [18] (But from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And from the womb of my mother I guided her), [19] If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, Or that the needy had no covering, [20] If his loins have not blessed me, And if he has not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep, [21] If I have waved my hand against the orphan Because I saw my help in the gate, [22] Let my shoulder fall from the socket, And my arm be broken off at the elbow. [23] “For disaster from God is a dread to me, And because of His exaltedness I can do nothing. [24] “If I have put my confidence in gold, And called fine gold my trust, [25] If I have been glad because my wealth was great, And because my hand had found so much, [26] If I have looked at the sun when it shone Or the moon going in splendor, [27] And my heart became secretly enticed, And my hand threw a kiss from my mouth, [28] That too would have been an iniquity calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above. [29] “If I have been glad at the upheaval of the one who hated me, Or exulted when evil found him— [30] “But I have not given over my mouth to sin By asking for his life in a curse— [31] “If the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who can find one who has not been satisfied with his meat’— [32] “The sojourner has not lodged outside, For I have opened my doors to the traveler— [33] “If I have covered my transgressions like Adam, By hiding my iniquity in my bosom, [34] Because I feared the great multitude, And the contempt of families terrified me, And I kept silent and did not go out of doors— [35] “Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold, here is my signature; Let the Almighty answer me! And the indictment which my accuser has written, [36] Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it to myself like a crown. [37] “I would declare to Him the number of my steps; Like a prince I would approach Him— [38] “If my land cries out against me, And its furrows weep together, [39] If I have eaten its fruit without money, Or have caused its owners to lose their lives, [40] Let briars come out instead of wheat, And stinkweed instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended.