Job 31:1-40 ESV

[1] "I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin? [2] What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high? [3] Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity? [4] Does not he see my ways and number all my steps? [5] "If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit; [6] (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!) [7] if my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has stuck to my hands, [8] then let me sow, and another eat, and let what grows for me be rooted out. [9] "If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door, [10] then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down on her. [11] For that would be a heinous crime; that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges; [12] for that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase. [13] "If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me, [14] what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him? [15] Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb? [16] "If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, [17] or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it [18] (for from my youth the fatherless grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother's womb I guided the widow), [19] if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering, [20] if his body has not blessed me, and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep, [21] if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate, [22] then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket. [23] For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty. [24] "If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence, [25] if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much, [26] if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor, [27] and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand, [28] this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above. [29] "If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him [30] ( I have not let my mouth sin by asking for his life with a curse), [31] if the men of my tent have not said, 'Who is there that has not been filled with his meat?' [32] ( the sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler), [33] if I have concealed my transgressions as others do by hiding my iniquity in my heart, [34] because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors- [35] Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary! [36] Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown; [37] I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him. [38] "If my land has cried out against me and its furrows have wept together, [39] if I have eaten its yield without payment and made its owners breathe their last, [40] let thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley." The words of Job are ended.