Job 31:1-40 NKJV

[1] "I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman? [2] For what is the allotment of God from above, And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high? [3] Is it not destruction for the wicked, And disaster for the workers of iniquity? [4] Does He not see my ways, And count all my steps? [5] "If I have walked with falsehood, Or if my foot has hastened to deceit, [6] Let me be weighed on honest scales, That God may know my integrity. [7] If my step has turned from the way, Or my heart walked after my eyes, Or if any spot adheres to my hands, [8] Then let me sow, and another eat; Yes, let my harvest be rooted out. [9] "If my heart has been enticed by a woman, Or if I have lurked at my neighbor's door, [10] Then let my wife grind for another, And let others bow down over her. [11] For that would be wickedness; Yes, it would be iniquity deserving of judgment. [12] For that would be a fire that consumes to destruction, And would root out all my increase. [13] "If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant When they complained against me, [14] What then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him? [15] Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb? [16] "If I have kept the poor from their desire, Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail, [17] Or eaten my morsel by myself, So that the fatherless could not eat of it [18] (But from my youth I reared him as a father, And from my mother's womb I guided the widow); [19] If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, Or any poor man without covering; [20] If his heart 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, When I saw I had help in the gate; [22] Then let my arm fall from my shoulder, Let my arm be torn from the socket. [23] For destruction from God is a terror to me, And because of His magnificence I cannot endure. [24] "If I have made gold my hope, Or said to fine gold, 'You are my confidence'; [25] If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gained much; [26] If I have observed the sun when it shines, Or the moon moving in brightness, [27] So that my heart has been secretly enticed, And my mouth has kissed my hand; [28] This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment, For I would have denied God who is above. [29] "If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, Or lifted myself up when evil found him [30] (Indeed I have not allowed my mouth to sin By asking for a curse on his soul); [31] If the men of my tent have not said, 'Who is there that has not been satisfied with his meat?' [32] ( But no sojourner had to lodge in the street, For I have opened my doors to the traveler); [33] If I have covered my transgressions as Adam, By hiding my iniquity in my bosom, [34] Because I feared the great multitude, And dreaded the contempt of families, So that I kept silence And did not go out of the door- [35] Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my mark. Oh, that the Almighty would answer me, That my Prosecutor had written a book! [36] Surely I would carry it on my shoulder, And bind it on me 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 caused its owners to lose their lives; [40] Then let thistles grow instead of wheat, And weeds instead of barley." The words of Job are ended.