Job 31:1-40 NASB

[1] “I have made a covenant with my eyes; How then could I look 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 criminal, And misfortune to those who practice injustice? [4] “Does He not see my ways, And count all my steps? [5] “If I have walked with deception, And my foot has hurried after deceit, [6] Let Him weigh me with accurate 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 lurked at my neighbor’s doorway, [10] May my wife grind grain for another, And let others kneel down over her. [11] “For that would be a lustful crime; Moreover, it would be wrongdoing punishable by judges. [12] “For it would be fire that consumes to Abaddon, And would uproot all my increase. [13] “If I have rejected the claim 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, how am I to answer Him? [15] “Did He who made me in the womb not make him, And the same one create us in the womb? [16] “If I have kept 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 shared it [18] (But from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And from my infancy I guided her), [19] If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, Or that the needy had no covering, [20] If his waist has not thanked me, And if he has not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep, [21] If I have lifted up my hand against the orphan, Because I saw I had support in the gate, [22] May my shoulder fall from its socket, And my arm be broken off at the elbow. [23] “For disaster from God is a terror to me, And because of His majesty I can do nothing. [24] “If I have put my confidence in gold, And called fine gold my trust, [25] If I have gloated because my wealth was great, And because my hand had obtained so much; [26] If I have looked at the sun when it shone, Or the moon going in splendor, [27] And my heart was secretly enticed, And my hand threw a kiss from my mouth, [28] That too would have been a guilty deed calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above. [29] “Have I rejoiced at the misfortune of my enemy, Or become excited when evil found him? [30] “No, I have not allowed my mouth to sin By asking for his life in a curse. [31] “Have the people of my tent not said, ‘Who can find one who has not been satisfied with his meat’? [32] “The stranger has not spent the night outside, For I have opened my doors to the traveler. [33] “Have I covered my wrongdoings like a man, By hiding my guilt in my shirt pocket, [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! Here is my signature; Let the Almighty answer me! And the indictment which my adversary has written, [36] I would certainly carry it on my shoulder, I would tie it to myself like a garland. [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] May the thorn-bush grow instead of wheat, And stinkweed instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended.

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