Chapter 31

  I made an agreement with my eyes; how then might my eyes be looking on a virgin?  

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  For what is God's reward from on high, or the heritage given by the Ruler of all from heaven?  

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  Is it not trouble for the sinner, and destruction for the evil-doers?  

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  Does he not see my ways, and are not my steps all numbered?  

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  If I have gone in false ways, or my foot has been quick in working deceit;  

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  (Let me be measured in upright scales, and let God see my righteousness:)  

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  If my steps have been turned out of the way, or if my heart went after my eyes, or if the property of another is in my hands;  

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  Let me put seed in the earth for another to have the fruit of it, and let my produce be uprooted.  

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  If my heart went after another man's wife, or if I was waiting secretly at my neighbour's door;  

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  Then let my wife give pleasure to another man and let others make use of her body.  

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  For that would be a crime; it would be an act for which punishment would be measured out by the judges:  

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  It would be a fire burning even to destruction, and taking away all my produce.  

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  If I did wrong in the cause of my man-servant, or my woman-servant, when they went to law with me;  

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  What then will I do when God comes as my judge? and what answer may I give to his questions?  

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  Did not God make him as well as me? did he not give us life in our mothers' bodies?  

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  If I kept back the desire of the poor; if the widow's eye was looking for help to no purpose;  

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  If I kept my food for myself, and did not give some of it to the child with no father;  

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  (For I was cared for by God as by a father from my earliest days; he was my guide from the body of my mother;)  

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  If I saw one near to death for need of clothing, and that the poor had nothing covering him;  

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  If his back did not give me a blessing, and the wool of my sheep did not make him warm;  

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  If my hand had been lifted up against him who had done no wrong, when I saw that I was supported by the judges;  

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  May my arm be pulled from my body, and be broken from its base.  

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  For the fear of God kept me back, and because of his power I might not do such things.  

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  If I made gold my hope, or if I ever said to the best gold, I have put my faith in you;  

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  If I was glad because my wealth was great, and because my hand had got together a great store;  

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  If, when I saw the sun shining, and the moon moving on its bright way,  

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  A secret feeling of worship came into my heart, and my hand gave kisses from my mouth;  

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  That would have been another sin to be rewarded with punishment by the judges; for I would have been false to God on high.  

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  If I was glad at the trouble of my hater, and gave cries of joy when evil overtook him;  

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  (For I did not let my mouth give way to sin, in putting a curse on his life;)  

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  If the men of my tent did not say, Who has not had full measure of his meat?  

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  The traveller did not take his night's rest in the street, and my doors were open to anyone on a journey;  

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  If I kept my evil doings covered, and my sin in the secret of my breast,  

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  For fear of the great body of people, or for fear that families might make sport of me, so that I kept quiet, and did not go out of my door;  

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  If only God would give ear to me, and the Ruler of all would give me an answer! or if what he has against me had been put in writing!  

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  Truly I would take up the book in my hands; it would be to me as a crown;  

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  I would make clear the number of my steps, I would put it before him like a prince! The words of Job are ended.  

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  If my land has made an outcry against me, or the ploughed earth has been in sorrow;  

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  If I have taken its produce without payment, causing the death of its owners;  

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  Then in place of grain let thorns come up, and in place of barley evil-smelling plants.  

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