Chapter 31

  I Made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?  

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  For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?  

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  Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?  

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  Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?  

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  If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;  

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  Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know my integrity.  

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  If my step hath turned out of the way, and my heart walked after my eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to my hands;  

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  Then let me sow, and let another eat; yes, let my offspring be rooted out.  

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  If my heart hath been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbor's door;  

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  Then let my wife grind to another, and let others bow down upon her.  

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  For this is a hainous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.  

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  For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all my increase.  

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  If I despised the cause of my man-servant or of my maid-servant, when they contended with me;  

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  What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?  

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  Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?  

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  If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;  

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  Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten of it;  

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  (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;)  

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  If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;  

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  If his loins have not blessed me, and if he hath not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep;  

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  If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:  

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  Then let my arm fall from my shoulder-blade, and my arm be broken from the bone.  

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  For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.  

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  If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;  

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  If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gained much;  

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  If I have beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;  

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  And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:  

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  This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.  

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  If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or have lifted up myself when evil found him:  

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  Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.  

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  If the men of my tabernacle have not said, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.  

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  The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveler.  

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  If I have covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom:  

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  Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?  

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  Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that my adversary had written a book.  

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  Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.  

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  I would declare to him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near to him.  

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  If my land crieth against me, or its furrows likewise complain;  

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  If I have eaten the fruits of it without money, or have caused its owners to lose their life:  

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  Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.  

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