1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; and how should I fix my regard upon a maid?

I dictated a covenant (an agreement) to my eyes; how then could I look upon a girl?

2 F or what would have been portion of +God from above, and what the heritage of the Almighty from on high?

For what portion should I have from God above, and what heritage from the Almighty on high?

3 I s not calamity for the unrighteous? and misfortune for the workers of iniquity?

Does not calamity befall the unrighteous, and disaster the workers of iniquity?

4 D oth not he see my ways, and number all my steps?

Does not see my ways and count all my steps?

5 I f I have walked with falsehood, and my foot hath hasted to deceit,

If I have walked with falsehood or vanity, or if my foot has hastened to deceit—

6 ( Let me be weighed in an even balance, and +God will take knowledge of my blamelessness;)

Oh, let me be weighed in a just balance and let Him weigh me, that God may know my integrity!

7 I f my step have turned out of the way, and my heart followed mine eyes, and if any blot cleaveth to my hands;

If my step has turned out of way, and my heart has gone the way my eyes invited, and if any spot has stained my hands with guilt,

8 L et me sow, and another eat; and let mine offspring be rooted out.

Then let me sow and let another eat; yes, let the produce of my field or my offspring be rooted out.

9 I f my heart have been enticed unto a woman, so that I laid wait at my neighbour's door,

If my heart has been deceived and I made a fool by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbor’s door,

10 L et my wife grind for another, and let others bow down upon her.

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

11 F or this is an infamy; yea, it is an iniquity the judges:

For is a heinous and chief crime, an iniquity the judges and punishment.

12 F or it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

For is a fire which consumes to Abaddon (to destruction, ruin, and the place of final torment); and would burn to the root all my increase.

13 I f I have despised the cause of my bondman or of my bondmaid, when they contended with me,

If I have despised and rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant when they contended or brought a complaint against me,

14 W hat then should I do when God riseth up? and if he visited, what should I answer him?

What then shall I do when God rises up ? When He visits, what shall I answer Him?

15 D id not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not One fashion us in the womb?

Did not He Who made me in the womb make ? And did not One fashion us both in the womb?

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

If I have withheld from the poor and needy what they desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to look in vain,

17 O r have eaten my morsel alone, so that the fatherless ate not thereof,

Or have eaten my morsel alone and have not shared it with the fatherless—

18 ( For from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and I have guided the from my mother's womb;)

No, but from my youth grew up with me as a father, and I have been guide from my mother’s womb—

19 I f I have seen any perishing for want of clothing, or any needy without covering;

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

20 I f his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my lambs;

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

21 I f I have lifted up my hand against an orphan, because I saw my help in the gate:

If I have lifted my hand against the fatherless when I saw my help at the gate,

22 l et my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone!

Then let my shoulder fall away from my shoulder blade, and my arm be broken from its socket.

23 F or calamity from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his excellency I was powerless.

For calamity from God was a terror to me, and because of His majesty I could not endure and could do nothing.

24 I f I have made gold my hope, or said to the fine gold, My confidence!

If I have made gold my trust and hope or have said to fine gold, You are my confidence,

25 I f I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much;

If I rejoiced because my wealth was great and because my hand had gotten much,

26 I f I beheld the sun when it shone, or the moon walking in brightness,

If I beheld the sunlight when it shone or the moon walking in its brightness,

27 A nd my heart have been secretly enticed, so that my mouth kissed my hand:

And my heart has been secretly enticed by them or my mouth has kissed my hand,

28 T his also would be an iniquity for the judge, for I should have denied the God who is above.

This also would have been iniquity to demand the judges’ action and punishment, for I would have denied and been false to the God Who is above.

29 I f I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, and exulted when evil befell him;

If I rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me or lifted myself up when evil overtook him—

30 ( Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by asking his life with a curse;)

No, I have let my mouth sin neither by cursing my enemy nor by praying that he might die—

31 I f the men of my tent said not, Who shall find one that hath not been satisfied with his meat?—

if the men of my tent will not say, Who can find one in need who has not been satisfied with food he gave them?—

32 T he stranger did not lodge without; I opened my doors to the pathway.

The temporary resident has not lodged in the street, but I have opened my door to the wayfaring man—

33 I f I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom,

If like Adam or like men I have concealed my transgressions, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom

34 B ecause I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and went not out of the door, …

Because I feared the great multitude and the contempt of families terrified me so that I kept silence and did not go out of the door—

35 O h that I had one to hear me! Behold my signature: let the Almighty answer me! And let mine opponent write an accusation!

Oh, for a hearing! Oh, for an answer from the Almighty! Let my adversary write out His indictment in a book!

36 W ould I not take it upon my shoulder? I would bind it on to me a crown;

Surely I would bear it on my shoulder and wind the scroll about my head as a diadem.

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

I would count out to Him the number of my steps, approaching His presence as a prince—

38 I f my land cry out against me, and its furrows weep together;

For if my land has cried out against me and its furrows have complained together with tears,

39 I f I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have tormented to death the souls of its owners:

If I have eaten its fruits without paying for them or have caused its owners to breathe their last,

40 L et thistles grow instead of wheat, and tares instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.

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