1 ¶ I made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I look upon a maid?

2 F or what reward would God give me from above and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

3 I s there no destruction for the wicked? And banishment for the workers of iniquity?

4 D oes he not see my ways and count all my steps?

5 I f I have walked with falsehood or if my foot has hastened to deceit,

6 l et me be weighed in a just balance, that God may know my integrity.

7 I f my step has turned out of the way and my heart walked after my eyes and if any blot has cleaved to my hands,

8 t hen let me sow, and let another eat, and let my offspring be rooted out.

9 ¶ If my heart has been deceived regarding a woman, or if I have laid in wait at my neighbour’s door,

10 t hen let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down upon her.

11 F or this is lewdness and iniquity that is proven.

12 F or it is a fire that consumes unto hell and would root out all my increase.

13 I f I had despised the right of my manslave or of my maidslave, when they contended with me;

14 w hat then would I do when God rises up? And when he visits, what would I answer him?

15 D id not he that made me in the belly also make him? And did not the same one fashion us in the womb?

16 ¶ If I have disturbed the desire of the poor or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

17 o r have eaten my morsel alone and the fatherless has not eaten thereof;

18 ( for from my youth the fatherless was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided the widow from my mother’s womb)

19 i f I have seen any perish for want of clothing or any needy without a covering;

20 i f his loins have not blessed me and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

21 i f I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, even when I saw that they would all help me in the gate;

22 t hen let my back fall from my shoulder blade, and my arm be broken from its joint.

23 F or I feared destruction from God, against whose highness I could have no power.

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

25 i f I rejoiced because my wealth was being multiplied, and because my hand had gotten much;

26 i f I beheld the sun when it shone or the moon walking in beauty;

27 a nd my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth kissed my hand;

28 t his would also be a proven iniquity; for I should have denied the God that is sovereign.

29 I f I rejoiced at the destruction of the one that hated me or lifted up myself when evil found him;

30 f or I have never even suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse upon his soul;

31 w hen the servants of my tent said, Oh that we had of his flesh! We would never be satisfied.

32 T he stranger did not lodge in the street, but I opened my doors to the traveller.

33 ¶ If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom;

34 i f I feared a great multitude or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and did not go out of the door?

35 O h that someone would hear me! Behold, my mark is, that the Almighty will testify for me, even though my adversary had written down the charges.

36 S urely I would take it upon my shoulder and bind it as a crown to me.

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

38 I f my land cries against me and all its furrows likewise complain;

39 i f I ate of its strength without money or have afflicted the soul of its owners;

40 l et thistles grow up unto me instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.