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

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

2 F or what reward would God give me from above and what inheritance 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 there no destruction for the wicked? And banishment for the workers of iniquity?

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

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

Does 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,

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

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

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 has turned out of the way and my heart walked after my eyes and if any blot has cleaved 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 t hen let me sow, and let another eat, and let my 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 ¶ If my heart has been deceived regarding a woman, or if I have laid in 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 t hen let 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 lewdness and iniquity that is proven.

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

12 F or it is a fire that consumes unto hell and would root out all my 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 had despised the right of my manslave or of my maidslave, 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 would I do when God rises up? And when he visits, what would 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 belly also make him? And did not the same 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 ¶ If I have disturbed the desire of the poor or have 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 and the fatherless has not eaten thereof;

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

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)

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 perish for want of clothing or any needy without a 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 sheep;

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 the fatherless, even when I saw that they would all help me in the gate;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 the one that hated me or lifted up myself when evil found him;

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

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

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

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

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 in the street, but I opened my doors to the traveller.

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

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

If like Adam or like men I have concealed my transgressions, 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?

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

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

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

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 I would go near unto him.

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

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

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

39 i f I ate of its strength without money or have afflicted the soul 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 up unto me instead of wheat and stinkweed 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.