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

“I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?

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

For what is the allotment of God from above, And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

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

Is it not destruction for the wicked, And disaster for the workers of iniquity?

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

Does 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,

“If 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.

Let me be weighed on honest scales, 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 from the way, Or my heart walked after my eyes, Or if any spot adheres to my hands,

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

Then let me sow, and another eat; Yes, let my harvest 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 enticed by a woman, Or if I have lurked 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 over her.

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

For that would be wickedness; Yes, it would be iniquity deserving of judgment.

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

For that would be a fire that consumes to destruction, 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;

“If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant When they complained 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 punishes, how 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 them? 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;

“If I have kept the poor from their desire, Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

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

Or eaten my morsel by myself, So that the fatherless could not eat of it

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)

(But from my youth I reared him as a father, And from my mother’s womb I guided the widow );

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 lack of clothing, Or any poor man 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 heart has 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 raised my hand against the fatherless, When I saw I had help in the gate;

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

Then let my arm fall from my shoulder, Let my arm be torn from the socket.

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

For destruction from God is a terror to me, And because of His magnificence I cannot endure.

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 hope, Or 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 have rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gained much;

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

If I have observed the sun when it shines, Or the moon moving in brightness,

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

So that my heart has been secretly enticed, And 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 be an iniquity deserving of judgment, For I would have denied 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 have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, Or lifted myself up when evil found him

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

(Indeed I have not allowed my mouth to sin By asking for a curse on his soul);

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 have not said, ‘Who is there that has not been satisfied with his meat?’

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

( But no sojourner had to lodge in the street, For I have opened my doors to the traveler );

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

If I have 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?

Because I feared the great multitude, And dreaded the contempt of families, 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, that I had one to hear me! Here is my mark. Oh, that the Almighty would answer me, That my Prosecutor had written a book!

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

Surely I would carry it on my shoulder, And bind it on me like a crown;

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

I would declare to Him the number of my steps; Like a prince I would approach Him.

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

“If my land cries out against me, And its furrows weep together;

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

If I have eaten its fruit without money, Or caused its owners to lose their lives;

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

Then let thistles grow instead of wheat, And weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended.