1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

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

2 F or what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

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

3 I s not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?

Is there no destruction for the wicked? And banishment for the workers of iniquity?

4 D oth not he 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 vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;

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

6 L et me be weighed in an even balance that God may know mine integrity.

let me be weighed in a just balance, that God may know my integrity.

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

If 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; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.

then let me sow, and let another eat, and let my offspring be rooted out.

9 I f mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;

¶ 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 unto 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 heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.

For this is lewdness and iniquity that is proven.

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

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

13 I f I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;

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

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

what 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 womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?

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

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

¶ 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 myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;

or have eaten my morsel alone and the fatherless has not eaten thereof;

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

(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 poor without covering;

if 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;

if 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, when I saw my help in the gate:

if 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 mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.

then let my back fall from my shoulder blade, and my arm be broken from its joint.

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

For I feared destruction from God, against whose highness I could have no power.

24 I f 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 have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;

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

if I rejoiced because my wealth was being multiplied, and because my hand had gotten much;

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

if I beheld the sun when it shone or the moon walking in beauty;

27 A nd my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:

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

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

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

29 I f I rejoice at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:

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

30 N either have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.

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

31 I f the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.

when 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Oh 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.

Surely 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 would I go near unto him.

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

38 I f my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;

If my land cries against me and all its furrows likewise complain;

39 I f I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:

if I ate of its strength without money or have afflicted the soul of its owners;

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

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