1A covenant had I made with my eyes: how then should I fix my look on a virgin?
2And what then would have been my portion of God from above? and what lot of the Almighty from on high?
3Is not calamity ready for the unjust? and misfortune for the wrong-doers?
4Behold, he truly seeth my ways, and numbereth all my steps;
5And knoweth whether I have walked with vain desires, or if my foot hath hastened after deceit.
6Let him weigh me then in a righteous balance, and let God acknowledge my integrity,
7If my step have turned aside from the proper way, and my heart have walked after my eyes, and if any blemish have cleaved to my hands:
8Then let me sow, and let another eat; and let what I have growing be rooted out.
9If my heart have been beguiled toward a woman, or if I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door:
10Then may my wife labor at the mill for another, and may strangers ill-use her;
11For this would be incest; yea, it would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges;
12For it would be a fire that consumeth down to the place of corruption, and would root out all my products.
13If ever I cast aside the justice due to my man-servant and my maid-servant, when they contended with me:
14What then could I do when God should rise up? and when he should investigate, what could I answer him?
15Did not he that made me make him born or a woman? and did not the same one fashion us in the womb?
16If ever I denied the wish of the indigent, or ever allowed the eyes of the widow to fall in vain hopes;
17Or if ever I ate my bread by myself alone, and the fatherless did not eat thereof;
18(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as though we were of one father, and I have guided her as though she was sprung from my mother's womb;)
19If ever I saw any one perishing for want of clothing, or the needy without covering:
20If his loins have not blessed me, and if he have not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
21If I have swung my hand against the fatherless, because I saw in the gate those that would help me:
22Then may my shoulder fall from my shoulder-blade, and my arm be broken from the channel-bone;
23For dreaded by me was the calamitous punishment of God, and against his highness I can accomplish nothing.
24If I have made gold my confidence, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my trust:
25If ever I rejoiced because my wealth was abundant, and because my hand had gotten much;
26If ever I looked at the light of the sun when he shone brightly and on the moon walking in splendor:
27And my heart became misled in secret, and my hand kissed my mouth:
28This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge; for thus would I have denied the God that is above.
29If ever I rejoiced at the downfall of him that hated me, or was elated when evil befell him;—
30But I suffered not my mouth to sin by denouncing with a curse his soul:—
31If the men of my tent said not, Oh is there one that is not satisfied of his flesh;—
32In the street a stranger had not to lodge; my doors I held open to the roadside;
33If I covered up my transgressions like a common man, by hiding in my bosom my iniquity;
34Because I dreaded the great multitude, or because the contempt of families did terrify me, so that I kept silence, and dared not to go out of the door;—
35Oh who will bring me one that would hear me! behold, here is my plea; may the Almighty answer me; and any record which my opponent may have written,—
36Surely upon my shoulder would I carry it: I would bind it as a crown unto me.
37The number of my steps would I tell him: as to a prince would I go near unto him.—
38If my land ever cried out because of me, or if its furrows wept together;
39If I ever consumed its strength without payment, or caused the soul of its owners to grieve:
40Then may instead of wheat, thorns come forth, and instead of barley, cockle. (Here end the words of Job.)
