1 I made a couenant with mine eyes: why then should I thinke on a mayde? 2 For what portion should I haue of God from aboue? and what inheritance of the Almightie from on hie? 3 Is not destruction to the wicked and strange punishment to the workers of iniquitie? 4 Doeth not he beholde my wayes and tell all my steps? 5 If I haue walked in vanitie, or if my foote hath made haste to deceite, 6 Let God weigh me in the iust balance, and he shall know mine vprightnes. 7 If my steppe hath turned out of the way, or mine heart hath walked after mine eye, or if any blot hath cleaued to mine handes, 8 Let me sowe, and let another eate: yea, let my plantes be rooted out. 9 If mine heart hath bene deceiued by a woman, or if I haue layde wayte at the doore of my neighbour, 10 Let my wife grinde vnto another man, and let other men bow downe vpon her: 11 For this is a wickednes, and iniquitie to bee condemned: 12 Yea, this is a fire that shall deuoure to destruction, and which shall roote out al mine increase, 13 If I did contemne the iudgement of my seruant, and of my mayde, when they did contend with me, 14 What then shall I do when God standeth vp? and when he shall visit me, what shall I answere? 15 He that hath made me in the wombe, hath he not made him? hath not he alone facioned vs in the wombe? 16 If I restrained the poore of their desire, or haue caused the eyes of the widow to faile, 17 Or haue eaten my morsels alone, and the fatherles hath not eaten thereof, 18 (For from my youth hee hath growen vp with me as with a father, and from my mothers wombe I haue bene a guide vnto her) 19 If I haue seene any perish for want of clothing, or any poore without couering, 20 If his loynes haue not blessed me, because he was warmed with the fleece of my sheepe, 21 If I haue lift vp mine hande against the fatherlesse, when I saw that I might helpe him in the gate, 22 Let mine arme fal from my shoulder, and mine arme be broken from the bone. 23 For Gods punishment was fearefull vnto me, and I could not be deliuered from his highnes. 24 If I made gold mine hope, or haue sayd to the wedge of golde, Thou art my confidence, 25 If I reioyced because my substance was great, or because mine hand had gotten much, 26 If I did behold the sunne, when it shined, or the moone, walking in her brightnes, 27 If mine heart did flatter me in secrete, or if my mouth did kisse mine hand, 28 (This also had bene an iniquitie to be condemned: for I had denied the God aboue) 29 If I reioyced at his destruction that hated me, or was mooued to ioye when euill came vpon him, 30 Neither haue I suffred my mouth to sinne, by wishing a curse vnto his soule. 31 Did not the men of my Tabernacle say, Who shall giue vs of his flesh? we can not bee satisfied. 32 The stranger did not lodge in the streete, but I opened my doores vnto him, that went by the way. 33 If I haue hid my sinne, as Adam, concealing mine iniquitie in my bosome, 34 Though I could haue made afraid a great multitude, yet the most contemptible of the families did feare me: so I kept silence, and went not out of the doore. 35 Oh that I had some to heare me! beholde my signe that the Almightie will witnesse for me: though mine aduersary should write a booke against me, 36 Woulde not I take it vpon my shoulder, and binde it as a crowne vnto me? 37 I will tell him the nomber of my goings, and goe vnto him as to a prince. 38 If my lande cry against me, or the furrowes thereof complayne together, 39 If I haue eaten the fruites thereof without siluer: or if I haue grieued the soules of the masters thereof, 40 Let thistles growe in steade of wheate, and cockle in the stead of Barley. The wordes of Iob are ended.
Job Continues
I Promised Myself
1 I promised myself
never to stare with desire
at a young woman.
2 God All-Powerful punishes
men who do that.
3 In fact, God sends disaster
on all who sin,
4 and he keeps a close watch
on everything I do.
5 I am not dishonest or deceitful,
6 and I beg God to prove
my innocence.
7 If I have disobeyed him
or even wanted to,
8 then others can eat my harvest
and uproot my crops.
9 If I have desired someone's wife
and chased after her,
10 then let some stranger
steal my wife from me.
11 If I took someone's wife,
it would be a horrible crime,
12 sending me to destruction
and my crops to the flames.
13 When my servants
complained against me,
I was fair to them.
14 Otherwise, what answer
would I give to God
when he judges me?
15 After all, God is the one
who gave life to each of us
before we were born.
I Have Never Cheated Anyone
16 I have never cheated widows
or others in need,
17 and I have always shared
my food with orphans.
18 Since the time I was young,
I have cared for orphans
and helped widows.
19 I provided clothes for the poor,
20 and I was praised
for supplying woolen garments
to keep them warm.
21 If I have ever raised my arm
to threaten an orphan
when the power was mine,
22 I hope that arm will fall
from its socket.
23 I could not have been abusive;
I was terrified at the thought
that God might punish me.
24 I have never trusted
the power of wealth,
25 or taken pride in owning
many possessions.
* 26 I have never openly or secretly
27 worshiped the sun or moon.
28 Such horrible sins
would have deserved
punishment from God.
29 I have never laughed
when my enemies
were struck by disaster.
30 Neither have I sinned
by asking God
to send down on them
the curse of death.
31 No one ever went hungry
at my house,
32 and travelers
were always welcome.
33 Many have attempted to hide
their sins from others—
but I refused.
34 And the fear of public disgrace
never forced me to keep silent
about what I had done.
Why Doesn't God Listen?
35 Why doesn't God All-Powerful
listen and answer?
If God has something against me,
let him speak up
or put it in writing!
36 Then I would wear his charges
on my clothes and forehead.
37 And with my head held high,
I would tell him everything
I have ever done.
38 I have never mistreated
the land I farmed
and made it mourn.
39 Nor have I cheated
my workers
and caused them pain.
40 If I had, I would pray
for weeds instead of wheat
to grow in my fields.
After saying these things,
Job was silent.