[1] “I have made a covenant with my eyes; How then could I gaze at a virgin?
[2] And what is the portion of God from above Or the heritage of the Almighty from on high?
[3] Is it not calamity to the unjust And disaster to those who work iniquity?
[4] Does He not see my ways And number all my steps?
[5] If I have walked with falsehood, And my foot has hastened after deceit,
[6] Let Him weigh me with accurate scales, And let God know my integrity.
[7] If my step has turned from the way, Or my heart followed my eyes, Or if any spot has stuck to my hands,
[8] Let me sow and another eat, And let my crops be uprooted.
[9] If my heart has been enticed by a woman, Or I have lurked at my neighbor's doorway,
[10] May my wife grind for another, And let others kneel down over her.
[11] For that would be a lustful crime; Moreover, it would be an iniquity punishable by judges.
[12] For it would be fire that consumes to Abaddon, And would uproot all my increase.
[13] If I have despised the claim of my male or female slaves When they filed a complaint against me,
[14] What then could I do when God arises? And when He calls me to account, what will I answer Him?
[15] Did not He who made me in the womb make him, And the same one fashion us in the womb?
[16] If I have kept the poor from their desire, Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
[17] Or have eaten my morsel alone, And the orphan has not shared it
[18] (But from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And from infancy I guided her),
[19] If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, Or that the needy had no covering,
[20] If his loins have not thanked me, And if he has not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep,
[21] If I have lifted up my hand against the orphan, Because I saw I had support in the gate,
[22] Let my shoulder fall from the socket, And my arm be broken off at the elbow.
[23] For calamity from God is a terror to me, And because of His majesty I can do nothing.
[24] If I have put my confidence in gold, And called fine gold my trust,
[25] If I have gloated because my wealth was great, And because my hand had secured so much;
[26] If I have looked at the sun when it shone Or the moon going in splendor,
[27] And my heart became secretly enticed, And my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,
[28] That too would have been an iniquity calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above.
[29] Have I rejoiced at the extinction of my enemy, Or exulted when evil befell him?
[30] No, I have not allowed my mouth to sin By asking for his life in a curse.
[31] Have the men of my tent not said, ‘Who can find one who has not been satisfied with his meat’?
[32] The alien has not lodged outside, For I have opened my doors to the traveler.
[33] Have I covered my transgressions like Adam, By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,
[34] Because I feared the great multitude, And the contempt of families terrified me, And kept silent and did not go out of doors?
[35] Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold, here is my signature; Let the Almighty answer me! And the indictment which my adversary has written,
[36] Surely I would carry it on my shoulder, I would bind it to myself like a crown.
[37] I would declare to Him the number of my steps; Like a prince I would approach Him.
[38] If my land cries out against me, And its furrows weep together;
[39] If I have eaten its fruit without money, Or have caused its owners to lose their lives,
[40] Let briars grow instead of wheat, And stinkweed instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended.