THE BOOK OF
JOB

Job 31 ©

Job proves his innocence, by showing zealously what his practice was, as that he had been chaste toward the maidens, v. 1, etc. Righteous in contracts, 5. Chaste also in regard to other women, 9. Righteous towards his servants, 13. Bountiful to the poor, 16. Innocent towards the orphans, 21. Not relying on his wealth, 24. No idolater, 26. Not rejoicing at his enemies’ adversity, 29. Nor cursing him, 30. Given to hospitality, 32. True and upright in confessing his failings, 33. Doing wrong to nobody, 34. Wishing that notice was taken of all his words and actions, 35. He relates also his upright dealings, 38. Wishes he may speed ill, if he spoke not the truth, 40.

1

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

2

For what 2portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty 3from on high?

3

Is not destruction to the wicked? and 4a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?

4

Dotha not 5he see my 6ways, and 7count all my steps?

5

If I have walked with 8vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;

6

Let me be weighed in 9an even balance, that God may know mine 10integrity.

7

If my step hath turned out of 11the way, and mine heart 12walked after mine eyes, and if any 13blot hath cleaved to mine hands;

8

Then 14let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my 15offspring be rooted out.

9

Ifb mine heart have been deceived 16by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;

10

Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.

11

For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished 17by the judges.

12

For 18it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

13

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

14

What then shall I 19do whenc God 20riseth up? and when he 21visiteth, what shall I answer him?

15

Didd not he that made me in the womb make 22him? and did not 23one fashion us in the womb?

16

If I have 24withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused 25the eyes of the widow to fail;

17

Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;

18

(For from my youth 26he was 27brought up with me, as with a father, and I have 28guided 29her from 30my mother’s womb;)

19

If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or 31any poor without covering;

20

If 32his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

21

If I have 33lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my 34help in the 35gate:

22

Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the 36bone.

23

For 37destruction from God was a terror to me, and 38by reason of his highness I 39could not endure.

24

If I have made gold my 40hope,e or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;

25

Iff I rejoiced because my 41wealth was great, and because mine hand had 42gotten much;

26

Ifg I 43beheld the 44sun 45when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;

27

And my heart hath been 46secretly 47enticed, 48or my mouth hath kissed my hand:

28

This also were an 49iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have 50denied the God that is 51above.

29

Ifh I rejoiced at the 52destruction of him that hated me, or 53lifted up myself when 54evil 55found him:

30

Neither have I suffered my 56mouth to sin byi wishing a curse to 57his soul.

31

If the men 58of my tabernacle 59said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.

32

Thej stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors 60to the traveller.

33

If I covered my transgressions 61as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity 62in my bosom:

34

Did I fear a 63great multitude, or did the 64contempt of families 65terrify me, 66that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?

35

67Oh that one would hear me! behold, my 68desire is, that the 69Almighty would 70answer me, and that 71mine adversary had written a 72book.

36

73Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as 74a crown to me.

37

I would declare unto 75him the number 76of my steps; 77as a prince would I go near unto him.

38

If my land 78cry against me, or that the 79furrows likewise thereof complain;

39

If I have eaten the 80fruits thereof without money, or have caused the 81owners thereof 82to lose their life:

40

Let thistles grow instead 83of wheat, and cocklek instead of barley. 84The words of Job are ended.