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 L et 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 L et 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 M ay 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 W hat 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 O r 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 I f I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, Or that the needy had no covering,

20 I f his loins have not thanked me, And if he has not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep,

21 I f I have lifted up my hand against the orphan, Because I saw I had support in the gate,

22 L et 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 I f I have gloated because my wealth was great, And because my hand had secured so much;

26 I f I have looked at the sun when it shone Or the moon going in splendor,

27 A nd my heart became secretly enticed, And my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,

28 T hat 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 B ecause 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 S urely 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 I f I have eaten its fruit without money, Or have caused its owners to lose their lives,

40 L et briars grow instead of wheat, And stinkweed instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended.