Job 31:1-28 ▼

1 “I have made a covenant (agreement) with my eyes; How then could I gaze [lustfully] at a virgin?

2 “For what is the portion I would have from God above, And what heritage from the Almighty on high?

3 “Does not tragedy fall [justly] on the unjust And disaster to those who work wickedness?

4 “Does not God see my ways And count all my steps?

5 “If I have walked with falsehood, Or if my foot has chased after deceit,

6 Oh, let Him weigh me with accurate scales, And let God know my integrity.

7 “If my step has turned away from the way [of God], Or if my heart has [covetously] followed my eyes, Or if any spot [of guilt] has stained my hands,

8 Then let me plant and [let] another eat [from the results of my labor], And let my crops be uprooted and ruined.

9 “If my heart has been enticed and I was made a fool by a woman, Or if I have [covetously] lurked at my neighbor’s door [until his departure],

10 Let my wife grind [meal, like a bond slave] for another [man], And let others kneel down over her.

11 “For adultery is a heinous and lustful crime; Moreover, it would be a sin punishable by the judges.

12 “For it is a fire which consumes to Abaddon (destruction, ruin, final torment); And [illicit passion] would burn and rage and uproot all my [life’s] increase [destroying everything].

13 “If I have despised and rejected the claim of my male or female servants When they filed a complaint against me,

14 What then could I do when God arises [to judge me]? When He calls me to account, what will I answer Him?

15 “Did not He who made me in the womb make my servant, And did not the same One fashion us both in the womb?

16 “If I have withheld from the poor what they desired, Or have caused the eyes of the widow to look in vain [for relief],

17 Or have eaten my morsel [of food] alone, And did not share it with the orphan

18 (But from my youth the orphan grew up with me as with a father, And from my mother’s womb I have been the widow’s guide),

19 If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, Or any poor person without covering,

20 If his loins have not thanked and blessed me [for clothing them], And if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,

21 If I have lifted my hand against the orphan, Because I saw [that the judges would be] my help at the [council] gate,

22 Then let my shoulder fall away from its socket, And my arm be broken off at the elbow.

23 “For tragedy from God is a terror to me, And because of His majesty and exaltation I can do nothing [nor endure facing Him].

24 “If I have put my trust and confidence in gold, Or have declared fine gold my hope and assurance,

25 If I gloated and rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my [powerful] hand [alone] had obtained so much,

26 If I beheld the sun [as an object of worship] when it shone Or the moon going in its splendor,

27 And my heart became secretly enticed [by them], And my hand threw a kiss from my mouth [in respect to them],

28 This also would have been [a heinous] sin calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above.