Job 31:1-28 ▼

1 I made a couenaunt with myne eyes: why then should I loke vpon a mayden?

2 For how great a portion shall I haue of God? and what inheritaunce from the almightie on hye?

3 Is not destruction to the wicked? and straunge punishement to the workers of iniquitie?

4 Doth not he see my wayes, and tell all my goynges?

5 If I haue walked in vanitie, or if my feete haue runne to disceaue:

6 Let me be wayed in an euen balaunce, that God may see myne innocencie.

7 If my steppe hath turned out of the way, & myne heart walked after myne eyes, and if any blot haue cleaued to my handes:

8 Then shall I sowe, and an other eate: yea my posteritie shalbe cleane rooted out.

9 If my heart haue ben deceaued by a woman, or if I haue layde wayte at my neyghbours doore:

10 Then let my wife grinde vnto an other man, and let other men lye with her.

11 For this is a wickednesse, and sinne that is worthy to be punished:

12 Yea a fire that vtterly should consume and roote out all my increase.

13 If I euer thought scorne to do right vnto my seruauntes & maydens, when they had any matter against me:

14 When God will sit in iudgement, what shall I do? & when he will visite me, what aunswere shal I geue him?

15 He that fashioned me in my mothers wombe, made he not him also? were we not both shapen a like in our mothers bodies?

16 If I denied the poore of their desire, or haue caused the eyes of the wydow to wayte in vayne:

17 If I haue eaten my morsell alone, that ye fatherlesse hath not eaten therof:

18 (For from my youth it hath growen vp with me as with a father, and from my mothers wombe I haue ben guyde to the wydowe )

19 If I haue seene any perishe for want of clothing, or any poore for lake of rayment:

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 hand against the fatherlesse, when I sawe that I might helpe him in the gate:

22 Then let myne arme fall fro my shoulder, and myne arme holes be broken from the bone.

23 For I haue euer feared the vengeaunce and punishment of God, and knewe very well that I was not able to beare his burthen.

24 Haue I put my trust in golde? or haue I sayde to the wedge of golde, thou art my confidence?

25 Haue I reioyced because my power was great, and because my hande gat so much?

26 Dyd I euer greatly regarde the rysing of the sunne? or had I the goyng downe of the moone in great reputation?

27 Hath my heart medled priuyly with any disceite? or did I euer kisse myne owne hande?

28 (That were a wickednesse worthy to be punished: for then shoulde I haue denyed the God that is aboue.)