¹ I made a covenant with mine eyes; How then could I gaze upon a maid?

² For what is the portion appointed by God from above, And the inheritance allotted by the Almighty from on high?

³ Is not destruction for the wicked, And ruin for the workers of iniquity?

⁴ Doth He not see my ways, And number all my steps?

⁵ If I have walked with falsehood, And if my foot hath hasted to deceit,

⁶ Let him weigh me in an even balance; Yea, let God know my integrity!

⁷ If my steps have turned aside from the way, And my heart gone after mine eyes, Or if any stain hath cleaved to my hand,

⁸ Then I may sow, and another eat; And what I plant, may it be rooted up!

⁹ If my heart hath been enticed by a woman, Or if I have watched at my neighbor’s door,

¹⁰ Then let my wife grind for another, And let other men lie with her!

¹¹ For this were a heinous crime, Even a transgression to be punished by the judges;

¹² Yea, it were a fire that would consume to destruction, And root out all my increase.

¹³ If I have refused justice to my man-servant or maid-servant, When they had a controversy with me,

¹⁴ Then what shall I do when God riseth up? And when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?

¹⁵ Did not He that made me in the womb make him? Did not one fashion us in the womb?

¹⁶ If I have refused the poor their desire, And caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

¹⁷ If I have eaten my morsel alone, And the fatherless hath not partaken of it;

¹⁸ (Nay, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And I have helped the widow from my mother’s womb;)

¹⁹ If I have seen any one perishing for want of clothing, Or any poor man without covering;

²⁰ If his loins have not blessed me, And he hath not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

²¹ If I have shaken my hand against the fatherless, Because I saw my help in the gate,—

²² Then may my shoulder fill from its blade, And my fore-arm be broken from its bone!

²³ For destruction from God was a terror to me, And before his majesty I could do nothing.

²⁴ If I have made gold my trust, Or said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;

²⁵ If I have rejoiced, because my wealth was great, And my hand had found abundance;

²⁶ If I have beheld the sun in his splendor, Or the moon advancing in brightness,

²⁷ And my heart hath been secretly enticed, And my mouth hath kissed my hand,

²⁸ This also were a crime to be punished by the judge; For I should have denied the God who is above.

²⁹ If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, And exulted when evil came upon him;

³⁰ (Nay, I have not suffered my mouth to sin, By asking with curses his life;)

³¹ If the men of my tent have not exclaimed, "Who is there that hath not been satisfied with his meat?"

³² The stranger did not lodge in the street; I opened my doors to the traveller.

³³ Have I, after the manner of men, hidden my transgression, Concealing my iniquity in my bosom,

³⁴ Then let me be confounded before the great multitude! Let the contempt of families cover me with shame! Yea, let me keep silence! let me never appear abroad!

³⁵ O that there were one who would hear me! Behold my signature! let the Almighty answer me. And let mine adversary write down his charge!

³⁶ Truly I would wear it upon my shoulder; I would bind it upon me as a crown.

³⁷ I would disclose to him all my steps; I would approach him like a prince.

³⁸ If my land cry out against me, And its furrows bewail together;

³⁹ If I have eaten of its fruits without payment, And wrung out the life of its owners,

⁴⁰ Let thorns grow up instead of wheat, And noxious weeds instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.