Job 31:1–23

1  I made a covenant with mine eyes; and how should I fix my regard upon a maid? 2  For what would have been my portion of †God from above, and what the heritage of the Almighty from on high? 3  Is not calamity for the unrighteous? and misfortune for the workers of iniquity? 4  Doth not he see my ways, and number all my steps? 5  If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot hath hasted to deceit, 6  (Let me be weighed in an even balance, and †God will take knowledge of my blamelessness;) 7  If my step have turned out of the way, and my heart followed mine eyes, and if any blot cleaveth to my hands; 8  Let me sow, and another eat; and let mine offspring be rooted out.

9  If my heart have been enticed unto a woman, so that I laid wait at my neighbour’s door, 10  Let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down upon her. 11  For this is an infamy; yea, it is an iniquity to be judged by the judges: 12  For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase. 13  If I have despised the cause of my bondman or of my bondmaid, when they contended with me, 14  What then should I do when •God riseth up? and if he visited, what should I answer him? 15  Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not One fashion us in the womb?

16  If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail; 17  Or have eaten my morsel alone, so that the fatherless ate not thereof, 18  (For from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and I have guided the widow from my mother’s womb;) 19  If I have seen any perishing for want of clothing, or any needy without covering; 20  If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my lambs; 21  If I have lifted up my hand against an orphan, because I saw my help in the gate: 22  Then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone! 23  For calamity from •God was a terror to me, and by reason of his excellency I was powerless.