(KJV) Job 31¹

⥃Job’s Final Appeal

[1] I made a covenant² with mine eyes; why then should I think³ upon a maid? [2] For what portion of God [is there] from above? and [what] inheritance of the Almighty from on high?⁴ [3] [Is] not destruction⁵ to the wicked? and a strange⁶ [punishment] to the workers of iniquity? [4] Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?⁷ [5] If⁸ I have walked⁹ with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; [6] Let me be weighed in an even balance¹⁰, that God may know¹¹ mine integrity. [7] If my¹² step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart¹³ walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved¹⁴ to mine hands; [8] [Then] let me¹⁵ sow, and let another eat; yea, let my¹⁶ offspring be rooted out. [9] If mine¹⁷ heart have been deceived by a woman, or [if] I¹⁸ have laid wait at my neighbour’s door; [10] [Then] let my wife grind¹⁹ unto another, and let²⁰ others bow down upon her. [11] For this [is] an heinous²¹ crime; yea, it [is] an iniquity²² [to be punished by] the judges. [12] For it [is] a fire [that] consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.²³ [13] If I did despise the cause²⁴ of my manservant or of my maidservant, when²⁵ they contended with me; [14] What then²⁶ shall I do when God riseth up? and when he²⁷ visiteth, what shall²⁸ I answer him? [15] Did not he²⁹ that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb³⁰? [16] If I have withheld³¹ the poor from [their] desire, or have caused the eyes³² of the widow to fail; [17] Or have³³ eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless³⁴ hath not eaten thereof; [18] (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as [with] a father³⁵, and I have guided her from my mother’s womb;) [19] If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;³⁶ [20] If his loins have not blessed me, and [if] he were [not] warmed with the fleece of my sheep;³⁷ [21] If I have lifted³⁸ up my hand against the fatherless, when³⁹ I saw my help in the gate: [22] [Then] let⁴⁰ mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone⁴¹. [23] For destruction⁴² [from] God [was] a terror to me, and by⁴³ reason of his highness I could not endure. [24] If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, [Thou art] my confidence;⁴⁴ [25] If I rejoiced⁴⁵ because⁴⁶ my wealth [was] great, and because mine hand had gotten much⁴⁷; [26] If I beheld⁴⁸ the sun⁴⁹ when it shined, or the moon⁵⁰ walking [in] brightness⁵¹; [27] And my heart⁵² hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand⁵³: [28] This also [were] an⁵⁴ iniquity [to be punished by] the judge: for⁵⁵ I should have denied the God [that is] above. [29] If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:⁵⁶ [30] Neither have⁵⁷ I suffered my mouth⁵⁸ to sin by wishing a curse to his soul. [31] If the men⁵⁹ of my tabernacle said not, Oh⁶⁰ that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied. [32] The stranger⁶¹ did not lodge in the street: [but] I opened my doors to the traveller⁶². [33] If I covered⁶³ my transgressions as Adam⁶⁴, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom: [34] Did I⁶⁵ fear a great multitude, or did the contempt⁶⁶ of families terrify me, that I⁶⁷ kept silence, [and] went not out of the door? [35] Oh⁶⁸ that one would hear me! behold, my desire [is], [that] the Almighty would answer⁶⁹ me, and [that] mine⁷⁰ adversary had written a book. [36] Surely I⁷¹ would take it upon my shoulder, [and] bind it [as] a crown⁷² to me. [37] I would declare⁷³ unto him the number of my steps; as a⁷⁴ prince would I go near unto him. [38] If my land cry⁷⁵ against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain⁷⁶; [39] If I have eaten the fruits⁷⁷ thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life⁷⁸: [40] Let thistles⁷⁹ grow instead of wheat, and cockle⁸⁰ instead of barley. The⁸¹ words of Job are ended.