1 "I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I look closely at a virgin?
2 What would be the portion from God above, the inheritance from the Almighty on high?
3 Is it not ruin for the unjust, and misfortune for those who do iniquity?
4 Does he not see my ways and number all my steps?
5 If I have gone along with falsehood, or my foot has rushed toward deceit,
6 let him weigh me on a just balance, and let God know that I am blameless!
7 If my step has strayed from the way, and my heart has followed my eyes, and any spot has stuck to my hands,
8 then let me sow and someone else eat, and let my produce be rooted out.
9 If my heart has been lured by a woman, and I have lurked at my neighbor's door,
10 then let my wife grind grain for another man, and let others crouch over her.
11 For that would be a wicked deed; it would be an iniquity for the judges.
12 For it would be a fire burning all the way to Abaddon, and it would root out all my increase.
13 If I have brushed aside the right of my servant or my maid when they had a grievance with me,
14 what then would I do when God arose? When he examined me, what would I answer him?
15 Did not the One who made me in the womb make him too? Did not one and the same fashion us in the womb?
16 If I have refused the poor what they wanted, or caused the widow's eyes to grow weary,
17 or eaten my bit of bread by myself, and the orphan has not shared it
18 (for from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother's womb I was her guide),
19 if I have seen someone dying for want of clothes, or a poor man with nothing to cover him,
20 if his loins did not bless me, and he was not warmed with the wool of my sheep,
21 if I have shaken my fist at the orphan because I saw my backing in the gate,
22 then let my shoulder drop from its socket, and my arm be snapped from its joint.
23 For disaster from God was a dread to me, and before his majesty I could not do such things.
24 If I have put my hope in gold, or called fine gold my security,
25 if I have delighted in the greatness of my wealth, and in how much my hand had acquired,
26 if I have gazed at the sun as it shone, or at the moon advancing in its glory,
27 and my heart was secretly lured, and my mouth kissed my hand,
28 this too would be an iniquity for the judges, for I would have been false to God above.
29 If I have been glad at the downfall of my enemy, or gloated when harm found him
30 (no, I have not allowed my mouth to sin by demanding his life with a curse),
31 if the men of my tent have not said, 'Who can find one who has not been fed from his meat?'
32 (no stranger had to lodge in the street; I kept my doors open to the wayfarer),
33 if I have hidden my transgressions as Adam did, burying my iniquity in my breast,
34 because I stood in fear of the great crowd and the scorn of the clans dismayed me, so that I kept quiet and stayed indoors—
35 If only I had someone to give me a hearing! Here is my mark; let the Almighty answer me! Let my accuser put his charge in writing!
36 I would surely wear it on my shoulder; I would tie it around me like a crown.
37 I would give him a full count of my steps; like a prince I would come near him.
38 If my land has cried out against me and its furrows have wept all together,
39 if I have consumed its produce without payment, or caused the death of its owners,
40 then let thistles come up in place of wheat, and foul weeds in place of barley." The words of Job are finished.