Job 31:5-40

Job 31:5-40

[5] If I have walked  with vanity,  or if my foot  hath hasted  to deceit;  [6] Let me be weighed  in an even  balance,  that God  may know  mine integrity.  [7] If my step  hath turned out  of the way,  and mine heart  walked  after  mine eyes,  and if any blot  hath cleaved  to mine hands;  [8] Then let me sow,  and let another  eat;  yea, let my offspring  be rooted out.  [9] If mine heart  have been deceived  by a woman,  or if I have laid wait  at my neighbour's  door;  [10] Then let my wife  grind  unto another,  bow down  [11] For this is an heinous crime;  yea, it is an iniquity  to be punished by the judges.  [12] For it is a fire  that consumeth  to destruction,  and would root out  all mine increase.  [13] If I did despise  the cause  of my manservant  or of my maidservant,  [14] What then shall I do  when God  riseth up?  and when he visiteth,  what shall I answer  [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 have caused the eyes  of the widow  to fail;  [17] Or have eaten  my morsel  myself alone, and the fatherless  hath not eaten  [18] (For from my youth  he was brought up  with me, as with a father,  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;  [20] If his loins  have not blessed  me, and if he were not warmed  with the fleece  of my sheep;  [21] If I have lifted up  my hand  against the fatherless,  when I saw  my help  in the gate:  [22] Then let mine arm  fall  from my shoulder blade,  and mine arm  be broken  from the bone.  [23] For destruction  from God  was a terror  to me, and by reason of his highness  I could  [24] If I have made  gold  my hope,  or have said  to the fine gold,  Thou art my confidence;  [25] If I rejoiced  because my wealth  was great,  and because mine hand  had gotten  much;  [26] If I beheld  the sun  when it shined,  or the moon  walking  in brightness;  [27] And my heart  hath been secretly  enticed,  or my mouth  hath kissed  my hand:  [28] This also were an iniquity  to be punished by the judge:  for 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  [30] Neither have I suffered  my mouth  to sin  by wishing  a curse  to his soul.  [31] If the men  of my tabernacle  said  not, Oh that we had  of his flesh!  we cannot be satisfied.  [32] The stranger  did not lodge  in the street:  but I opened  my doors  to the traveller.  [33] If I covered  my transgressions  as Adam,  by hiding  mine iniquity  in my bosom:  [34] Did I fear  a great  multitude,  or did the contempt  of families  terrify  me, that I kept silence,  and went not out  of the door?  [35] Oh that  one would hear  me! behold, my desire  is, that the Almighty  would answer  me, and that mine adversary  had written  a book.  [36] Surely I would take  it upon my shoulder,  and bind  it as a crown  to me. [37] I would declare  unto him the number  of my steps;  as a prince  would I go near  [38] If my land  cry  against me, or that the furrows  likewise  thereof complain;  [39] If I have eaten  the fruits  thereof without money,  or have caused the owners  thereof to lose  their life:  [40] Let thistles  grow  instead of wheat,  and cockle  instead of barley.  The words  of Job  are ended.