Job:31

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* I made a covenant with mine eyes ; How then could I gaze upon a maid ? * For what is the portion appointed by God from above , And the inheritance allotted by the Almighty from on high ? * Is not destruction for the wicked , And ruin for the workers of iniquity ? * Doth He not see my ways , And number all my steps ? * If I have walked with falsehood , And if my foot hath hasted to deceit , * Let him weigh me in an even balance ; Yea , let God know my integrity ! * 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 , * Then I may sow , and another eat ; And what I plant , may it be rooted up ! * If my heart hath been enticed by a woman , Or if I have watched at my neighbor ’s door , * Then let my wife grind for another , And let other men lie with her ! * For this were a heinous crime , Even a transgression to be punished by the judges ; * Yea , it were a fire that would consume to destruction , And root out all my increase . * If I have refused justice to my man –servant or maid –servant , When they had a controversy with me , * Then what shall I do when God riseth up ? And when he visiteth , what shall I answer him ? * Did not He that made me in the womb make him ? Did not one fashion us in the womb ? * If I have refused the poor their desire , And caused the eyes of the widow to fail ; * If I have eaten my morsel alone , And the fatherless hath not partaken of it ; * (Nay , from my youth he grew up with me as with a father , And I have helped the widow from my mother ’s womb ;) * If I have seen any one perishing for want of clothing , Or any poor man without covering ; * If his loins have not blessed me , And he hath not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep ; * If I have shaken my hand against the fatherless , Because I saw my help in the gate ,–– * Then may my shoulder fill from its blade , And my fore –arm be broken from its bone ! * For destruction from God was a terror to me , And before his majesty I could do nothing . * If I have made gold my trust , Or said to the fine gold , Thou art my confidence ; * If I have rejoiced , because my wealth was great , And my hand had found abundance ; * If I have beheld the sun in his splendor , Or the moon advancing in brightness , * And my heart hath been secretly enticed , And my mouth hath kissed my hand , * This also were a crime to be punished by the judge ; For I should have denied the God who is above . * If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me , And exulted when evil came upon him ; * (Nay , I have not suffered my mouth to sin , By asking with curses his life ;) * If the men of my tent have not exclaimed , "Who is there that hath not been satisfied with his meat ?" * The stranger did not lodge in the street ; I opened my doors to the traveller . * Have I , after the manner of men , hidden my transgression , Concealing my iniquity in my bosom , * 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 ! * 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 ! * Truly I would wear it upon my shoulder ; I would bind it upon me as a crown . * I would disclose to him all my steps ; I would approach him like a prince . * If my land cry out against me , And its furrows bewail together ; * If I have eaten of its fruits without payment , And wrung out the life of its owners , * Let thorns grow up instead of wheat , And noxious weeds instead of barley . The words of Job are ended .

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