1890 Darby's Translation of the Holy Scriptures (DBY)

Job 31

Job maketh a solemn protestation of his integrity in several duties.

 31:1 ¶ I made a covenant with mine eyes; and how should I fix my regard upon a maid?

 31:2 For what would have been [my] portion of +God from above, and what the heritage of the Almighty from on high?

 31:3 Is not calamity for the unrighteous? and misfortune for the workers of iniquity?

 31:4 Doth not he see my ways, and number all my steps?

 31:5 If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot hath hasted to deceit,

 31:6 (Let me be weighed in an even balance, and +God will take knowledge of my blamelessness;)

 31:7 If my step have turned out of the way, and my heart followed mine eyes, and if any blot cleaveth to my hands;

 31:8 Let me sow, and another eat; and let mine offspring be rooted out.

 31:9 If my heart have been enticed unto a woman, so that I laid wait at my neighbour's door,

 31:10 Let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down upon her.

 31:11 For this is an infamy; yea, it is an iniquity [to be judged by] the judges:

 31:12 For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

 31:13 If I have despised the cause of my bondman or of my bondmaid, when they contended with me,

 31:14 What then should I do when *God riseth up? and if he visited, what should I answer him?

 31:15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not One fashion us in the womb?

 31:16 If I have withheld the poor from [their] desire, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

 31:17 Or have eaten my morsel alone, so that the fatherless ate not thereof,

 31:18 (For from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and I have guided the [widow] from my mother's womb;)

 31:19 If I have seen any perishing for want of clothing, or any needy without covering;

 31:20 If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my lambs;

 31:21 If I have lifted up my hand against an orphan, because I saw my help in the gate:

 31:22 [Then] let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone!

 31:23 For calamity from *God was a terror to me, and by reason of his excellency I was powerless.

 31:24 If I have made gold my hope, or said to the fine gold, My confidence!

 31:25 If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much;

 31:26 If I beheld the sun when it shone, or the moon walking in brightness,

 31:27 And my heart have been secretly enticed, so that my mouth kissed my hand:

 31:28 This also would be an iniquity for the judge, for I should have denied the *God who is above.

 31:29 If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, and exulted when evil befell him;

 31:30 (Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by asking his life with a curse;)

 31:31 If the men of my tent said not, Who shall find one that hath not been satisfied with his meat?—

 31:32 The stranger did not lodge without; I opened my doors to the pathway.

 31:33 If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom,

 31:34 Because I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and went not out of the door, ...

 31:35 Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold my signature: let the Almighty answer me! And let mine opponent write an accusation!

 31:36 Would I not take it upon my shoulder? I would bind it on to me [as] a crown;

 31:37 I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I come near to him.

 31:38 If my land cry out against me, and its furrows weep together;

 31:39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have tormented to death the souls of its owners:

 31:40 Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and tares instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.