| Chapter 31 |
1 |
I made a covenant with mine eyes; How then should I look upon a virgin? -
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2 |
For what is the portion from God above, And the heritage from the Almighty on high? -
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3 |
Is it not calamity to the unrighteous, And disaster to the workers of iniquity? -
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4 |
Doth not he see my ways, And number all my steps? -
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5 |
If I have walked with falsehood, And my foot hath hasted to deceit -
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6 |
(Let me be weighed in an even balance, That God may know mine integrity); -
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7 |
If my step hath turned out of the way, And my heart walked after mine eyes, And if any spot hath cleaved to my hands: -
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8 |
Then let me sow, and let another eat; Yea, let the produce of my field be rooted out. -
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9 |
If my heart hath been enticed unto a woman, And I have laid wait at my neighbor's door; -
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10 |
Then let my wife grind unto another, And let others bow down upon her. -
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11 |
For that were a heinous crime; Yea, it were an iniquity to be punished by the judges: -
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12 |
For it is a fire that consumeth unto Destruction, And would root out all mine increase. -
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13 |
If I have despised the cause of my man-servant or of my maid-servant, When they contended with me; -
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14 |
What then shall I do when God riseth up? And when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? -
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15 |
Did not he that made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb? -
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16 |
If I have withheld the poor from [their] desire, Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, -
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17 |
Or have eaten my morsel alone, And the fatherless hath not eaten thereof -
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18 |
(Nay, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And her have I guided from my mother's womb); -
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19 |
If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, Or that the needy had no covering; -
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20 |
If his loins have not blessed me, And if he hath not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep; -
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21 |
If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, Because I saw my help in the gate: -
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22 |
Then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, And mine arm be broken from the bone. -
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23 |
For calamity from God is a terror to me, And by reason of his majesty I can do nothing. -
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24 |
If I have made gold my hope, And have said to the fine gold, [Thou art] my confidence; -
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25 |
If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gotten much; -
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26 |
If I have beheld the sun when it shined, Or the moon walking in brightness, -
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27 |
And my heart hath been secretly enticed, And my mouth hath kissed my hand: -
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28 |
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have denied the God that is above. -
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29 |
If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, Or lifted up myself when evil found him; -
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30 |
(Yea, I have not suffered by mouth to sin By asking his life with a curse); -
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31 |
If the men of my tent have not said, Who can find one that hath not been filled with his meat? -
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32 |
(The sojourner hath not lodged in the street; But I have opened my doors to the traveller); -
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33 |
If like Adam I have covered my transgressions, By hiding mine iniquity in my bosom, -
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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- -
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35 |
Oh that I had one to hear me! (Lo, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me); And [that I had] the indictment which mine adversary hath written! -
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36 |
Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder; I would bind it unto me as a crown: -
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37 |
I would declare unto him the number of my steps; As a prince would I go near unto him. -
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38 |
If my land crieth out against me, And the furrows thereof weep together; -
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39 |
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, Or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life: -
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40 |
Let thistles grow instead of wheat, And cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended. -
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