31:1
I had made an agreement with my eyes not to linger on any virgin.
31:2
Now what portion does God allot from above, what fate does Shaddai apportion from his heaven-
31:3
if not the disasters appropriate to the wicked and the calamities fit for evil-doers?
31:4
But surely he sees how I behave, does he not count all my steps?
31:5
Have I been a fellow-traveller with falsehood, or hastened my steps towards deceit?
31:6
Let him weigh me on accurate scales: then he, God, will recognise my integrity!
31:7
If my feet have wandered from the rightful path, or if my eyes have led my heart astray, or if my hands are smirched with any stain,
31:8
let someone else eat what I have sown and let my young shoots all be rooted out.
31:9
If my heart has been seduced by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbour's door,
31:10
let my wife go and grind for someone else, let others have intercourse with her!
31:11
For I would have committed a sin of lust, a crime punishable by the law,
31:12
a fire, indeed, burning all to Perdition, which would have devoured my whole revenue.
31:13
If I have ever infringed the rights of slave or slave-girl in legal actions against me-
31:14
what shall I do, when God stands up? What shall I say, when he holds his assize?
31:15
Did he not create them in the womb like me, the same God forming us in the womb?
31:16
Have I been insensible to the needs of the poor, or let a widow's eyes grow dim?
31:17
Have I eaten my bit of bread on my own without sharing it with the orphan?
31:18
I, whom God has fostered father-like from childhood, and guided since I left my mother's womb,
31:19
have I ever seen a wretch in need of clothing, or the poor with nothing to wear,
31:20
without his having cause to bless me from his heart, as he felt the warmth of the fleece from my lambs?
31:21
Have I raised my hand against an orphan, presuming on my credit at the gate?
31:22
If so, let my shoulder fall from its socket, let my arm break off at the elbow!
31:23
For the terror of God would fall on me and I could not then stand my ground before his majesty.
31:24
Have I put my faith in gold, saying to fine gold, 'Ah, my security'?
31:25
Have I ever gloated over my great wealth, or the riches that my hands have won?
31:26
Or has the sight of the sun in its glory, or the glow of the moon as it walked the sky,
31:27
secretly stolen my heart, so that I blew them a kiss?
31:28
That too would be a criminal offence, to have denied the supreme God.
31:29
Have I rejoiced at my enemy's misfortune, or exulted when disaster overtook him? -
31:30
I, who would not allow my tongue to sin or to lay his life under a curse.
31:31
The people of my tent, did they not say, 'Will anyone name a person whom he has not filled with meat?'
31:32
No stranger ever had to sleep outside, my door was always open to the traveller.
31:33
Have I ever concealed my transgression from others or kept my fault a secret in my breast?
31:34
Have I ever stood in fear of common gossip, or dreaded any family's contempt, and so kept quiet, not venturing out of doors?
31:35
Will no one give me a hearing? I have said my last word; now let Shaddai reply! When my adversary has drafted his writ against me
31:36
I shall wear it on my shoulder, and bind it round my head like a royal turban.
31:37
I shall give him an account of my every step and go as boldly as a prince to meet him. End of the words of Job.
31:38
If my land cries for vengeance against me and its furrows weep in concert,
31:39
if I have eaten its produce without paying, and caused the death of its owners,
31:40
let brambles grow instead of wheat, rank weeds instead of barley!
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