Job 31 (KJV) · harness.talk

1

I made a couenant with mine eyes; why then should I thinke vpon a mayd?

2

For what portion of God is there from aboue? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

3

Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquitie?

4

Doeth not he see my wayes, and count all my steps?

5

If I haue walked with vanitie, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;

6

Let me bee weighed in an euen ballance, that God may know mine integritie.

7

If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaued to my hands:

8

Then let mee sow, and let another eate, yea let my off-spring be rooted out.

9

If mine heart haue bene deceiued by a woman, or if I haue layde wait at my neighbours doore:

10

Then let my wife grind vnto another, and let others bow downe vpon her.

11

For this is an heinous crime, yea, it is an iniquitie to bee punished by the Iudges.

12

For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would roote out all mine encrease.

13

If I did despise the cause of my man-seruant, or of my mayd-seruant, when they contended with me:

14

What then shall I do, when God riseth vp? and when hee visiteth, what shall I answere him?

15

Did not hee that made mee in the wombe, make him? and did not one fashion vs in the wombe?

16

If I haue withhelde the poore from their desire, or haue caused the eyes of the widow to faile:

17

Or haue eaten my morsell my selfe alone, and the fatherlesse hath not eaten thereof:

18

(For from my youth hee was brought vp with me as with a father, and I haue guided her from my mothers wombe.)

19

If I haue seene any perish for want of cloathing, or any poore without couering:

20

If his loynes haue not blessed me, and if hee were not warmed with the fleece of my sheepe:

21

If I haue lift vp my hand against the fatherlesse, when I saw my helpe in the gate:

22

Then let mine arme fall from my shoulder-blade, and mine arme be broken from the bone.

23

For destruction from God was a terrour to mee: and by reason of his highnesse, I could not endure.

24

If I haue made golde my hope, or haue said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence:

25

If I reioyced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much:

26

If I beheld the Sunne when it shined, or the Moone walking in brightnesse:

27

And my heart hath bene secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:

28

This also were an iniquitie to be punished by the Iudge: For I should haue denied the God that is aboue.

29

If I reioyced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lift vp my selfe when euill found him:

30

(Neither haue I suffered my mouth to sinne by wishing a curse to his soule.)

31

If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! wee cannot be satisfied.

32

The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doores to the trauailer.

33

If I couered my transgressions, as Adam: by hiding mine iniquitie in my bosome:

34

Did I feare a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrifie me: that I kept silence, and went not out of the doore?

35

O that one would heare me! beholde, my desire is, that the Almightie would answere me, and that mine aduersary had written a booke.

36

Surely I would take it vpon my shoulder, and bind it as a crowne to me.

37

I would declare vnto him the number of my steps, as a prince would I goe neere vnto him.

38

If my land cry against me, or that the furrowes likewise thereof complaine:

39

If I haue eaten the fruits thereof without money, or haue caused the owners thereof to loose their life:

40

Let thistles grow in stead of wheat, and cockle in stead of barley. The words of Iob are ended.