Job 31

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 I had made an agreement with my eyes not to linger on any virgin.	1 If I have made an agreement with my eyes and entertained any thoughts against a maiden;
2 Now what portion does God al ot from above, what fate does Shaddai apportion from his heaven-	2 But what is man's lot from God above, his inheritance from the Almighty on high?
3 if not the disasters appropriate to the wicked and the calamities fit for evil-doers?	3 Is it not calamity for the unrighteous, and woe for evildoers?
4 But surely he sees how I behave, does he not count all my steps?	4 Does he not see my ways, and number all my steps?
5 Have I been a fel ow-travel er with falsehood, or hastened my steps towards deceit?	5 If I have walked in falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit;
6 Let him weigh me on accurate scales: then he, God, will recognise my integrity!	6 Let God weigh me in the scales of justice; thus will he know my innocence!
7 If my feet have wandered from the rightful path, or if my eyes have led my heart astray, or if my handsare smirched with any stain,	7 If my steps have turned out of the way, and my heart has followed my eyes, or any stain clings to my hands,
8 let someone else eat what I have sown and let my young shoots all be rooted out.	8 Then may I sow, but another eat of it, or may my planting be rooted up!
9 If my heart has been seduced by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbour's door,	9 If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door;
10 let my wife go and grind for someone else, let others have intercourse with her!	10 Then may my wife grind for another, and may others cohabit with her!
11 For I would have committed a sin of lust, a crime punishable by the law,	11 For that would be heinous, a crime to be condemned;
12 a fire, indeed, burning al to Perdition, which would have devoured my whole revenue.	12 A fire that should burn down to the abyss till it consumed all my possessions to the roots.
13 If I have ever infringed the rights of slave or slave-girl in legal actions against me-	13 Had I refused justice to my manservant or to my maid, when they had a claim against me,
14 what shal I do, when God stands up? What shal I say, when he holds his assize?	14 What then should I do when God rose up; what could I answer when he demanded an account?
15 Did he not create them in the womb like me, the same God forming us in the womb?	15 Did not he who made me in the womb make him? Did not the same One fashion us before our birth?
16 Have I been insensible to the needs of the poor, or let a widow's eyes grow dim?	16 If I have denied anything to the poor, or allowed the eyes of the widow to languish
17 Have I eaten my bit of bread on my own without sharing it with the orphan?	17 While I ate my portion alone, with no share in it for the fatherless,
18 I, whom God has fostered father-like from childhood, and guided since I left my mother's womb,	18 Though like a father God has reared me from my youth, guiding me even from my mother's womb--
19 have I ever seen a wretch in need of clothing, or the poor with nothing to wear,	19 If I have seen a wanderer without clothing, or a poor man without covering,
20 without his having cause to bless me from his heart, as he felt the warmth of the fleece from mylambs?	20 Whose limbs have not blessed me when warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
21 Have I raised my hand against an orphan, presuming on my credit at the gate?	21 If I have raised my hand against the innocent because I saw that I had supporters at the gate--
22 If so, let my shoulder fal from its socket, let my arm break off at the elbow!	22 Then may my arm fall from the shoulder, my forearm be broken at the elbow!
23 For the terror of God would fal on me and I could not then stand my ground before his majesty.	23 For the dread of God will be upon me, and his majesty will overpower me.
24 Have I put my faith in gold, saying to fine gold, 'Ah, my security'?	24 Had I put my trust in gold or called fine gold my security;
25 Have I ever gloated over my great wealth, or the riches that my hands have won?	25 Or had I rejoiced that my wealth was great, or that my hand had acquired abundance--
26 Or has the sight of the sun in its glory, or the glow of the moon as it walked the sky,	26 Had I looked upon the sun as it shone, or the moon in the splendor of its progress,
27 secretly stolen my heart, so that I blew them a kiss?	27 And had my heart been secretly enticed to waft them a kiss with my hand;
28 That too would be a criminal offence, to have denied the supreme God.	28 This too would be a crime for condemnation, for I should have denied God above.
29 Have I rejoiced at my enemy's misfortune, or exulted when disaster overtook him? -	29 Had I rejoiced at the destruction of my enemy or exulted when evil fell upon him,
30 I, who would not allow my tongue to sin or to lay his life under a curse.	30 Even though I had not suffered my mouth to sin by uttering a curse against his life--
31 The people of my tent, did they not say, 'Will anyone name a person whom he has not fil ed withmeat?'	31 Had not the men of my tent exclaimed, "Who has not been fed with his meat!"
32 No stranger ever had to sleep outside, my door was always open to the traveller.	32 Because no stranger lodged in the street, but I opened my door to wayfarers--
33 Have I ever concealed my transgression from others or kept my fault a secret in my breast?	33 Had I, out of human weakness, hidden my sins and buried my guilt in my bosom
34 Have I ever stood in fear of common gossip, or dreaded any family's contempt, and so kept quiet, notventuring out of doors?	34 Because I feared the noisy multitude and the scorn of the tribes terrified me- then I should have remained silent, and not come out of doors!
35 Will no one give me a hearing? I have said my last word; now let Shaddai reply! When my adversaryhas drafted his writ against me	35 Oh, that I had one to hear my case, and that my accuser would write out his indictment!
36 I shall wear it on my shoulder, and bind it round my head like a royal turban.	36 Surely, I should wear it on my shoulder or put it on me like a diadem;
37 I shall give him an account of my every step and go as boldly as a prince to meet him.End of thewords of Job.	37 Of all my steps I should give him an account; like a prince I should present myself before him. This is my final plea; let the Almighty answer me! The words of Job are ended.
38 If my land cries for vengeance against me and its furrows weep in concert,	38 If my land has cried out against me till its very furrows complained;
39 if I have eaten its produce without paying, and caused the death of its owners,	39 If I have eaten its produce without payment and grieved the hearts of its tenants;
40 let brambles grow instead of wheat, rank weeds instead of barley!	40 Then let the thistles grow instead of wheat and noxious weeds instead of barley!