Job 31

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 "I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I look upon a virgin?	1 If I have made an agreement with my eyes and entertained any thoughts against a maiden;
2 What would be my portion from God above, and my heritage from the Almighty on high?	2 But what is man's lot from God above, his inheritance from the Almighty on high?
3 Does not calamity befall the unrighteous, and disaster the workers of iniquity?	3 Is it not calamity for the unrighteous, and woe for evildoers?
4 Does not he see my ways, and number all my steps?	4 Does he not see my ways, and number all my steps?
5 "If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot has hastened to deceit;	5 If I have walked in falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit;
6 (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!)	6 Let God weigh me in the scales of justice; thus will he know my innocence!
7 if my step has turned aside from the way, and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has cleaved to my hands;	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 then let me sow, and another eat; and let what grows for me 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 enticed to a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door;	9 If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door;
10 then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down upon her.	10 Then may my wife grind for another, and may others cohabit with her!
11 For that would be a heinous crime; that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges;	11 For that would be heinous, a crime to be condemned;
12 for that would be a fire which consumes unto Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase.	12 A fire that should burn down to the abyss till it consumed all my possessions to the roots.
13 "If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me;	13 Had I refused justice to my manservant or to my maid, when they had a claim against me,
14 what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?	14 What then should I do when God rose up; what could I answer when he demanded an account?
15 Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion 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 "If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,	16 If I have denied anything to the poor, or allowed the eyes of the widow to languish
17 or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it	17 While I ate my portion alone, with no share in it for the fatherless,
18 (for from his youth I reared him as a father, and from his mother's womb I guided him);	18 Though like a father God has reared me from my youth, guiding me even from my mother's womb--
19 if I have seen any one perish for lack of clothing, or a poor man without covering;	19 If I have seen a wanderer without clothing, or a poor man without covering,
20 if his loins have not blessed me, and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;	20 Whose limbs have not blessed me when warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, because I saw help in the gate;	21 If I have raised my hand against the innocent because I saw that I had supporters at the gate--
22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket.	22 Then may my arm fall from the shoulder, my forearm be broken at the elbow!
23 For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty.	23 For the dread of God will be upon me, and his majesty will overpower me.
24 "If I have made gold my trust, or called fine gold my confidence;	24 Had I put my trust in gold or called fine gold my security;
25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, or because my hand had gotten much;	25 Or had I rejoiced that my wealth was great, or that my hand had acquired abundance--
26 if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor,	26 Had I looked upon the sun as it shone, or the moon in the splendor of its progress,
27 and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand;	27 And had my heart been secretly enticed to waft them a kiss with my hand;
28 this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I should have been false to God above.	28 This too would be a crime for condemnation, for I should have denied God above.
29 "If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him that hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him	29 Had I rejoiced at the destruction of my enemy or exulted when evil fell upon him,
30 (I have not let my mouth sin by asking for his life with a curse);	30 Even though I had not suffered my mouth to sin by uttering a curse against his life--
31 if the men of my tent have not said, 'Who is there that has not been filled with his meat?'	31 Had not the men of my tent exclaimed, "Who has not been fed with his meat!"
32 (the sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the wayfarer);	32 Because no stranger lodged in the street, but I opened my door to wayfarers--
33 if I have concealed my transgressions from men, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom,	33 Had I, out of human weakness, hidden my sins and buried my guilt in my bosom
34 because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and did not go 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 Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!	35 Oh, that I had one to hear my case, and that my accuser would write out his indictment!
36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown;	36 Surely, I should wear it on my shoulder or put it on me like a diadem;
37 I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him.	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 has cried out against me, and its furrows have wept together;	38 If my land has cried out against me till its very furrows complained;
39 if I have eaten its yield without payment, 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 thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley." The words of Job are ended.	40 Then let the thistles grow instead of wheat and noxious weeds instead of barley!