Job 31

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