Job 31

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW JERUSALEM
1 I reached an agreement with my eyes, that I would not so much as think about a virgin.	1 I had made an agreement with my eyes not to linger on any virgin.
2 For what portion should God from above hold for me, and what inheritance should the Almighty from on high keep?	2 Now what portion does God al ot from above, what fate does Shaddai apportion from his heaven-
3 Is not destruction held for the wicked and repudiation kept for those who work injustice?	3 if not the disasters appropriate to the wicked and the calamities fit for evil-doers?
4 Does he not examine 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 vanity, or if my foot has hurried towards deceitfulness,	5 Have I been a fel ow-travel er with falsehood, or hastened my steps towards deceit?
6 let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity.	6 Let him weigh me on accurate scales: then he, God, will recognise my integrity!
7 If my steps have turned aside from the way, or if my heart has followed my eyes, or if a blemish has clung 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, and let another consume, and let my offspring be eradicated.	8 let someone else eat what I have sown and let my young shoots all be rooted out.
9 If my heart has been deceived over a woman, or if I have waited in ambush at my friend’s door,	9 If my heart has been seduced by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbour's door,
10 then let my wife be the harlot of another, and let other men lean over her.	10 let my wife go and grind for someone else, let others have intercourse with her!
11 For this is a crime and a very great injustice.	11 For I would have committed a sin of lust, a crime punishable by the law,
12 It is a fire devouring all the way to perdition, and it roots out all that springs forth.	12 a fire, indeed, burning al to Perdition, which would have devoured my whole revenue.
13 If I have despised being subject to judgment with my servant or my maid, when they had any complaint against me,	13 If I have ever infringed the rights of slave or slave-girl in legal actions against me-
14 then what will I do when God rises to judge, and, when he inquires, how will I respond to him?	14 what shal I do, when God stands up? What shal I say, when he holds his assize?
15 Is not he who created me in the womb, also he who labored to make him? And did not one and the same form me in the womb?	15 Did he not create them in the womb like me, the same God forming us in the womb?
16 If I have denied the poor what they wanted and have made the eyes of the widow wait;	16 Have I been insensible to the needs of the poor, or let a widow's eyes grow dim?
17 if I have eaten my morsel of food alone, while orphans have not eaten from it;	17 Have I eaten my bit of bread on my own without sharing it with the orphan?
18 (for from my infancy mercy grew with me, and it came out with me 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 looked down on him who was perishing because he had no clothing and the poor without any covering,	19 have I ever seen a wretch in need of clothing, or the poor with nothing to wear,
20 if his sides have not blessed me, and if he were not 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 lifted up my hand over an orphan, even when it might seem to me that I the advantage over him at the gate;	21 Have I raised my hand against an orphan, presuming on my credit at the gate?
22 then may my shoulder fall from its joint, and may my arm, with all its bones, be broken.	22 If so, let my shoulder fal from its socket, let my arm break off at the elbow!
23 For I have always feared God, like waves flowing over me, whose weight I was unable to bear.	23 For the terror of God would fal on me and I could not then stand my ground before his majesty.
24 If I have considered gold to be my strength, or if I have called purified gold ‘my Trust;’	24 Have I put my faith in gold, saying to fine gold, 'Ah, my security'?
25 if I have rejoiced over my great success, and over the many things my hand has obtained;	25 Have I ever gloated over my great wealth, or the riches that my hands have won?
26 if I gazed upon the sun when it shined and the moon advancing brightly,	26 Or has the sight of the sun in its glory, or the glow of the moon as it walked the sky,
27 so that my heart rejoiced in secret and I kissed my hand with my mouth,	27 secretly stolen my heart, so that I blew them a kiss?
28 which is a very great iniquity and a denial against the most high God;	28 That too would be a criminal offence, to have denied the supreme God.
29 if I have been glad at the ruin of him who hated me and have exulted that evil found him,	29 Have I rejoiced at my enemy's misfortune, or exulted when disaster overtook him? -
30 for I have not been given my throat to sin by asking for a curse on his soul;	30 I, who would not allow my tongue to sin or to lay his life under a curse.
31 if the men around my tabernacle have not said: “He might give us some of his food, so that we will be filled,”	31 The people of my tent, did they not say, 'Will anyone name a person whom he has not fil ed withmeat?'
32 for the foreigner did not remain at the door, my door was open to the traveler;	32 No stranger ever had to sleep outside, my door was always open to the traveller.
33 if, as man does, I have hidden my sin and have concealed my iniquity in my bosom;	33 Have I ever concealed my transgression from others or kept my fault a secret in my breast?
34 if I became frightened by an excessive crowd, and the disrespect of close relatives alarmed me, so that I would much rather have remained silent or have gone out the door;	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 then, would he grant me a hearing, so that the Almighty would listen to my desire, and he who judges would himself write a book,	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 which I would then carry on my shoulder and wrap around me like a crown?	36 I shall wear it on my shoulder, and bind it round my head like a royal turban.
37 With each of my steps, I would pronounce and offer it, as if to a prince.	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 So, if my land cries out against me, and if its furrows weep with it,	38 If my land cries for vengeance against me and its furrows weep in concert,
39 if I have used its fruits for nothing but money and have afflicted the souls of its tillers,	39 if I have eaten its produce without paying, and caused the death of its owners,
40 then, may thistles spring forth for me instead of grain, and thorns instead of barley. (This ended the words of Job.)	40 let brambles grow instead of wheat, rank weeds instead of barley!