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[1] I made a couenaunt with myne eyes: why then should I loke vpon a mayden
[2] For how great a portion shall I haue of God? and what inheritaunce from the almightie on hye
[3] Is not destruction to the wicked? and straunge punishement to the workers of iniquitie
[4] Doth not he see my wayes, and tell all my goynges
[5] If I haue walked in vanitie, or if my feete haue runne to disceaue
[6] Let me be wayed in an euen balaunce, that God may see myne innocencie
[7] If my steppe hath turned out of the way, & myne heart walked after myne eyes, and if any blot haue cleaued to my handes
[8] Then shall I sowe, and an other eate: yea my posteritie shalbe cleane rooted out
[9] If my heart haue ben deceaued by a woman, or if I haue layde wayte at my neyghbours doore
[10] Then let my wife grinde vnto an other man, and let other men lye with her
[11] For this is a wickednesse, and sinne that is worthy to be punished
[12] Yea a fire that vtterly should consume and roote out all my increase
[13] If I euer thought scorne to do right vnto my seruauntes & maydens, when they had any matter against me
[14] When God will sit in iudgement, what shall I do? & when he will visite me, what aunswere shal I geue him
[15] He that fashioned me in my mothers wombe, made he not him also? were we not both shapen a like in our mothers bodies
[16] If I denied the poore of their desire, or haue caused the eyes of the wydow to wayte in vayne
[17] If I haue eaten my morsell alone, that ye fatherlesse hath not eaten therof
[18] (For from my youth it hath growen vp with me as with a father, and from my mothers wombe I haue ben guyde to the [wydowe]
[19] If I haue seene any perishe for want of clothing, or any poore for lake of rayment
[20] If his loynes haue not blessed me, because he was warmed with the fleece of my sheepe
[21] If I haue lift vp mine hand against the fatherlesse, when I sawe that I might helpe him in the gate
[22] Then let myne arme fall fro my shoulder, and myne arme holes be broken from the bone
[23] For I haue euer feared the vengeaunce and punishment of God, and [knewe very well that] I was not able to beare his burthen
[24] Haue I put my trust in golde? or haue I sayde to the wedge of golde, thou art my confidence
[25] Haue I reioyced because my power was great, and because my hande gat so much
[26] Dyd I euer greatly regarde the rysing of the sunne? or had I the goyng downe of the moone in great reputation
[27] Hath my heart medled priuyly with any disceite? or did I euer kisse myne owne hande
[28] (That were a wickednesse worthy to be punished: for then shoulde I haue denyed the God that is aboue.
[29] Haue I euer reioyced at the hurt of myne enemie? or was I euer glad that any harme happened vnto him? [Oh, no.
[30] I neuer suffred my mouth to sinne, by wishing a curse to his soule
[31] Dyd not the men of myne owne housholde say, Who shall let vs to haue our belly full of his fleshe
[32] The straunger dyd not lodge in the streete, but I opened my doores vnto him that went by the way
[33] Haue I kept secrete my sinne, and hyd myne iniquitie, as Adam dyd
[34] Though I coulde haue made afeard a great multitude, yet the most contemptible of the families dyd feare me: so I kept scilence, and went not out of the doore
[35] O that I had one which woulde heare me: beholde my signe in the whiche the almightie shal aunswere for me, though he that is my contrarie partie hath written a booke against me
[36] Yet will I take it vpon my shoulder, & as a garlande binde it about my head
[37] I will tell hym the number of my goinges, & go vnto him as to a prince
[38] But if case be that my lande crye against me, or that the forowes thereof make any complaynt
[39] If I haue eaten the fruites therof vnpayed for, yea if I haue greeued the soules of the maisters therof
[40] Then let thystles growe in steede of my wheate, and cockle for my barlye
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