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[1] I made a covenant with mine eyes: why then should I think on a maid?
[2] For what portion should I have of God from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
[3] Is not destruction to the wicked and strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?
[4] Doth not he behold my ways and tell all my steps?
[5] If I have walked in vanity, or if my foot hath made haste to deceit,
[6] Let God weigh me in the just balance, and he shall know mine uprightness.
[7] If my step hath turned out of the way, or mine heart hath walked after mine eye, or if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands,
[8] Let me sow, and let another eat: yea, let my plants be rooted out.
[9] If mine heart hath been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at the door of my neighbor,
[10] Let my wife grind unto another man, and let other men bow down upon her:
[11] For this is a wickedness, and iniquity to be condemned:
[12] Yea, this is a fire that shall devour to destruction, and which shall root out all mine increase,
[13] If I did contemn the judgment of my servant, and of my maid, when they did contend with me,
[14] What then shall I do when God standeth up? And when he shall visit me, what shall I answer?
[15] He that hath made me in the womb, hath he not made him? Hath not he alone fashioned us in the womb?
[16] If I restrained the poor of their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
[17] Or have eaten my morsels alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof,
[18] (For from my youth he hath grown up with me as with a father, and from my mother's womb I have been a guide unto her)
[19] If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering,
[20] If his loins have not blessed me, because he was warmed with the fleece of my sheep,
[21] If I have lift up mine hand against the fatherless, when I saw that I might help him in the gate,
[22] Let mine arm fall from my shoulder, and mine arm be broken from the bone.
[23] For God's punishment was fearful unto me, and I could not be delivered from his highness.
[24] If I made gold mine hope, or have said to the wedge of gold, Thou art my confidence,
[25] If I rejoiced because my substance was great, or because mine hand had gotten much,
[26] If I did behold the sun, when it shined, or the moon, walking in her brightness,
[27] If mine heart did flatter me in secret, or if my mouth did kiss mine hand,
[28] (This also had been an iniquity to be condemned: for I had denied the God above)
[29] If I rejoiced at his destruction that hated me, or was moved to joy when evil came upon him,
[30] Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin, by wishing a curse unto his soul.
[31] Did not the men of my tabernacle say, Who shall give us of his flesh? We cannot be satisfied.
[32] The stranger did not lodge in the street, but I opened my doors unto him, that went by the way.
[33] If I have hid my sin, as Adam, concealing mine iniquity in my bosom,
[34] Though I could have made afraid a great multitude, yet the most contemptible of the families did fear me: so I kept silence, and went not out of the door.
[35] Oh that I had some to hear me! behold my sign that the Almighty will witness for me: though mine adversary should write a book against me,
[36] Would not I take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown unto me?
[37] I will tell him the number of my goings, and go unto him as to a prince.
[38] If my land cry against me, or the furrows thereof complain together,
[39] If I have eaten the fruits thereof without silver: or if I have grieved the souls of the masters thereof,
[40] Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle in the stead of barley. THE WORDS OF JOB ARE ENDED.
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