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The Book of Job, Chapter 31
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1 |
I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a
maid?
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2 |
For what portion of God is there from above? and what
inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
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3 |
Is not destruction to
the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?
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4 |
Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?
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5 |
If I have
walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;
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6 |
Let me
be weighed in an even balance that God may know mine integrity.
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7 |
If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked
after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;
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8 |
Then
let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.
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9 |
If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid
wait at my neighbour's door;
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10 |
Then let my wife grind unto
another, and let others bow down upon her.
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11 |
For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be
punished by the judges.
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12 |
For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root
out all mine increase.
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13 |
If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my
maidservant, when they contended with me;
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14 |
What then shall I do
when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?
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15 |
Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one
fashion us in the womb?
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16 |
If I have withheld the poor from their
desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
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17 |
Or have
eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten
thereof;
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(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a
father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;)
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19 |
If I have
seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;
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20 |
If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with
the fleece of my sheep;
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21 |
If I have lifted up my hand against the
fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:
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22 |
Then let mine arm
fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.
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23 |
For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of
his highness I could not endure.
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24 |
If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou
art my confidence;
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25 |
If I rejoice because my wealth was great, and
because mine hand had gotten much;
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26 |
If I beheld the sun when it
shined, or the moon walking in brightness;
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27 |
And my heart hath
been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:
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28 |
This
also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have
denied the God that is above.
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29 |
If I rejoice at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted
up myself when evil found him:
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30 |
Neither have I suffered my mouth
to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.
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31 |
If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his
flesh! we cannot be satisfied.
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32 |
The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors
to the traveller.
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33 |
If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity
in my bosom:
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34 |
Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt
of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the
door?
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35 |
Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the
Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.
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36 |
Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown
to me.
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37 |
I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince
would I go near unto him.
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38 |
If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof
complain;
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39 |
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or
have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:
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40 |
Let thistles
grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley.
The words of Job are ended.
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