31: 2 327For what is the portion from God above, And the heritage from the Almighty on high?
327Or, For what portion should I have of God above, And what heritage from the Almighty on high? 3 Is there not calamity to the unrighteous,
31: 3 Is it not calamity to the unrighteous, And disaster to the workers of iniquity?
31: 4 Doth not he see my ways, And number all my steps?
31: 5 If I have walked with falsehood, And my foot hath hasted to deceit;
31: 6 (Let me be weighed in an even balance, That God may know mine integrity;)
31: 7 If my step hath turned out of the way, And my heart walked after mine eyes, And if any spot hath cleaved to my hands:
31: 8 Then let me sow, and let another eat; Yes, let 328the produce of my field be rooted out.
328Or, my offspring Hb. my produce
31: 9 If my heart hath been enticed unto a woman, And I have laid wait at my neighbor’s door;
31: 10 Then let my wife grind unto another, And let others bow down upon her.
31: 11 For that were a heinous crime; Yes, it were an iniquity to be punished by the judges;
31: 12 For it is a fire that consumeth unto 329Destruction, And would root out all mine increase.
329Hb. Abaddon, See ch. 26:6.
31: 13 If I have despised the cause of my man-servant or of my maid-servant, When they contended with me;
31: 14 What then shall I do when God riseth up? And when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?
31: 15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?
31: 16 If I have withheld 330the poor from their desire, Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
330Or, aught that the poor desired,
31: 17 Or have eaten my morsel alone, And the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;
31: 18 (No, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And her have I guided from my mother’s womb;)
31: 19 If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, Or that the needy had no covering;
31: 20 If his loins have not blessed me, And if he hath not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
31: 21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, Because I saw my help in the gate:
31: 22 Then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, And mine arm be broken from the bone.
31: 23 For calamity from God is a terror to me, And by reason of his majesty I can do nothing.
31: 24 If I have made gold my hope, And have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;
31: 25 If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gotten much;
31: 26 If I have beheld 331the sun when it shined, Or the moon walking in brightness,
331Hb. the light when it shined,
31: 27 And my heart hath been secretly enticed, And 332my mouth hath kissed my hand:
332Hb. my hand hath kissed my mouth:
31: 28 This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have denied the God that is above.
31: 29 If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, Or lifted up myself when evil found him;
31: 30 (Yes, I have not suffered my 333mouth to sin By asking his soul with a curse;)
333Hb. palate
31: 31 If the men of my tent have not said, Who can find one that hath not been filled with his meat?
31: 32 (The sojourner hath not lodged in the street; But I have opened my doors to 334the traveller;)
334Hb. the way;
31: 33 If 335like Adam I have covered my transgressions, By hiding mine iniquity in my bosom;
335Or, after the manner of men I have covered
31: 34 Because I feared the great multitude, And the contempt of families terrified me, So that I kept silence, and went not out of the door –
31: 35 Oh that I had one to hear me! (Lo, here is my 336signature, let the Almighty answer me;) And that I had the 337indictment which mine adversary hath written!
336Hb. mark
337Hb. book
31: 36 Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder; I would bind it unto me as a crown:
31: 37 I would declare unto him the number of my steps; As a prince would I 338go near unto him.
338Or, present it to him.
31: 38 If my land crieth out against me, And the furrows thereof weep together;
31: 39 If I have eaten the 339fruits thereof without money, Or have caused the owners thereof to lose their soul:
339Hb. strength
31: 40 Let 340thistles grow instead of wheat, And 341cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.
340Or, thorns
341Or, noisome weeds instead of barley.
