Chapter 31.
My step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes,
and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands, then let me sow, and let another
eat.
Yea, let my offspring be rooted out, if mine heart have been deceived by a
woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door.
Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her,
for this is an heinous crime.
Yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for it is a fire that
consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.
If I did despise the cause of my manservant, or of my maidservant,
when they contended with me, what then shall I do when God riseth up,
and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?
Did not he that made me in the womb make him?
And did not one fashion us in the womb?
If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the
widow to fail, or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not
eaten thereof, for from my youth he was brought up with me as with a father,
and I have guided her from my mother's womb.
If I have seen any parish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering,
if his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece
of my sheep, if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help
in the gate, then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken
from the bone.
For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could
not endure.
If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence,
if I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much,
if I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness,
and my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand,
this also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge, for I should have denied the
God that is above.
If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when
evil found him, neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his
soul.
If the men of my tabernacle said not, O that we had of his flesh, we cannot be
satisfied, the stranger did not lodge in the street, but I opened my doors to the
traveller.
If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom,
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?
O, that one would hear me!
Behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary
had written a book.
Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.
I would declare unto him the number of my steps, as a prince would I go near unto
him.
If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain,
if I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof
to lose their life, let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley.