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Chapter 31

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But what is man's lot from God above, his inheritance from the Almighty on high?

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Is it not calamity for the unrighteous, and woe for evildoers?

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Does he not see my ways, and number all my steps?

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Let God weigh me in the scales of justice; thus will he know my innocence!

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¹ If I have walked in falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit;

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If my steps have turned out of the way, and my heart has followed my eyes, or any stain clings to my hands,

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Then may I sow, but another eat of it, or may my planting be rooted up!

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If my land has cried out against me till its very furrows complained;

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If I have eaten its produce without payment and grieved the hearts of its tenants;

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Then let the thistles grow instead of wheat and noxious weeds instead of barley!

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² If I have made an agreement with my eyes and entertained any thoughts against a maiden;

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If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door;

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Then may my wife grind for another, and may others cohabit with her!

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For that would be heinous, a crime to be condemned;

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A fire that should burn down to the abyss till it consumed all my possessions to the roots.

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Had I refused justice to my manservant or to my maid, when they had a claim against me,

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What then should I do when God rose up; what could I answer when he demanded an account?

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Did not he who made me in the womb make him? Did not the same One fashion us before our birth?

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If I have denied anything to the poor, or allowed the eyes of the widow to languish

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While I ate my portion alone, with no share in it for the fatherless,

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Though like a father God has reared me from my youth, guiding me even from my mother's womb - 

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If I have seen a wanderer without clothing, or a poor man without covering,

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Whose limbs have not blessed me when warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

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³ If I have raised my hand against the innocent because I saw that I had supporters at the gate - 

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Then may my arm fall from the shoulder, my forearm be broken at the elbow!

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For the dread of God will be upon me, and his majesty will overpower me.

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Had I put my trust in gold or called fine gold my security;

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Or had I rejoiced that my wealth was great, or that my hand had acquired abundance - 

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⁴ Had I looked upon the sun as it shone, or the moon in the splendor of its progress,

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And had my heart been secretly enticed to waft them a kiss with my hand;

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This too would be a crime for condemnation, for I should have denied God above.

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Had I rejoiced at the destruction of my enemy or exulted when evil fell upon him,

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Even though I had not suffered my mouth to sin by uttering a curse against his life - 

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⁵ Had not the men of my tent exclaimed, "Who has not been fed with his meat!"

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Because no stranger lodged in the street, but I opened my door to wayfarers - 

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⁶ Had I, out of human weakness, hidden my sins and buried my guilt in my bosom

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Because I feared the noisy multitude and the scorn of the tribes terrified me - then I should have remained silent, and not come out of doors!

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Oh, that I had one to hear my case, and that my accuser would write out his indictment!

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⁷ Surely, I should wear it on my shoulder or put it on me like a diadem;

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⁸ Of all my steps I should give him an account; like a prince I should present myself before him. This is my final plea; let the Almighty answer me! The words of Job are ended.