1 I have made a covenant with mine eyes, that I would not so much as think of a virgin.
1 I made a covenant with my eyes, that I would not so much as think upon a virgin.
2 For what part should God from above have in me, and inheritance the Omnipotent from on high?
2 For what part should God from above have in me, and what inheritance the Almighty from on high?
3 Is there not perdition to the wicked man, and alienation to them that work injustice?
3 Is not destruction to the wicked, and aversion to them that work iniquity?
4 Doth not he consider my ways, and number all my steps?
4 Doth not he consider my ways, and number all my steps?
5 If I have walked in vanity, and my foot hath hastened in guile:
5 If I have walked in vanity, and my foot hath made haste to deceit:
6 Let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity.
6 Let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity.
7 If my step have declined out of the way, and if my heart hath followed mine eyes, and if spot hath cleaved to my hands:
7 If my step hath turned out of the way, and if my heart hath followed my eyes, and if a spot hath cleaved to my hands:
8 Let me sow, and let another eat it: and let my progeny be plucked up by the roots.
8 Then let me sow and let another eat: and let my offspring be rooted out.
9 If my heart hath been deceived upon a woman, and if I have lien in wait at my friend's door:
9 If my heart hath been deceived upon a woman, and if I have laid wait at my friend’s door:
10 Let my wife be the harlot of another man, and let other men lie with her.
10 Let my wife be the harlot of another, and let other men lie with her.
11 For this is a heinous thing, and most great iniquity.
11 For this is a heinous crime, and a most grievous iniquity.
12 It is a fire devouring even to perdition, and rooting up all things that spring.
12 It is a fire that devoureth even to destruction, and rooteth up all things that spring.
13 If I have contemned to abide judgment with my man-servant, & my maid-servant, when they had any controversy against me.
13 If I have despised to abide judgment with my manservant, or my maidservant, when they had any controversy against me:
14 For what shall I do when God shall rise to judge? And when he shall ask, what shall I answer him?
14 For what shall I do when God shall rise to judge? And when he shall examine, what shall I answer him?
15 Did not he make me in the womb that made him also: & did not one form me in the matrice?
15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him also: and did not one and the same form me in the womb?
16 If I have denied to the poor, that which they would, & have made the eyes of the widow to expect:
16 If I have denied to the poor what they desired, and have made the eyes of the widow wait:
17 If I have eaten my morsel alone, and the pupil hath not eaten thereof with me.
17 If I have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof:
18 (Because from mine infancy mercy hath grown with me: and from my mother's womb it came forth with me.)
18 (For from my infancy mercy grew up with me: and it came out with me from my mother’s womb):
19 If I have despised him that perisheth, for that he had not clothing, and the poor man without wherewithal to cover him:
19 If I have despised him that was perishing for want of clothing, and the poor man that had no covering:
20 If his sides have not blessed me, and he was not warmed with the fleeces of my sheep:
20 If his sides have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep:
21 If I have lifted up my hand over the pupil, yea when I saw myself in the gate the superior:
21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, even when I saw myself superior in the gate:
22 Let my shoulder fall from his juncture, and let my arm with his bones be broken.
22 Let my shoulder fall from its joint, and let my arm with its bones be broken.
23 For I have always feared God as waves swelling upon me, & his weight I could not bear.
23 For I have always feared God as waves swelling over me, and his weight I was unable to bear.
24 If I have thought gold my strength, and have said to fine gold: My confidence.
24 If I have thought gold my strength, and have said to fine gold: My confidence:
25 If I have rejoiced upon my great riches, and because my hand found many things.
25 If I have rejoiced over my great riches, and because my hand had gotten much:
26 If I saw the sun when it shined, and the moon going clearly:
26 If I beheld the sun when it shined and the moon going in brightness:
27 And my heart in secret rejoiced, and I kissed my hand with my mouth.
27 And my heart in secret hath rejoiced, and I have kissed my hand with, my mouth:
28 Which is most great iniquity, and a denial against God the most high?
28 Which is a very great iniquity, and a denial against the most high God.
29 If I have been glad of his fall that hated me, and have rejoiced that evil had found him.
29 If I have been glad at the downfall of him that hated me, and have rejoiced that evil had found him.
30 For I have not given my throat to sin, that cursing I wished his soul.
30 For I have not given my mouth to sin, by wishing a curse to his soul.
31 If the men of my tabernacle have not said: Who will give of his flesh that we may be filled?
31 If the men of my tabernacle have not said: Who will give us of his flesh that we may be filled?
32 The stranger tarried not without, my door was open to the wayfaring man.
32 The stranger did not stay without, my door was open to the traveler.
33 If as man I have hid my sin, and have concealed my iniquity in my bosom.
33 If as a man I have hid my sin, and have concealed my iniquity in my bosom:
34 If I have been afraid at a very great multitude, and the contempt of kinsmen hath terrified me: and I have not rather held my peace, & not gone out of the door.
34 If I have been afraid at a very great multitude, and the contempt of kinsmen hath terrified me: and have not rather held my peace, and not gone out of the door:
35 Who will grant me an hearer, that the Omnipotent would hear my desire: and that himself that judgeth would write a book.
35 Who would grant me a hearing, that the Almighty may hear my desire: and that he himself that judgeth would write a book,
36 That I may carry it on my shoulder, and put it about me as a crown?
36 That I may carry it on my shoulder, and put it about me as a crown?
37 At every step of mine I will pronounce it, and as to the Prince I will offer it.
37 At every step of mine I would pronounce it, and offer it as to a prince.
38 If my land cry against me, & with it the furrows thereof lament:
38 If my land cry against me, and with it the furrows thereof mourn:
39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have afflicted the soul of the tillers thereof.
39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have afflicted the soul of the tillers thereof:
40 For wheat let the briar grow to me, and for barley the thorn.
40 Let thistles grow up to me instead of wheat, and thorns instead of barley.