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Chapter 31
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1
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I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I
think upon a maid? |
2
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For what portion of God is there from above? and what
inheritance of the Almighty from on high? |
3
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Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment
to the workers of iniquity? |
4
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Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? |
5
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If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted
to deceit; |
6
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Let me be weighed in an even balance that God may know
mine integrity. |
7
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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; |
8
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Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring
be rooted out. |
9
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If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if
I have laid wait at my neighbour's door; |
10
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Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others
bow down upon her. |
11
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For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity
to be punished by the judges. |
12
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For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and
would root out all mine increase. |
13
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If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my
maidservant, when they contended with me; |
14
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What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he
visiteth, what shall I answer him? |
15
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Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did
not one fashion us in the womb? |
16
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If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have
caused the eyes of the widow to fail; |
17
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Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless
hath not eaten thereof; |
18
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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;) |
19
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If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or
any poor without covering; |
20
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If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not
warmed with the fleece of my sheep; |
21
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If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless,
when I saw my help in the gate: |
22
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Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and
mine arm be broken from the bone. |
23
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For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by
reason of his highness I could not endure. |
24
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If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine
gold, Thou art my confidence; |
25
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If I rejoice because my wealth was great, and because
mine hand had gotten much; |
26
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If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking
in brightness; |
27
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And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth
hath kissed my hand: |
28
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This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge:
for I should have denied the God that is above. |
29
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If I rejoice at the destruction of him that hated me,
or lifted up myself when evil found him: |
30
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Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing
a curse to his soul. |
31
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If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had
of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied. |
32
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The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened
my doors to the traveller. |
33
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If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine
iniquity in my bosom: |
34
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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? |
35
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Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that
the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary
had written a book. |
36
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Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it
as a crown to me. |
37
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I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as
a prince would I go near unto him. |
38
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If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise
thereof complain; |
39
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If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or
have caused the owners thereof to lose their life: |
40
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Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead
of barley. The words of Job are ended. |
