Job 31
1“I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I gaze with desire at a virgin?
2For what is the allotment of God from above, or the heritage from the Almighty on high?
3Does not disaster come to the unjust and calamity to the workers of iniquity?
4Does He not see my ways and count my every step?
5If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit,
6let God weigh me with honest scales, that He may know my integrity.
7If my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has followed my eyes, or if impurity has stuck to my hands,
8then may another eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted.
9If my heart has been enticed by my neighbor’s wife, or I have lurked at his door,
10then may my own wife grind grain for another, and may other men sleep with her.
11For that would be a heinous crime, an iniquity to be judged.
12For it is a fire that burns down to Abaddon; it would root out my entire harvest.
13If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they made a complaint against me,
14what will I do when God rises to judge? How will I answer when called to account?
15Did not He who made me in the womb also make them? Did not the same One form us in the womb?
16If I have denied the desires of the poor or allowed the widow’s eyes to fail,
17if I have eaten my morsel alone, not sharing it with the fatherless—
18though from my youth I reared him as would a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow—
19if I have seen one perish for lack of clothing, or a needy man without a cloak,
20if his heart has not blessed me for warming him with the fleece of my sheep,
21if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless because I saw that I had support in the gate,
22then may my arm fall from my shoulder and be torn from its socket.
23For calamity from God terrifies me, and His splendor I cannot overpower.
24If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security,
25if I have rejoiced in my great wealth because my hand had gained so much,
26if I have beheld the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor,
27so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,
28this would also be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have denied God on high.
29If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin, or exulted when evil befell him—
30I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse—
31if the men of my house have not said, ‘Who is there who has not had his fill?’—
32but no stranger had to lodge on the street, for my door has been open to the traveler—
33if I have covered my transgressions like Adam by hiding my guilt in my heart,
34because I greatly feared the crowds and the contempt of the clans terrified me, so that I kept silent and would not go outside—
35(Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment.
36Surely I would carry it on my shoulder and wear it like a crown.
37I would give account of all my steps; I would approach Him like a prince.)—
38if my land cries out against me and its furrows weep together,
39if I have devoured its produce without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants,
40then let briers grow instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley.” Thus conclude the words of Job.
1For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; save me by Your righteousness.
2Incline Your ear to me; come quickly to my rescue. Be my rock of refuge, the stronghold of my deliverance.
3For You are my rock and my fortress; lead me and guide me for the sake of Your name.
4You free me from the net laid out for me, for You are my refuge.
5Into Your hands I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD, God of truth.
6I hate those who cling to worthless idols, but in the LORD I trust.
7I will be glad and rejoice in Your loving devotion, for You have seen my affliction; You have known the anguish of my soul.
8You have not delivered me to the enemy; You have set my feet in the open.
9Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes fail from sorrow, my soul and body as well.
10For my life is consumed with grief and my years with groaning; my iniquity has drained my strength, and my bones are wasting away.
11Among all my enemies I am a disgrace, and among my neighbors even more. I am dreaded by my friends—they flee when they see me on the street.
12I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind. I am like a broken vessel.
13For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side. They conspire against me and plot to take my life.
14But I trust in You, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.”
15My times are in Your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.
16Make Your face shine on Your servant; save me by Your loving devotion.
17O LORD, let me not be ashamed, for I have called on You. Let the wicked be put to shame; let them lie silent in Sheol.
18May lying lips be silenced—lips that speak with arrogance against the righteous, full of pride and contempt.
19How great is Your goodness which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have bestowed before the sons of men on those who take refuge in You!
20You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the schemes of men. You conceal them in Your shelter from accusing tongues.
21Blessed be the LORD, for He has shown me His loving devotion in a city under siege.
22In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from Your sight!” But You heard my plea for mercy when I called to You for help.
23Love the LORD, all His saints. The LORD preserves the faithful, but fully repays the arrogant.
24Be strong and courageous, all you who hope in the LORD.