JOB 31:1-33:33
31:1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
31:2 For what portion of God [is there] from above? and [what] inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
31:3 [Is] not destruction to the wicked? and a strange [punishment] to the workers of iniquity?
31:4 Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?
31:5 If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;
31:6 Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.
31:7 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;
31:8 [Then] let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.
31:9 If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or [if] I have laid wait at my neighbour’s door;
31:10 [Then] let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.
31:11 For this [is] an heinous crime; yea, it [is] an iniquity [to be punished by] the judges.
31:12 For it [is] a fire [that] consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.
31:13 If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;
31:14 What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?
31:15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?
31:16 If I have withheld the poor from [their] desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
31:17 Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;
31:18 (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as [with] a father, and I have guided her from my mother’s womb;)
31:19 If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;
31:20 If his loins have not blessed me, and [if] he were [not] warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
31:21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:
31:22 [Then] let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.
31:23 For destruction [from] God [was] a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.
31:24 If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, [Thou art] my confidence;
31:25 If I rejoiced because my wealth [was] great, and because mine hand had gotten much;
31:26 If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking [in] brightness;
31:27 And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:
31:28 This also [were] an iniquity [to be punished by] the judge: for I should have denied the God [that is] above.
31:29 If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:
31:30 Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.
31:31 If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.
31:32 The stranger did not lodge in the street: [but] I opened my doors to the traveller.
31:33 If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:
31:34 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?
31:35 Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire [is, that] the Almighty would answer me, and [that] mine adversary had written a book.
31:36 Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, [and] bind it [as] a crown to me.
31:37 I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.
31:38 If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;
31:39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:
31:40 Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.
32:1 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he [was] righteous in his own eyes.
32:2 Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.
32:3 Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and [yet] had condemned Job.
32:4 Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they [were] elder than he.
32:5 When Elihu saw that [there was] no answer in the mouth of [these] three men, then his wrath was kindled.
32:6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I [am] young, and ye [are] very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.
32:7 I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.
32:8 But [there is] a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
32:9 Great men are not [always] wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.
32:10 Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.
32:11 Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.
32:12 Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, [there was] none of you that convinced Job, [or] that answered his words:
32:13 Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man.
32:14 Now he hath not directed [his] words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches.
32:15 They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking.
32:16 When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, [and] answered no more;)
32:17 [I said], I will answer also my part, I also will shew mine opinion.
32:18 For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me.
32:19 Behold, my belly [is] as wine [which] hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.
32:20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.
32:21 Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.
32:22 For I know not to give flattering titles; [in so doing] my maker would soon take me away.
33:1 Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.
33:2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
33:3 My words [shall be of] the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.
33:4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
33:5 If thou canst answer me, set [thy words] in order before me, stand up.
33:6 Behold, I [am] according to thy wish in God’s stead: I also am formed out of the clay.
33:7 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.
33:8 Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of [thy] words, [saying],
33:9 I am clean without transgression, I [am] innocent; neither [is there] iniquity in me.
33:10 Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,
33:11 He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.
33:12 Behold, [in] this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.
33:13 Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
33:14 For God speaketh once, yea twice, [yet man] perceiveth it not.
33:15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
33:16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,
33:17 That he may withdraw man [from his] purpose, and hide pride from man.
33:18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
33:19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong [pain]:
33:20 So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.
33:21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones [that] were not seen stick out.
33:22 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.
33:23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:
33:24 Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.
33:25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth:
33:26 He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.
33:27 He looketh upon men, and [if any] say, I have sinned, and perverted [that which was] right, and it profited me not;
33:28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
33:29 Lo, all these [things] worketh God oftentimes with man,
33:30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.
33:31 Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.
33:32 If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee.
33:33 If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.