1I cut a covenant (berit) with my eyes; how then should I gaze upon a virgin?
2And what portion of God is from above, and what inheritance of Shaddai from on high?
3Is it not calamity for the unjust, and disaster for the workers of iniquity?
4Does He not see my ways, and count all my steps?
5If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot has hastened to deceit—
6Let Him weigh me in balances of justice, that God may know my integrity.
7If my step has turned from the way, and my heart has gone after my eyes, and any blemish has clung to my palms—
8Let me sow, and let another eat, and let my produce be rooted out.
9If my heart has been enticed over a woman (ishah), and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door—
10Let my wife (ishah) grind for another, and let others bow down upon her.
11For that is a wicked plan, and it is an iniquity for the judges.
12For it is a fire that consumes unto Abaddon, and would root out all my produce.
13If I have rejected the judgment (mishpat) of my servant and my maidservant when they contended with me—
14Then what shall I do when God rises up? And when He visits, what shall I answer Him?
15Did not He who made me in the womb make him? And did not One fashion us in the womb?
16If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail—
17And have eaten my morsel alone, and the orphan has not eaten from it—
18For from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother's womb I guided her—
19If I have seen one perishing for want of clothing, or the needy without covering—
20If his loins did not bless me, and he was not warmed by the fleece of my lambs—
21If I have raised my hand against the orphan, because I saw my help in the gate—
22Let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, and my arm be broken from its socket.
23For calamity from God was a dread to me, and because of His majesty I could do nothing.
24If I have made gold my confidence, and to fine gold have said, "My trust"—
25If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much—
26If I beheld the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor—
27And my heart was secretly enticed, and my hand kissed my mouth—
28This also is an iniquity for the judges, for I would have denied God who is above.
29If I rejoiced at the calamity of him who hated me, or roused myself when evil found him—
30And I did not allow my mouth to sin by asking for his soul (nephesh) with a curse—
31If the men of my tent did not say, "Who can find one not satisfied with his meat (basar)?"—
32The stranger did not lodge in the street; my doors I opened to the traveler.
33If I covered my transgressions like Adam, to hide my iniquity in my bosom—
34Because I dreaded the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silent and did not go out the door—
35Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold, here is my mark—let Shaddai answer me—and the document that the man (ish) of my dispute has written!
36Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder; I would bind it on me as crowns.
37The number of my steps I would declare to Him; like a prince I would approach Him.
38If my ground (adamah) cries out against me, and together its furrows weep—
39If I have eaten its strength without money, and caused the soul (nephesh) of its owners to expire—
40Let thorns come forth instead of wheat, and stinkweed instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.