85 lines
3.4 KiB
Markdown
85 lines
3.4 KiB
Markdown
# Chapter 31
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1 I have made a covenant with my eyes.
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How then could I look at a young woman?
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2 For what portion would I have from God above,
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or what inheritance from the Almighty on high?
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3 Doesn’t disaster come to the unjust
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and misfortune to evildoers?
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4 Does he not see my ways
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and number all my steps?
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5 If I have walked in falsehood
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or my foot has rushed to deceit,
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6 let God weigh me on accurate scales,
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and he will recognize my integrity.
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7 If my step has turned from the way,
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my heart has followed my eyes,
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or impurity has stained my hands,
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8 let someone else eat what I have sown,
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and let my crops be uprooted.
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9 If my heart has gone astray over a woman
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or I have lurked at my neighbor’s door,
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10 let my own wife grind grain for another man,
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and let other men sleep with her.
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11 For that would be a disgrace;
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it would be an iniquity deserving punishment.
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12 For it is a fire that consumes down to Abaddon;
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it would destroy my entire harvest.
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13 If I have dismissed the case of my male or female servants
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when they made a complaint against me,
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14 what could I do when God stands up to judge?
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How should I answer him when he calls me to account?
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15 Did not the one who made me in the womb also make them?
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Did not the same God form us both in the womb?
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16 If I have refused the wishes of the poor
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or let the widow’s eyes go blind,
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17 if I have eaten my few crumbs alone
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without letting the fatherless eat any of it—
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18 for from my youth, I raised him as his father,
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and since the day I was born I guided the widow—
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19 if I have seen anyone dying for lack of clothing
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or a needy person without a cloak,
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20 if he did not bless me
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while warming himself with the fleece from my sheep,
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21 if I ever cast my vote against a fatherless child
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when I saw that I had support in the city gate,
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22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my back,
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and my arm be pulled from its socket.
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23 For disaster from God terrifies me,
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and because of his majesty I could not do these things.
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24 If I placed my confidence in gold
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or called fine gold my trust,
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25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth is great
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or because my own hand has acquired so much,
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26 if I have gazed at the sun when it was shining
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or at the moon moving in splendor,
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27 so that my heart was secretly enticed
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and I threw them a kiss,
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28 this would also be an iniquity deserving punishment,
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for I would have denied God above.
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29 Have I rejoiced over my enemy’s distress,
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or become excited when trouble came his way?
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30 I have not allowed my mouth to sin
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by asking for his life with a curse.
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31 Haven’t the members of my household said,
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“Who is there who has not had enough to eat at Job’s table?”
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32 No stranger had to spend the night on the street,
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for I opened my door to the traveler.
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33 Have I covered my transgressions as others do
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by hiding my iniquity in my heart
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34 because I greatly feared the crowds
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and because the contempt of the clans terrified me,
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so I grew silent and would not go outside?
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35 If only I had someone to hear my case!
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Here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me.
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Let my Opponent compose his indictment.
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36 I would surely carry it on my shoulder
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and wear it like a crown.
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37 I would give him an account of all my steps;
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I would approach him like a prince.
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38 If my land cries out against me
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and its furrows join in weeping,
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39 if I have consumed its produce without payment
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or shown contempt for its tenants,
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40 then let thorns grow instead of wheat
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and stinkweed instead of barley.
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The words of Job are concluded. |