- 1
- I made a couenant with mine eyes: why then should I thinke on a mayde?
- 2
- For what portion should I haue of God from aboue?
and what inheritance of the Almightie from on hie?
- 3
- Is not destruction to the wicked & strange punishment to the workers of iniquitie?
- 4
- Doeth not he beholde my wayes and tell all my steps?
- 5
- If I haue walked in vanitie, or if my foote hath made haste to deceite,
- 6
- Let God weigh me in the iust balance, and he shal know mine vprightnes.
- 7
- If my steppe hath turned out of the way, or mine heart hath walked after mine eye, or if any blot hath cleaued to mine handes,
- 8
- Let me sowe, & let another eate: yea, let my plantes be rooted out.
- 9
- If mine heart hath bene deceiued by a woman, or if I haue layde wayte at the doore of my neighbour,
- 10
- Let my wife grinde vnto another man, and let other men bow downe vpon her:
- 11
- For this is a wickednes, and iniquitie to bee condemned:
- 12
- Yea, this is a fire that shal deuoure to destructio, & which shal roote out al mine increase,
- 13
- If I did contemne the iudgement of my seruant, and of my mayde, when they did contend with me,
- 14
- What then shal I do when God standeth vp?
& when he shal visit me, what shal I answere?
- 15
- He that hath made me in the wombe, hath he not made him?
hath not he alone facioned vs in the wombe?
- 16
- If I restrained the poore of their desire, or haue caused the eyes of the widow to faile,
- 17
- Or haue eaten my morsels alone, and the fatherles hath not eaten thereof,
- 18
- (For from my youth hee hath growen vp with me as with a father, and from my mothers wombe I haue bene a guide vnto her)
- 19
- If I haue seene any perish for want of clothing, or any poore without couering,
- 20
- If his loynes haue not blessed me, because he was warmed with the fleece of my sheepe,
- 21
- If I haue lift vp mine hande against the fatherlesse, when I saw that I might helpe him in the gate,
- 22
- Let mine arme fal from my shoulder, & mine arme be broken from the bone.
- 23
- For Gods punishment was fearefull vnto me, & I could not be deliuered from his highnes.
- 24
- If I made gold mine hope, or haue sayd to the wedge of golde, Thou art my confidence,
- 25
- If I reioyced because my substance was great, or because mine hand had gotten much,
- 26
- If I did behold the sunne, when it shined, or the moone, walking in her brightnes,
- 27
- If mine heart did flatter me in secrete, or if my mouth did kisse mine hand,
- 28
- (This also had bene an iniquitie to be condemned: for I had denied the God aboue)
- 29
- If I reioyced at his destruction that hated me, or was mooued to ioye when euill came vpon him,
- 30
- Neither haue I suffred my mouth to sinne, by wishing a curse vnto his soule.
- 31
- Did not the men of my Tabernacle say, Who shall giue vs of his flesh?
we can not bee satisfied.
- 32
- The stranger did not lodge in the streete, but I opened my doores vnto him, that went by the way.
- 33
- If I haue hid my sinne, as Adam, concealing mine iniquitie in my bosome,
- 34
- Though I could haue made afraid a great multitude, yet the most contemptible of the families did feare me: so I kept silence, and went not out of the doore.
- 35
- Oh that I had some to heare me!
beholde my signe that the Almightie will witnesse for me: though mine aduersary should write a booke against me,
- 36
- Woulde not I take it vpon my shoulder, and binde it as a crowne vnto me?
- 37
- I will tell him the nomber of my goings, and goe vnto him as to a prince.
- 38
- If my lande cry against me, or the furrowes thereof complayne together,
- 39
- If I haue eaten the fruites thereof without siluer: or if I haue grieued the soules of the masters thereof,
- 40
- Let thistles growe in steade of wheate, and cockle in the stead of Barley.
THE WORDES OF IOB ARE ENDED.
|