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31:1  “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust upon a girl.
31:2  I know full well that Almighty God above sends calamity on those who do.
31:3  I know full well that Almighty God above sends calamity on those who do.
31:4  He sees everything I do and every step I take.
31:5  “If I have lied and deceived—
31:6  but God knows that I am innocent—
31:7  or if I have stepped off God’s pathway, or if my heart has lusted for what my eyes have seen, or if I am guilty of any other sin, then let someone else reap the crops I have sown and let all that I have planted be rooted out.
31:8  or if I have stepped off God’s pathway, or if my heart has lusted for what my eyes have seen, or if I am guilty of any other sin, then let someone else reap the crops I have sown and let all that I have planted be rooted out.
31:9  “Or if I have longed for another man’s wife,
31:10  then may I die, and may my wife be in another man’s home and someone else become her husband.
31:11  For lust is a shameful sin, a crime that should be punished.
31:12  It is a devastating fire that destroys to hell and would root out all I have planted.
31:13  “If I have been unfair to my servants,
31:14  how could I face God? What could I say when he questioned me about it?
31:15  For God made me and made my servant too. He created us both.
31:16  “If I have hurt the poor, or caused widows to weep,
31:17  or refused food to hungry orphans—
31:18  (but we have always cared for orphans in our home, treating them as our own children)—
31:19  or if I have seen anyone freezing and not given him clothing or fleece from my sheep to keep him warm,
31:20  or if I have seen anyone freezing and not given him clothing or fleece from my sheep to keep him warm,
31:21  or if I have taken advantage of an orphan because I thought I could get away with it—
31:22  if I have done any of these things, then let my arm be torn from its socket! Let my shoulder be wrenched out of place!
31:23  Rather that than face the judgment sent by God; that I dread more than anything else. For if the majesty of God opposes me, what hope is there?
31:24  “If I have put my trust in money,
31:25  if my happiness depends on wealth,
31:26  or if I have looked at the sun shining in the skies or the moon walking down her silver pathway
31:27  and my heart has been secretly enticed, and I have worshiped them by kissing my hand to them,
31:28  this, too, must be punished by the judges. For if I had done such things, it would mean that I denied the God of heaven.
31:29  “If I have rejoiced at harm to an enemy—
31:30  (but actually I have never cursed anyone nor asked for revenge)—
31:31  or if any of my servants have ever gone hungry—
31:32  (actually I have never turned away even a stranger but have opened my doors to all)—
31:33  or if, like Adam, I have tried to hide my sins,
31:34  fearing the crowd and its contempt so that I refused to acknowledge my sin and do not go out of my way to help others—
31:35  (oh, that there were someone who would listen to me and try to see my side of this argument. Look, I will sign my signature to my defense; now let the Almighty show me that I am wrong; let him approve the indictments made against me by my enemies.
31:36  I would treasure it like a crown.
31:37  Then I would tell him exactly what I have done and why, presenting my defense as one he listens to).
31:38  “Or if my land accuses me because I stole the fruit it bears, or if I have murdered its owners to get their land for myself,
31:39  “Or if my land accuses me because I stole the fruit it bears, or if I have murdered its owners to get their land for myself,
31:40  then let thistles grow on that land instead of wheat, and weeds instead of barley.” Job’s words are ended.