Job 31

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31 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

I did not ALLOW my eyes to roam when it came to women.  I trained myself to stay focused.

2 For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

God's consequences for sin are just.  Whatever he weighs for sin cannot be disputed.

3 Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?

Destruction was made for wicked people and unknown punishment to those who continue to commit sin.

4 Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?

God knows me.  He knows every move I make.

5 If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;

If I hung out with evil people or if I wanted to hurry to do wrong;

6 Let me be weighed in an even balance that God may know mine integrity.

Then give me what I deserve. God knows exactly how much my sins weigh.

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;

If I lost sight of God and went into the way of the wicked, and if my hands produce evil;

8 Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.

Let me work for nothing.  Let my children be cast out.  File a lawsuit and take all I have and all I have in my will.

9 If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;

If I have committed adultery and waited until my neighbor left his house:

10 Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.

Let my wife grind with another man, and let many men sleep with her.

11 For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.

Sleeping with anyone to whom you are not married is a heinous crime.

12 For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

Adultery is deadly and will rob you of all you have.

13 If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;

If my employees brought a complaint against me;

14 What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?

If I have treated my neighbor unjustly, what will be my defense toward God?

15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?

God has no respect of person.

16 If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

If I ignored the poor and caused the widow to suffer;

17 Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;

If I have eaten everything while ignoring the poor;

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;)

I have obeyed God from my youth and I treated boys and girls with the highest respect.  I took care of the fatherless and the widows.

19 If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;

If I saw a man dying from lacking clothing or a poor man without a coat;

20 If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

If I did take care of their needs;

21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:

If I tried to get back at them for not telling me thank you; or if I had the courts to rule in my favor because someone took me to court:

22 Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.

Then let my arms be torn off from my body.

23 For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.

If God was to punish me I could not fight back in my defense.

24 If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;

I did not make money my God.

25 If I rejoice because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;

26 If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;

I never thank the sun or moon as my god.

27 And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:

The sun or moon never was praised by me.

28 This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.

Had I done this, I would have denied the power of God.

29 If I rejoice at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:

If I rejoiced over my enemy because calamity was upon him:

30 Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.

I did not use my mouth as a switchboard to curse my enemy.

31 If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.

My employees never wished for food that I denied them from;

32 The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.

I saw a brother in need and did not ignore what I had in my hands to help him with.

33 If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:

Adam did not admit his wrong but hid it;

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?

Did people scare me and I stayed behind closed doors?

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.  

 My plea is God hear me tell me what I have done wrong!!!!! My adversary can take my testimony and exploit what I say; bring accusations against me and that will at least allow me to examine myself.

36 Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.

I will wear my inmate number given to me.

37 I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.

I would represent my defense as a prince that walks proudly and in honor.

38 If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;

If my own land testifies against me or the deep separations of my garden rows complain against me:

39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:

If I have eaten without paying the full price or cause the owner of the food to lose his health or life because of me;

40 Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley.

Let the fruit turn to a plant that will stick me as thorns when I eat of it. 

The words of Job are ended.

Job 31

You accuse me 

Of many things

I’ve searched my heart

Of the sins you blame

None of the wrongs

You blame me for

Has any truth

That I know of

I ask you once

And begged you twice

Show evidence

That condemns my life

I stand firm on the truth

What I say I prove

I am not guilty

I’ll die before I move

Many months have passed

And still, you accuse

These are my last words

This my final word is the truth!