Read the Bible

¹ I have made a covenant with my eyes.^(C1)2 For what portion^(C1) would I have from God above,
or what inheritance from the Almighty on high?³ Doesn’t disaster come to the unjust
and misfortune to evildoers?⁴ Does he not see my ways
and number all my steps?^(C1)

⁵ If I have walked in falsehood
or my foot has rushed to deceit,⁶ let God weigh me on accurate scales,^(C1)
and he will recognize my integrity.^(C2)

⁷ If my step has turned from the way,
my heart has followed my eyes,
or impurity has stained my hands,^(C1)8 let someone else eat what I have sown,
and let my crops be uprooted.^(C1)

⁹ If my heart has gone astray over a woman
or I have lurked at my neighbor’s door,¹⁰ let my own wife grind grain for another man,
and let other men sleep with^(F1) her.¹¹ For that would be a disgrace;
it would be an iniquity deserving punishment.^(C1)12 For it is a fire that consumes down to Abaddon;
it would destroy my entire harvest.^(C1)

¹³ If I have dismissed the case of my male or female servants
when they made a complaint against me,¹⁴ what could I do when God stands up to judge?
How should I answer him when he calls me to account?¹⁵ Did not the one who made me in the womb also make them?
Did not the same God form us both in the womb?^(C1)

¹⁶ If I have refused the wishes of the poor
or let the widow’s^(C1) eyes go blind,¹⁷ if I have eaten my few crumbs alone
without letting the fatherless eat any of it—¹⁸ for from my youth, I raised him as his father,
and since the day I was born^(F1) I guided the widow—¹⁹ if I have seen anyone dying for lack of clothing
or a needy person without a cloak,^(C1)20 if he^(F1) did not bless me
while warming himself with the fleece from my sheep,²¹ if I ever cast my vote^(F1) against a fatherless child
when I saw that I had support in the city gate,^(C1)22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my back,
and my arm be pulled from its socket.²³ For disaster from God terrifies me,
and because of his majesty I could not do these things.^(C1)

²⁴ If I placed my confidence in gold
or called fine gold my trust,^(C1)25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth is great
or because my own hand has acquired so much,²⁶ if I have gazed at the sun when it was shining
or at the moon moving in splendor,^(C1)27 so that my heart was secretly enticed
and I threw them a kiss,^(F1)28 this would also be an iniquity deserving punishment,
for I would have denied God above.

²⁹ Have I rejoiced over my enemy’s distress,
or become excited when trouble came his way?³⁰ I have not allowed my mouth to sin
by asking for his life with a curse.³¹ Haven’t the members of my household said,
“Who is there who has not had enough to eat at Job’s table?”³² No stranger had to spend the night on the street,
for I opened my door to the traveler.³³ Have I covered my transgressions^(C1) as others do^(F1)
by hiding my iniquity in my heart^(C2)34 because I greatly feared the crowds
and because the contempt of the clans terrified me,
so I grew silent and would not go outside?

³⁵ If only I had someone to hear my case!^(C1)
Here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me.
Let my Opponent compose his indictment.³⁶ I would surely carry it on my shoulder
and wear it like a crown.^(C1)37 I would give him an account of all my steps;
I would approach him like a prince.

³⁸ If my land cries out against me
and its furrows join in weeping,³⁹ if I have consumed its produce without payment
or shown contempt for its tenants,^(F1)40 then let thorns^(C1) grow instead of wheat
and stinkweed^(C2) instead of barley.