31

Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.

In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.

Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.

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

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

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

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

Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother"s womb;)

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

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

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

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

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