Job, to defend himself from the unjust judgments of his friends, gives a sincere account of his own virtues.

 1 I made a covenant with my eyes, that I would not so much as think upon a virgin.
Pepigi foedus cum oculis meis, ut ne cogitarem quidem de virgine.

 2 For what part should God from above have in me, and what inheritance the Almighty from on high?
Quam enim partem haberet in me Deus desuper, et haereditatem Omnipotens de excelsis?

 3 Is not destruction to the wicked, and aversion to them that work iniquity?
Numquid non perditio est iniquo, et alienatio operantibus injustitiam?

 4 Doth not he consider my ways, and number all my steps?
Nonne ipse considerat vias meas, et cunctos gressus meos dinumerat?

 5 If I have walked in vanity, and my foot hath made haste to deceit:
Si ambulavi in vanitate, et festinavit in dolo pes meus,

 6 Let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity.
appendat me in statera justa, et sciat Deus simplicitatem meam.

 7 If my step hath turned out of the way, and if my heart hath followed my eyes, and if a spot hath cleaved to my hands:
Si declinavit gressus meus de via, et si secutum est oculos meos cor meum, et si manibus meis adhaesit macula,

 8 Then let me sow and let another eat: and let my offspring be rooted out.
seram, et alium comedat, et progenies mea eradicetur.

 9 If my heart hath been deceived upon a woman, and if I have laid wait at my friend's door:
Si deceptum est cor meum super muliere, et si ad ostium amici mei insidiatus sum,

 10 Let my wife be the harlot of another, and let other men lie with her.
scortum alterius sit uxor mea, et super illam incurventur alii.

 11 For this is a heinous crime, and a most grievous iniquity.
Hoc enim nefas est, et iniquitas maxima.

 12 It is a fire that devoureth even to destruction, and rooteth up all things that spring.
Ignis est usque ad perditionem devorans, et omnia eradicans genimina.

 13 If I have despised to abide judgment with my manservant, or my maidservant, when they had any controversy against me:
Si contempsi subire judicium cum servo meo et ancilla mea, cum disceptarent adversum me :

 14 For what shall I do when God shall rise to judge? and when he shall examine, what shall I answer him?
quid enim faciam cum surrexerit ad judicandum Deus? et cum quaesierit, quid respondebo illi?

 15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him also: and did not one and the same form me in the womb?
Numquid non in utero fecit me, qui et illum operatus est? et formavit me in vulva unus?

 16 If I have denied to the poor what they desired, and have made the eyes of the widow wait:
Si negavi quod volebant pauperibus, et oculos viduae expectare feci :

 17 If I have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof:
si comedi buccellam meam solus, et non comedit pupillus ex ea

 18 (For from my infancy mercy grew up with me: and it came out with me from my mother's womb:)
( quia ab infantia mea crevit mecum miseratio, et de utero matris meae egressa est mecum) :

 19 If I have despised him that was perishing for want of clothing, and the poor man that had no covering:
si despexi pereuntem, eo quod non habuerit indumentum, et absque operimento pauperem :

 20 If his sides have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep:
si non benedixerunt mihi latera ejus, et de velleribus ovium mearum calefactus est :

 21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, even when I saw myself superior in the gate:
si levavi super pupillum manum meam, etiam cum viderem me in porta superiorem,

 22 Let my shoulder fall from its joint, and let my arm with its bones be broken.
humerus meus a junctura sua cadat, et brachium meum cum suis ossibus confringatur.

 23 For I have always feared God as waves swelling over me, and his weight I was not able to bear.
Semper enim quasi tumentes super me fluctus timui Deum, et pondus ejus ferre non potui.

 24 If I have thought gold my strength, and have said to fine gold: My confidence:
Si putavi aurum robur meum, et obrizo dixi : Fiducia mea :

 25 If I have rejoiced over my great riches, and because my hand had gotten much.
si laetatus sum super multis divitiis meis, et quia plurima reperit manus mea :

 26 If I beheld the sun when it shined, and the moon going in brightness:
si vidi solem cum fulgeret, et lunam incedentem clare,

 27 And my heart in secret hath rejoiced, and I have kissed my hand with my mouth:
et laetatum est in abscondito cor meum, et osculatus sum manum meam ore meo :

 28 Which is a very great iniquity, and a denial against the most high God.
quae est iniquitas maxima, et negatio contra Deum altissimum.

 29 If I have been glad at the downfall of him that hated me, and have rejoiced that evil had found him.
Si gavisus sum ad ruinam ejus qui me oderat, et exsultavi quod invenisset eum malum :

 30 For I have not given my mouth to sin, by wishing a curse to his soul.
non enim dedi ad peccandum guttur meum, ut expeterem maledicens animam ejus.

 31 If the men of my tabernacle have not said: Who will give us of his flesh that we may be filled?
Si non dixerunt viri tabernaculi mei : Quis det de carnibus ejus, ut saturemur?

 32 The stranger did not stay without, my door was open to the traveller.
Foris non mansit peregrinus : ostium meum viatori patuit.

 33 If as a man I have hid my sin, and have concealed my iniquity in my bosom.
Si abscondi quasi homo peccatum meum, et celavi in sinu meo iniquitatem meam :

 34 If I have been afraid at a very great multitude, and the contempt of kinsmen hath terrified me: and I have not rather held my peace, and not gone out of the door.
si expavi ad multitudinem nimiam, et despectio propinquorum terruit me : et non magis tacui, nec egressus sum ostium.

 35 Who would grant me a hearer, that the Almighty may hear my desire; and that he himself that judgeth would write a book,
Quis mihi tribuat auditorem, ut desiderium meum audiat Omnipotens, et librum scribat ipse qui judicat,

 36 That I may carry it on my shoulder, and put it about me as a crown?
ut in humero meo portem illum, et circumdem illum quasi coronam mihi?

 37 At every step of mine I would pronounce it, and offer it as to a prince.
Per singulos gradus meos pronuntiabo illum, et quasi principi offeram eum.

 38 If my land cry against me, and with it the furrows thereof mourn:
Si adversum me terra mea clamat, et cum ipsa sulci ejus deflent :

 39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have afflicted the soul of the tillers thereof:
si fructus ejus comedi absque pecunia, et animam agricolarum ejus afflixi :

 40 Let thistles grow up to me instead of wheat, and thorns instead of barley.
pro frumento oriatur mihi tribulus, et pro hordeo spina. Finita sunt verba Job.