“I have made a covenant (agreement) with my eyes;
How then could I gaze [lustfully] at a virgin?
“For what is the portion I would have from God above,
And what heritage from the Almighty on high?
“Does not tragedy fall [justly] on the unjust
And disaster to those who work wickedness?
“Does not God see my ways
And count all my steps?
¶“If I have walked with falsehood,
Or if my foot has chased after deceit,
Oh, let Him weigh me with accurate scales,
And let God know my integrity.
“If my step has turned away from the way [of God],
Or if my heart has [covetously] followed my eyes,
Or if any spot [of guilt] has stained my hands,
Then let me plant and [let] another eat [from the results of my labor],
And let my crops be uprooted and ruined.
¶“If my heart has been enticed and I was made a fool by a woman,
Or if I have [covetously] lurked at my neighbor’s door [until his departure],
Let my wife grind [meal, like a bond slave] for another [man],
And let others kneel down over her.
“For adultery is a heinous and lustful crime;
Moreover, it would be a sin punishable by the judges. [Deut 22:22; John 8:5]
“For it is a fire which consumes to Abaddon (destruction, ruin, final torment);
And [illicit passion] would burn and rage and uproot all my [life’s] increase [destroying everything].
¶“If I have despised and rejected the claim of my male or female servants
When they filed a complaint against me,
What then could I do when God arises [to judge me]?
When He calls me to account, what will I answer Him? [Ps 44:21]
“Did not He who made me in the womb make my servant,
And did not the same One fashion us both in the womb? [Prov 14:31; 22:2; Mal 2:10]
¶“If I have withheld from the poor what they desired,
Or have caused the eyes of the widow to look in vain [for relief],
Or have eaten my morsel [of food] alone,
And did not share it with the orphan
(But from my youth the orphan grew up with me as with a father,
And from my mother’s womb I have been the widow’s guide),
If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,
Or any poor person without covering,
If his loins have not thanked and blessed me [for clothing them],
And if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,
If I have lifted my hand against the orphan,
Because I saw [that the judges would be] my help at the [council] gate,
Then let my shoulder fall away from its socket,
And my arm be broken off at the elbow.
“For tragedy from God is a terror to me,
And because of His majesty and exaltation I can do nothing [nor endure facing Him]. [Is 13:6; Joel 1:15]
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