1   I Have ^note made a couenant with mine eyes, that I would not so much as ^note thinke of a virgin.

2   For what part should God from aboue haue in me, & inheritance the Omnipotent from on high?

3   Is there not perdition to the wicked man, and alienation to them that worke iniustice?

4   Doth not he consider my waies, and number al my steppes?

5   If I haue walked in vanitie, and my foote hath hastened in guile:

6   Let him wey me in a iust balance, and let God know my simplicitie.

7   If my steppe haue declined out of the way, and if mine eie hath folowed my hart, and if sporte hath cleaued to my handes:

8   Let me sawe, and let an other eate it: and let my progenie be plucked vp by the rootes.

9   If my hart hath bene deceiued vpon a woman, and if I haue lyene in waite at my freinds doore:

10   Let my wife be the harlot of an other man, and let other men lye with her.

11   For this is a hainous thing, and most great iniquitie.

12   It is a fire deuoring euen to perdition, and rooting vp al thinges that spring.

13   If I hane contemned to abide iudgement with my man seruant, and my mayd seruant, when they had anie controuersie against me.

14   For what shal I doe when God shal rise to iudge? and when he shal aske, what shal I answer him?

15   Did not he make me in the wombe that made him also: and did not one forme me in the matrice?

16   If I haue denied to the poore, that which they would, and haue made the eyes of the widow to expect:

17   If I haue eaten my morsel alone, and the pulpil hath not eaten therof with me.

18   (Because from mine infancie mercy hath growen with me: and from my mothers wombe it came forth with me.)

19   If I haue dispised him that perisheth, for that he had not clothing, and the poore man without wherwithal to couer him:

20   If his sides haue not blessed me, & he was not warmed with the flises of my sheepe:

21   If I haue lifted vp my hand ouer the pupil, yea when I saw my self in the gate the superior:

22   Let my shoulder fal from his iuncture, and let my arme with his bones be broken.

23   For I haue alwaies feared God as waues swelling vpon me, and his weight I could not beare.

24   If I haue thought gold my strength, and haue said to fine gold: My confidence.

25   If I haue reioysed vpon my great riches, and because my hand found manie thinges.

26   If I saw the sunne when it shined, and the moone going cleerly:

27   And my hart in secret reioysed, and I kissed my hand with my

mouth.

28   Which is ^note most great iniquitie, and a denial against God the most high?

29   If I haue beene glad of his fal, that hated me, & haue reioysed that euil had found him.

30   For I haue not geuen my throte to sinne, that cursing. I wished his soule.

31   If the men of my tabernacle haue not sayd: Who wil giue of his flesh that we may be filled?

32   The stranger taried not without, my doore was open to the wayfaring man

33   If as man I haue hid my sinne, and haue concealed my iniquitie in my bosome.

34   If I haue bene afrayd at a verie great multitude, & the contempt of kinsmen hath terrified me: and I haue not rather held my peace, & not gone out of the doore.

35   Who wil grant me an hearer, that the Omnipotent would heare my desire: and that himself that iudgeth would write a booke.

36   That I may carie it on my shoulder, and put it about me as a crowne?

37   At euerie steppe of mine I wil pronounce it, and as to the prince I wil offer it.

38   If my Land cry against me, and with it the furrowes therof lament:

39   If I haue eaten the fruites therof without money, and haue afflicted the soule of the tillers therof.

40   For wheate let the bryar grow to me, and for barlie the thorne. ^noteThe wordes of Iob are ended.

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