Job’s Final Appeal

1I made a couenaunt with myne eyes: why then should I loke vpon a mayden?

2For how great a portion shall I haue of God? and what inheritaunce from the almightie on hye?

3Is not destruction to the wicked? and straunge punishement to the workers of iniquitie?

4Doth not he see my wayes, and tell all my goynges?

5If I haue walked in vanitie, or if my feete haue runne to disceaue:

6Let me be wayed in an euen balaunce, that God may see myne innocencie.

7If my steppe hath turned out of the way, & myne heart walked after myne eyes, and if any blot haue cleaued to my handes:

8Then shall I sowe, and an other eate: yea my posteritie shalbe cleane rooted out.

9If my heart haue ben deceaued by a woman, or if I haue layde wayte at my neyghbours doore:

10Then let my wife grinde vnto an other man, and let other men lye with her.

11For this is a wickednesse, and sinne that is worthy to be punished:

12Yea a fire that vtterly should consume and roote out all my increase.

13If I euer thought scorne to do right vnto my seruauntes & maydens, when they had any matter against me:

14When God will sit in iudgement, what shall I do? & when he will visite me, what aunswere shal I geue him?

15He that fashioned me in my mothers wombe, made he not him also? were we not both shapen a like in our mothers bodies?

16If I denied the poore of their desire, or haue caused the eyes of the wydow to wayte in vayne:

17If I haue eaten my morsell alone, that ye fatherlesse hath not eaten therof:

18(For from my youth it hath growen vp with me as with a father, and from my mothers wombe I haue ben guyde to the wydowe)

19If I haue seene any perishe for want of clothing, or any poore for lake of rayment:

20If his loynes haue not blessed me, because he was warmed with the fleece of my sheepe:

21If I haue lift vp mine hand against the fatherlesse, when I sawe that I might helpe him in the gate:

22Then let myne arme fall fro my shoulder, and myne arme holes be broken from the bone.

23For I haue euer feared the vengeaunce and punishment of God, and knewe very well that I was not able to beare his burthen.

24Haue I put my trust in golde? or haue I sayde to the wedge of golde, thou art my confidence?

25Haue I reioyced because my power was great, and because my hande gat so much?

26Dyd I euer greatly regarde the rysing of the sunne? or had I the goyng downe of the moone in great reputation?

27Hath my heart medled priuyly with any disceite? or did I euer kisse myne owne hande?

28(That were a wickednesse worthy to be punished: for then shoulde I haue denyed the God that is aboue.)

29Haue I euer reioyced at the hurt of myne enemie? or was I euer glad that any harme happened vnto him? Oh, no.

30I neuer suffred my mouth to sinne, by wishing a curse to his soule.

31Dyd not the men of myne owne housholde say, Who shall let vs to haue our belly full of his fleshe?

32The straunger dyd not lodge in the streete, but I opened my doores vnto him that went by the way.

33Haue I kept secrete my sinne, and hyd myne iniquitie, as Adam dyd?

34Though I coulde haue made afeard a great multitude, yet the most contemptible of the families dyd feare me: so I kept scilence, and went not out of the doore.

35O that I had one which woulde heare me: beholde my signe in the whiche the almightie shal aunswere for me, though he that is my contrarie partie hath written a booke against me.

36Yet will I take it vpon my shoulder, & as a garlande binde it about my head.

37I will tell hym the number of my goinges, & go vnto him as to a prince.

38But if case be that my lande crye against me, or that the forowes thereof make any complaynt:

39If I haue eaten the fruites therof vnpayed for, yea if I haue greeued the soules of the maisters therof:

40Then let thystles growe in steede of my wheate, and cockle for my barlye.