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1. "I have made an agreement with my eyes not to look with desire at a young woman.
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1.
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2. What would be my share from God above? What would my gift be from the All-powerful on high?
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2.
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3. Does not trouble come to those who are not right and good? Do not hard times come to those who do wrong?
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3.
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4. Does He not see my ways and number all my steps?
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4.
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5. "If I have walked in ways that are false, and my foot has been quick to follow false ways,
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5.
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6. let Him weigh me with a true weight. Let God know that I am honest.
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6.
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7. If my step has turned from the way, and my heart has followed my eyes, or if my hands have held on to sin,
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7.
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8. then let me plant and another eat. Let what grows be pulled out by the roots.
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8.
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9. "If my heart has been tempted by a woman, or I have waited at my neighbor's door,
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9.
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10. may my wife grind grain for another. And let others bow down upon her.
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10.
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11. For that would be a very sinful thing to do. It would be a sin that would be punished by the judges.
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11.
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12. For that would be a fire that burns at the Place That Destroys. It would dig out all I have planted.
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12.
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13. "If I did not listen to my men servants and women servants when they complained against me,
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13.
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14. what will I do when God speaks to me? When He asks me why, what will I answer Him?
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14.
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15. Did not He Who made me inside my mother make him also? Did not the same One give us life from our mothers?
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15.
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16. "If I have kept what the poor should have or have caused the eyes of the woman whose husband has died to be tired,
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16.
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17. if I have eaten my food alone without sharing it with the child who has no parents,
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17.
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18. (but from the time I was young, he grew up with me as a father, and I have helped the woman without a husband since I was born,)
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18.
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19. if I have seen anyone die because he had no clothing, or left any poor person without clothes,
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19.
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20. if he has not thanked me for the clothing on his body, and been made warm with the wool of my sheep,
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20.
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21. if I have not done these things, or if I have lifted up my hand against the child who has no parents, because I saw I had help in the gate,
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21.
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22. let my shoulder fall out of place, and let my arm be broken off at the joint.
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22.
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23. For trouble sent by God fills me with fear. Because of His great power I could not do these things.
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23.
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24. "If I have put my faith in gold and said fine gold is my trust,
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24.
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25. if I have had pride because of my many riches and have received much by my hand,
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25.
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26. if I have looked at the sun shining or the bright moon going on its way,
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26.
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27. and have in secret worshiped them in my heart, and have honored them by throwing them a kiss with my hand,
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27.
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28. these also would be sins to be judged. It would say I did not know the God above.
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28.
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29. "Have I been glad when a person who hated me was destroyed? Have I been filled with joy when trouble came to him?
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29.
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30. No, I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking his life to be cursed.
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30.
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31. Have the men of my tent not said, 'Who can find one who has not been filled with his meat'?
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31.
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32. The stranger has not stayed in the street, for I have opened my doors to the traveler.
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32.
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33. Have I hidden my sins like Adam? Have I hidden my wrong-doing in my heart,
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33.
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34. because I was afraid of all the people, and of families who hated me? Did I keep quiet and not go out of the door?
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34.
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35. If only I had one to hear me! See, here my name is written. Let the All-powerful answer me! May what is against me be written down!
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35.
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36. For sure I would carry it on my shoulder. I would tie it around my head like a crown.
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36.
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37. I would tell Him the number of my every step. I would come near Him like a prince.
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37.
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38. "If my land cries out against me and the ditches made by the plow cry together,
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38.
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39. if I have eaten its fruit without paying for it, and caused its owners to die,
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39.
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40. let thorns grow instead of grain. And let weeds with a bad smell grow instead of barley."
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40.
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