I Have ∷[1] made a couenant with mine eyes, that I would not so much as ∷[2] thinke of a virgin. 2For what part should God from aboue haue in me, & inheritance the Omnipotent from on high? 3Is there not perdition to the wicked man, and alienation to them that worke iniustice? 4Doth not he consider my waies, and number al my steppes? 5If I haue walked in vanitie, and my foote hath hastened in guile: 6Let him wey me in a iust balance, and let God know my simplicitie. 7If my steppe haue declined out of the way, and if mine eie hath folowed my hart, and if spotte hath cleaued to my handes: 8Let me sawe, and let an other eate it: and let my progenie be plucked vp by the rootes. 9If my hart hath bene deceiued vpon a woman, and if I haue lyene in waite at my freinds doore: 10Let my wife be the harlot of an other man, and let other men lye with her. 11For this is a hainous thing, and most great iniquitie. 12It is a fire deuoring euen to perdition, and rooting vp al thinges that spring. 13If I haue contemned to abide iudgement with my man seruant, and my mayd seruant, when they had anie controuersie against me. 14For what shal I doe when God shal rise to iudge? and when he shal aske, what shal I answer him? 15Did not he make me in the wombe that made him also: and did not one forme me in the matrice? 16If I haue denied to the poore, that which they would, and haue made the eyes of the widow to expect: 17If 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.) 19If I haue dispised him that perisheth, for that he had not clothing, and the poore man without wherwithal to couer him: 20If his sides haue not blessed me, & he was not warmed with the flises of my sheepe: 21If I haue lifted vp my hand ouer the pupil, yea when I saw my self in the gate the superior: 22Let my shoulder fal from his iuncture, and let my arme with his bones be broken. 23For I haue alwaies feared God as waues swelling vpon me, and his weight I could not beare. 24If I haue thought gold my strength, and haue said to fine gold: My confidence. 25If I haue reioysed vpon my great riches, and because my hand found manie thinges. 26If I saw the sunne when it shined, and the moone going cleerly: 27And my hart in secret reioysed, and I kissed my hand with my
