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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Though 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.

O 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.

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

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

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

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

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