Morning Prayer

A Reading from the Book of Job.

1 Job again took up his discourse and said: 24 “If I have made gold my trust, or called fine gold my confidence; 25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, or because my hand had gotten much; 26 if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor, 27 and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand; 28 this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I should have been false to God above. 29 “If I have rejoiced at the ruin of those who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook them— 30 I have not let my mouth sin by asking for their lives with a curse— 31 if those of my tent ever said, ‘O that we might be sated with his flesh!’ — 32 the stranger has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler— 33 if I have concealed my transgressions as others do, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom, 34 because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors— 35 Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary! 36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me like a crown; 37 I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him. 38 “If my land has cried out against me, and its furrows have wept together; 39 if I have eaten its yield without payment, and caused the death of its owners; 40 let thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended.