Job 31

1 Hice un pacto con mis ojos, ¿cómo podía entonces mirar a una virgen?

2 ¿Y cuál es la porción de Dios desde arriba, o la heredad del Todopoderoso desde las alturas?

3 ¿No es la calamidad para el injusto, y el infortunio para los que obran iniquidad?

4 ¿No ve El mis caminos, y cuenta todos mis pasos?

5 Si he caminado con la mentira, y si mi pie se ha apresurado tras el engaño,

6 que El me pese en balanzas de justicia, y que Dios conozca mi integridad.

7 Si mi paso se ha apartado del camino, si mi corazón se ha ido tras mis ojos, y si alguna mancha se ha pegado en mis manos,

8 que yo siembre y otro coma, y sean arrancadas mis cosechas.

9 Si mi corazón fue seducido por mujer, o he estado al acecho a la puerta de mi prójimo,

10 que muela para otro mi mujer, y otros se encorven sobre ella.

11 Porque eso sería una infamia, y una iniquidad castigada por los jueces;

12 porque sería fuego que consume hasta el Abadón, y arrancaría toda mi ganancia.

13 Si he menospreciado el derecho de mi siervo o de mi sierva cuando presentaron queja contra mí,

14 ¿qué haré cuando Dios se levante? Y cuando El me pida cuentas, ¿qué le responderé?

15 ¿Acaso el que me hizo a mí en el seno materno, no lo hizo también a él? ¿No fue uno mismo el que nos formó en la matriz?

16 Si he impedido a los pobres su deseo, o he hecho desfallecer los ojos de la viuda,

17 o si he comido mi bocado solo, y el huérfano no ha comido de él

18 (aunque desde mi juventud él creció conmigo como con un padre, y a la viuda la guié desde mi infancia);

19 si he visto a alguno perecer por falta de ropa, y sin abrigo al necesitado,

20 si sus lomos no me han expresado gratitud , pues no se ha calentado con el vellón de mis ovejas;

21 si he alzado contra el huérfano mi mano, porque vi que yo tenía apoyo en la puerta,

22 que mi hombro se caiga de la coyuntura, y mi brazo se quiebre en el codo.

23 Porque el castigo de Dios es terror para mí, y ante su majestad nada puedo hacer.

24 Si he puesto en el oro mi confianza, y he dicho al oro fino: Tú eres mi seguridad;

25 si me he alegrado porque mi riqueza era grande, y porque mi mano había adquirido mucho;

26 si he mirado al sol cuando brillaba, o a la luna marchando en esplendor,

27 y fue mi corazón seducido en secreto, y mi mano tiró un beso de mi boca,

28 eso también hubiera sido iniquidad que merecía juicio, porque habría negado al Dios de lo alto.

29 ¿Acaso me he alegrado en la destrucción de mi enemigo, o me he regocijado cuando el mal le sobrevino?

30 No, no he permitido que mi boca peque pidiendo su vida en una maldición.

31 ¿Acaso no han dicho los hombres de mi tienda: "¿Quién puede hallar a alguno que no se haya saciado con su carne?"

32 El forastero no pasa la noche afuera, porque al viajero he abierto mis puertas.

33 ¿Acaso he cubierto mis transgresiones como Adán, ocultando en mi seno mi iniquidad,

34 porque temí a la gran multitud, o el desprecio de las familias me aterró, y guardé silencio y no salí de mi puerta?

35 ¡Quién me diera que alguien me oyera! He aquí mi firma. ¡Que me responda el Todopoderoso! Y la acusación que ha escrito mi adversario,

36 ciertamente yo la llevaría sobre mi hombro, y me la ceñiría como una corona.

37 Del número de mis pasos yo le daría cuenta, como a un príncipe me acercaría a El.

38 Si mi tierra clama contra mí, y sus surcos lloran juntos;

39 si he comido su fruto sin dinero, o si he causado que sus dueños pierdan sus vidas,

40 ¡que en lugar de trigo crezcan abrojos, y en lugar de cebada hierba maloliente! Aquí terminan las palabras de Job.

Job 31 Commentary

Chapter 31

Job declares his uprightness. (1-8) His integrity. (9-15) Job merciful. (16-23) Job not guilty of covetousness or idolatry. (24-32) Job not guilty of hypocrisy and violence. (33-40)

Verses 1-8 Job did not speak the things here recorded by way of boasting, but in answer to the charge of hypocrisy. He understood the spiritual nature of God's commandments, as reaching to the thoughts and intents of the heart. It is best to let our actions speak for us; but in some cases we owe it to ourselves and to the cause of God, solemnly to protest our innocence of the crimes of which we are falsely accused. The lusts of the flesh, and the love of the world, are two fatal rocks on which multitudes split; against these Job protests he was always careful to stand upon his guard. And God takes more exact notice of us than we do of ourselves; let us therefore walk circumspectly. He carefully avoided all sinful means of getting wealth. He dreaded all forbidden profit as much as all forbidden pleasure. What we have in the world may be used with comfort, or lost with comfort, if honestly gotten. Without strict honestly and faithfulness in all our dealings, we can have no good evidence of true godliness. Yet how many professors are unable to abide this touchstone!

Verses 9-15 All the defilements of the life come from a deceived heart. Lust is a fire in the soul: those that indulge it, are said to burn. It consumes all that is good there, and lays the conscience waste. It kindles the fire of God's wrath, which, if not quenched by the blood of Christ, will consume even to eternal destruction. It consumes the body; it consumes the substance. Burning lusts bring burning judgments. Job had a numerous household, and he managed it well. He considered that he had a Master in heaven; and as we are undone if God should be severe with us, we ought to be mild and gentle towards all with whom we have to do.

Verses 16-23 Job's conscience gave testimony concerning his just and charitable behaviour toward the poor. He is most large upon this head, because in this matter he was particularly accused. He was tender of all, and hurtful to none. Notice the principles by which Job was restrained from being uncharitable and unmerciful. He stood in awe of the Lord, as certainly against him, if he should wrong the poor. Regard to worldly interests may restrain a man from actual crimes; but the grace of God alone can make him hate, dread, and shun sinful thoughts and desires.

Verses 24-32 Job protests, 1. That he never set his heart upon the wealth of this world. How few prosperous professors can appeal to the Lord, that they have not rejoiced because their gains were great! Through the determination to be rich, numbers ruin their souls, or pierce themselves with many sorrows. 2. He never was guilty of idolatry. The source of idolatry is in the heart, and it corrupts men, and provokes God to send judgments upon a nation. 3. He neither desired nor delighted in the hurt of the worst enemy he had. If others bear malice to us, that will not justify us in bearing malice to them. 4. He had never been ( 1 Peter. 4:9 )

Verses 33-40 Job clears himself from the charge of hypocrisy. We are loth to confess our faults, willing to excuse them, and to lay the blame upon others. But he that thus covers his sins, shall not prosper, ( Proverbs 28:13 ) . He speaks of his courage in what is good, as an evidence of his sincerity in it. When men get estates unjustly, they are justly deprived of comfort from them; it was sown wheat, but shall come up thistles. What men do not come honestly by, will never do them any good. The words of Job are ended. They end with a bold assertion, that, with respect to accusation against his moral and religious character as the cause for his sufferings, he could appeal to God. But, however confident Job was, we shall see he was mistaken, chap. 40:4, chap. 40:5 ; 1Jo. 1:8 . Let us all judge ourselves; wherein we are guilty, let us seek forgiveness in that blood which cleanseth from all sin; and may the Lord have mercy upon us, and write his laws in our hearts!

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit., bendecido

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 31

In this chapter Job gives an account of himself in private life, of the integrity and uprightness of his life, and his holy walk and conversation, with this view, that it might be thought that the afflictions which were upon him were not on account of a vicious course of life he had indulged unto, as was suggested; and he clears himself from various crimes which it might be insinuated he was guilty of, as from unchastity; and he observes the method he took to prevent his falling into it, and the reasons that dissuaded him from it, Job 31:1-4; from injustice in his dealings with men, Job 31:5-8; from the sin of adultery, Job 31:9-12; from ill usage of his servants, Job 31:13-15; from unkindness to the poor, which he enlarges upon, and gives many instances of his charity to them, Job 31:16-23; from covetousness, and a vain confidence in wealth, Job 31:24,25; from idolatry, the worship of the sun and moon, Job 31:26-28; from a revengeful spirit, Job 31:29-31; and from inhospitality to strangers, Job 31:32; from covering his sin, Job 31:33; and fear of men, Job 31:34; and then wishes his cause might be heard before God, Job 31:35-37; and the chapter is closed with an imprecation on his head if guilty of any injustice, Job 31:38-40.