Job 31:24-40

24 1"If I have made gold my 2trust or called 3fine gold my confidence,
25 if I have 4rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because 5my hand had found much,
26 6if I have looked at the sun[a] when it shone, or 7the moon moving in splendor,
27 and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand,
28 this also would be 8an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above.
29 "If I have 9rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him
30 (10I have not let my mouth sin by asking for his life with a curse),
31 if the men of my tent have not said, 'Who is there that has not been filled with his 11meat?'
32 (12the sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler),
33 if I 13have concealed my transgressions 14as others do[b] by hiding my iniquity in my bosom,
34 because I stood in great fear of 15the 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 16answer me!) Oh, that I had 17the indictment written by my adversary!
36 Surely I would carry it on my 18shoulder; I would 19bind it on me as 20a 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 21if I have eaten its yield without payment and made its owners 22breathe their last,
40 let 23thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley."The words of Job are ended.

Job 31:24-40 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References 23

  • 1. Mark 10:24, 25
  • 2. Job 4:6
  • 3. Job 28:16
  • 4. Psalms 62:10
  • 5. Deuteronomy 8:17
  • 6. Deuteronomy 4:19; [Deuteronomy 17:3; 2 Kings 23:5, 11; Ezekiel 8:16]
  • 7. See Jeremiah 44:17-19
  • 8. ver. 11
  • 9. Proverbs 17:5
  • 10. [Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:14]
  • 11. Exodus 16:12; 1 Samuel 25:11
  • 12. [Genesis 19:2, 3; Judges 19:20, 21; Matthew 25:35; Hebrews 13:2]
  • 13. Proverbs 28:13
  • 14. Genesis 3:8, 12
  • 15. [Exodus 23:2]
  • 16. Job 13:22
  • 17. [Job 19:23]
  • 18. Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 22:22
  • 19. Proverbs 6:21
  • 20. Zechariah 6:11
  • 21. [Job 22:6-9; Luke 10:7; 2 Timothy 2:6; James 5:4]
  • 22. [1 Kings 21:16, 19]
  • 23. Genesis 3:18

Footnotes 2

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.