Job 31:8-18

8 Let me 1sow and another eat, And let my 2crops be uprooted.
9 "If my heart has been 3enticed by a woman, Or I have lurked at my neighbor's doorway,
10 May my wife 4grind for another, And let 5others kneel down over her.
11 "For that would be a 6lustful crime; Moreover, it would be 7an iniquity punishable by judges.
12 "For it would be 8fire that consumes to 9Abaddon, And would 10uproot all my increase.
13 "If I have 11despised the claim of my male or female slaves * When they filed a complaint against me,
14 What then could I do when God arises? And when He calls me to account, what will I answer Him?
15 "Did not 12He who made me in the womb make him, And the same one fashion us in the womb?
16 "If I have kept 13the poor from their desire, Or have caused the eyes of 14the widow to fail,
17 Or have 15eaten my morsel alone, And 16the orphan has not shared * it
18 (But from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And from infancy * I guided her),

Job 31:8-18 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 16

Footnotes 6

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.