Job 31:8-18

8 Let me sow -- and another eat, And my products let be rooted out.
9 If my heart hath been enticed by woman, And by the opening of my neighbour I laid wait,
10 Grind to another let my wife, And over her let others bend.
11 For it [is] a wicked thing, and a judicial iniquity;
12 For a fire it [is], to destruction it consumeth, And among all mine increase doth take root,
13 If I despise the cause of my man-servant, And of my handmaid, In their contending with me,
14 Then what do I do when God ariseth? And when He doth inspect, What do I answer Him?
15 Did not He that made me in the womb make him? Yea, prepare us in the womb doth One.
16 If I withhold from pleasure the poor, And the eyes of the widow do consume,
17 And I do eat my morsel by myself, And the orphan hath not eat of it,
18 (But from my youth He grew up with me as [with] a father, And from the belly of my mother I am led.)

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.

Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.