Job 31:1-39

1 I have made a solemn promise never to look with lust at a woman.

2 What does Almighty God do to us? How does he repay human deeds?

3 He sends disaster and ruin to those who do wrong.

4 God knows everything I do; he sees every step I take.

5 I swear I have never acted wickedly and never tried to deceive others.

6 Let God weigh me on honest scales, and he will see how innocent I am.

7 If I have turned from the right path or let myself be attracted to evil, if my hands are stained with sin,

8 then let my crops be destroyed, or let others eat the food I grow.

9 If I have been attracted to my neighbor's wife, and waited, hidden, outside her door,

10 then let my wife cook another man's food and sleep in another man's bed.

11 Such wickedness should be punished by death.

12 It would be like a destructive, hellish fire, consuming everything I have.

13 When any of my servants complained against me, I would listen and treat them fairly.

14 If I did not, how could I then face God? What could I say when God came to judge me?

15 The same God who created me created my servants also.

16 I have never refused to help the poor; ¹ never have I let widows live in despair

17 or let orphans go hungry while I ate.

18 All my life I have taken care of them.

19 When I found someone in need, too poor to buy clothes,

20 I would give him clothing made of wool that had come from my own flock of sheep. Then he would praise me with all his heart.

21 If I have ever cheated an orphan, knowing I could win in court,

22 then may my arms be broken; may they be torn from my shoulders.

23 Because I fear God's punishment, I could never do such a thing.

24 I have never trusted in riches ²

25 or taken pride in my wealth.

26 I have never worshiped the sun in its brightness or the moon in all its beauty.

27 I have not been led astray to honor them by kissing my hand in reverence to them.

28 Such a sin should be punished by death; it denies Almighty God.

29 I have never been glad when my enemies suffered, or pleased when they met with disaster;

30 I never sinned by praying for their death.

31 All those who work for me know that I have always welcomed strangers.

32 I invited travelers into my home and never let them sleep in the streets.

33 Others try to hide their sins, but I have never concealed mine.

34 I have never feared what people would say; I have never kept quiet or stayed indoors because I feared their scorn.

35 Will no one listen to what I am saying? I swear that every word is true. Let Almighty God answer me. If the charges my opponent brings against me were written down so that I could see them,

36 I would wear them proudly on my shoulder and place them on my head like a crown.

37 I would tell God everything I have done, and hold my head high in his presence.

38 If I have stolen the land I farm and taken it from its rightful owners -

39 if I have eaten the food that grew there but let the farmers that grew it starve -

Job 31:1-39 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

• 1. +231.16-18Tobit 4.7-11, 16.
• 2. +231.24Ben Sira 31.5-10.

Footnotes

• [a]. All my life . . . them; [Hebrew unclear.]