Job 31:4-40

4 Does He not see my ways, And count all my steps?

5 "If I have walked with falsehood, Or if my foot has hastened to deceit,

6 Let me be weighed on honest scales, That God may know my integrity.

7 If my step has turned from the way, Or my heart walked after my eyes, Or if any spot adheres to my hands,

8 Then let me sow, and another eat; Yes, let my harvest be rooted out.

9 "If my heart has been enticed by a woman, Or if I have lurked at my neighbor's door,

10 Then let my wife grind for another, And let others bow down over her.

11 For that would be wickedness; Yes, it would be iniquity deserving of judgment.

12 For that would be a fire that consumes to destruction, And would root out all my increase.

13 "If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant When they complained against me,

14 What then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him?

15 Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?

16 "If I have kept the poor from their desire, Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

17 Or eaten my morsel by myself, So that the fatherless could not eat of it

18 (But from my youth I reared him as a father, And from my mother's womb I guided the widow);

19 If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, Or any poor man without covering;

20 If his heart has not blessed me, And if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

21 If I have raised my hand against the fatherless, When I saw I had help in the gate;

22 Then let my arm fall from my shoulder, Let my arm be torn from the socket.

23 For destruction from God is a terror to me, And because of His magnificence I cannot endure.

24 "If I have made gold my hope, Or said to fine gold, 'You are my confidence';

25 If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gained much;

26 If I have observed the sun when it shines, Or the moon moving in brightness,

27 So that my heart has been secretly enticed, And my mouth has kissed my hand;

28 This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment, For I would have denied God who is above.

29 "If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, Or lifted myself up when evil found him

30 (Indeed I have not allowed my mouth to sin By asking for a curse on his soul);

31 If the men of my tent have not said, 'Who is there that has not been satisfied with his meat?'

32 (But no sojourner had to lodge in the street, For I have opened my doors to the traveler);

33 If I have covered my transgressions as Adam, By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,

34 Because I feared the great multitude, And dreaded the contempt of families, So that I kept silence And did not go out of the door--

35 Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my mark. Oh, that the Almighty would answer me, That my Prosecutor had written a book!

36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder, And bind it on me like a crown;

37 I would declare to Him the number of my steps; Like a prince I would approach Him.

38 "If my land cries out against me, And its furrows weep together;

39 If I have eaten its fruit without money, Or caused its owners to lose their lives;

40 Then let thistles grow instead of wheat, And weeds instead of barley." The words of Job are ended.

Job 31:4-40 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally loins
• [b]. Literally light
• [c]. Literally its strength