Job 31:26-36

26 If, when I saw the sun shining, and the moon moving on its bright way,

27 A secret feeling of worship came into my heart, and my hand gave kisses from my mouth;

28 That would have been another sin to be rewarded with punishment by the judges; for I would have been false to God on high.

29 If I was glad at the trouble of my hater, and gave cries of joy when evil overtook him;

30 (For I did not let my mouth give way to sin, in putting a curse on his life;)

31 If the men of my tent did not say, Who has not had full measure of his meat?

32 The traveller did not take his night's rest in the street, and my doors were open to anyone on a journey;

33 If I kept my evil doings covered, and my sin in the secret of my breast,

34 For fear of the great body of people, or for fear that families might make sport of me, so that I kept quiet, and did not go out of my door;

35 If only God would give ear to me, and the Ruler of all would give me an answer! or if what he has against me had been put in writing!

36 Truly I would take up the book in my hands; it would be to me as a crown;

Job 31:26-36 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.