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Job 31:1
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1 “I have made a covenant with my eyes;
Why then should I1 look upon a ayoung woman? 
2 For what is the aallotment of God from above,
And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high? 
3 Is it not destruction for the wicked,
And disaster for the workers of iniquity?
4 aDoes 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 1Let me be weighed on honest scales,
That God may know my aintegrity. 
7 If my step has turned from the way,
Or amy heart walked after my eyes,
Or if any spot adheres to my hands, 
8 Then alet me sow, and another eat;
Yes, let my harvest be1 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 aanother,
And let others bow down over her. 
11 For that would be wickedness;
Yes, ait 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 adespised the cause of my male or female servant
When they complained against me, 
14 What then shall I do when aGod rises up?
When He punishes, how shall I answer Him? 
15 aDid 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 afail, 
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 guided1 the widow); 
19 If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,
Or any poor man without covering;
20 If his1 heart has not ablessed me,
And if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; 
21 If I have raised my hand aagainst 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 adestruction from God is a terror to me,
And because of His magnificence I cannot endure. 
24 “Ifa I have made gold my hope,
Or said to fine gold, ‘You are my confidence’; 
25 aIf I have rejoiced because my wealth was great,
And because my hand had gained much; 
26 aIf I have observed the1 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 “Ifa I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me,
Or lifted myself up when evil found him 
30 a(Indeed I have not allowed my mouth to sin
By asking for a curse on his1 soul); 
31 If the men of my tent have not said,
‘Who is there that has not been satisfied with his meat?’
32 a(But no sojourner had to lodge in the street,
For I have opened my doors to the1 traveler); 
33 If I have covered my transgressions aas Adam,
By hiding my iniquity in my bosom, 
34 Because I feared the great amultitude,
And dreaded the contempt of families,
So that I kept silence
And did not go out of the door— 
35 aOh, that I had one to hear me!
Here is my mark.
Oh, bthat the Almighty would answer me,
That my1 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 aI have eaten its fruit without money,
Or bcaused its owners to lose their lives; 
40 Then let athistles grow instead of wheat,
And weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended. 
Commentaries:
Matthew Henry
<< Job 30:31   Job 31:2 >>


Job 31:1-40

Job declares his uprightness. (1-8) His integrity. (9-15) Job merciful. (16-23) Job not guilty of covetousness or idolatry. (24-32) Job not guilty of hypocrisy and violence. (33-40)

Verses 1-8 Job did not speak the things here recorded by way of boasting, but in answer to the charge of hypocrisy. He understood the spiritual nature of God's commandments, as reaching to the thoughts and intents of the heart. It is best to let our actions speak for us; but in some cases we owe it to ourselves and to the cause of God, solemnly to protest our innocence of the crimes of which we are falsely accused. The lusts of the flesh, and the love of the world, are two fatal rocks on which multitudes split; against these Job protests he was always careful to stand upon his guard. And God takes more exact notice of us than we do of ourselves; let us therefore walk circumspectly. He carefully avoided all sinful means of getting wealth. He dreaded all forbidden profit as much as all forbidden pleasure. What we have in the world may be used with comfort, or lost with comfort, if honestly gotten. Without strict honestly and faithfulness in all our dealings, we can have no good evidence of true godliness. Yet how many professors are unable to abide this touchstone!

Verses 9-15 All the defilements of the life come from a deceived heart. Lust is a fire in the soul: those that indulge it, are said to burn. It consumes all that is good there, and lays the conscience waste. It kindles the fire of God's wrath, which, if not quenched by the blood of Christ, will consume even to eternal destruction. It consumes the body; it consumes the substance. Burning lusts bring burning judgments. Job had a numerous household, and he managed it well. He considered that he had a Master in heaven; and as we are undone if God should be severe with us, we ought to be mild and gentle towards all with whom we have to do.

Verses 16-23 Job's conscience gave testimony concerning his just and charitable behaviour toward the poor. He is most large upon this head, because in this matter he was particularly accused. He was tender of all, and hurtful to none. Notice the principles by which Job was restrained from being uncharitable and unmerciful. He stood in awe of the Lord, as certainly against him, if he should wrong the poor. Regard to worldly interests may restrain a man from actual crimes; but the grace of God alone can make him hate, dread, and shun sinful thoughts and desires.

Verses 24-32 Job protests, 1. That he never set his heart upon the wealth of this world. How few prosperous professors can appeal to the Lord, that they have not rejoiced because their gains were great! Through the determination to be rich, numbers ruin their souls, or pierce themselves with many sorrows. 2. He never was guilty of idolatry. The source of idolatry is in the heart, and it corrupts men, and provokes God to send judgments upon a nation. 3. He neither desired nor delighted in the hurt of the worst enemy he had. If others bear malice to us, that will not justify us in bearing malice to them. 4. He had never been I Peter

Verses 33-40 Job clears himself from the charge of hypocrisy. We are loth to confess our faults, willing to excuse them, and to lay the blame upon others. But he that thus covers his sins, shall not prosper, proverbs 28:13 . He speaks of his courage in what is good, as an evidence of his sincerity in it. When men get estates unjustly, they are justly deprived of comfort from them; it was sown wheat, but shall come up thistles. What men do not come honestly by, will never do them any good. The words of Job are ended. They end with a bold assertion, that, with respect to accusation against his moral and religious character as the cause for his sufferings, he could appeal to God. But, however confident Job was, we shall see he was mistaken, chap. 40:4,5; 1Jo 1:8. Let us all judge ourselves; wherein we are guilty, let us seek forgiveness in that blood which cleanseth from all sin; and may the Lord have mercy upon us, and write his laws in our hearts!


 
<< Job 30:31   Job 31:2 >>

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