Read Job chapter 31 online with LogosAI Bible study tools, highlights, and cross references.
Job 31 is part of “Third Cycle of Dialogue” (22–31) in the outline of Job.
Job 31 summary
Job had often protested his integrity in general; here he does it in particular instances, not in a way of commendation (for he does not here proclaim his good deeds), but in his own just and necessary vindication, to clear himself from those crimes with which his friends had falsely charged him, which is a debt every man owes to his own reputation. Job's friends had been particular in their articles of impeachment against him, and therefore he is so in his protestation, which seems to refer especially to what Eliphaz had accused him of, Job 22:6, etc. They had produced no witnesses against him, neither could they prove the things whereof they now accused him, and therefore he may well be admitted to purge himself upon oath, which he does very solemnly, and with many awful imprecations of God's wrath if he were guilty of those crimes. This protestation confirms God's character of him, that there was none like him in the earth. Perhaps some of his accusers durst not have joined with him; for he not only acquits himself from those gross sins which lie open to the eye of the world, but from many secret sins which, if he had been guilty of them, nobody could have charged him, with, because he will prove himself no hypocrite. Nor does he only maintain the cleanness of his practices, but shows also that in them he went upon good principles, that the reason of his eschewing evil was because he feared God, and his piety was at the bottom of his justice and charity; and this crowns the proof of his sincerity. I. The sins from which he here acquits himself are, 1. Wantonness and uncleanness of heart (Job 31:1-4). 2. Fraud and injustice in commerce (Job 31:4-8). 3. Adultery (Job 31:9-12). 4. Haughtiness and severity towards his servants (Job 31:13-15). 5. Unmercifulness to the poor, the widows, and the fatherless (Job 31:16-23). 6. Confidence in his worldly wealth (Job 31:24, Job 31:25). 7. Idolatry (Job 31:26-28). 8. Revenge (Job 31:29-31). 9. Neglect of poor strangers (Job 31:32). 10. Hypocrisy in concealing his own sins and cowardice in conniving at the sins of others (Job 31:33, Job 31:34). 11. Oppression, and the violent invasion of other people's rights (Job 31:38-40). And towards the close, he appeals to God's judgment concerning his integrity (Job 31:35-37). Now, II. In all this we may see, 1. The sense of the patriarchal age concerning good and evil and what was so long ago condemned as sinful, that is, both hateful and hurtful. 2. A noble pattern of piety and virtue proposed to us for our imitation, which, if our consciences can witness for us that we conform to it, will be our rejoicing, as it was Job's in the day of evil.
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
1 I made a couenant with mine eyes: why then should I thinke on a mayde?
2 For what portion should I haue of God from aboue? and what inheritance of the Almightie from on hie?
3 Is not destruction to the wicked and strange punishment to the workers of iniquitie?
4 Doeth not he beholde my wayes and tell all my steps?
5 If I haue walked in vanitie, or if my foote hath made haste to deceite,
6 Let God weigh me in the iust balance, and he shall know mine vprightnes.
7 If my steppe hath turned out of the way, or mine heart hath walked after mine eye, or if any blot hath cleaued to mine handes,
8 Let me sowe, and let another eate: yea, let my plantes be rooted out.
9 If mine heart hath bene deceiued by a woman, or if I haue layde wayte at the doore of my neighbour,
10 Let my wife grinde vnto another man, and let other men bow downe vpon her:
11 For this is a wickednes, and iniquitie to bee condemned:
12 Yea, this is a fire that shall deuoure to destruction, and which shall roote out al mine increase,
13 If I did contemne the iudgement of my seruant, and of my mayde, when they did contend with me,
14 What then shall I do when God standeth vp? and when he shall visit me, what shall I answere?
15 He that hath made me in the wombe, hath he not made him? hath not he alone facioned vs in the wombe?
16 If I restrained the poore of their desire, or haue caused the eyes of the widow to faile,
17 Or haue eaten my morsels alone, and the fatherles hath not eaten thereof,
18 (For from my youth hee hath growen vp with me as with a father, and from my mothers wombe I haue bene a guide vnto her)
19 If I haue seene any perish for want of clothing, or any poore without couering,
20 If his loynes haue not blessed me, because he was warmed with the fleece of my sheepe,
21 If I haue lift vp mine hande against the fatherlesse, when I saw that I might helpe him in the gate,
22 Let mine arme fal from my shoulder, and mine arme be broken from the bone.
23 For Gods punishment was fearefull vnto me, and I could not be deliuered from his highnes.
If I made gold mine hope, or haue sayd to the wedge of golde, Thou art my confidence,
24
25 If I reioyced because my substance was great, or because mine hand had gotten much,
26 If I did behold the sunne, when it shined, or the moone, walking in her brightnes,
27 If mine heart did flatter me in secrete, or if my mouth did kisse mine hand,
28 (This also had bene an iniquitie to be condemned: for I had denied the God aboue)
29 If I reioyced at his destruction that hated me, or was mooued to ioye when euill came vpon him,
30 Neither haue I suffred my mouth to sinne, by wishing a curse vnto his soule.
31 Did not the men of my Tabernacle say, Who shall giue vs of his flesh? we can not bee satisfied.
32 The stranger did not lodge in the streete, but I opened my doores vnto him, that went by the way.
33 If I haue hid my sinne, as Adam, concealing mine iniquitie in my bosome,
34 Though I could haue made afraid a great multitude, yet the most contemptible of the families did feare me: so I kept silence, and went not out of the doore.
35 Oh that I had some to heare me! beholde my signe that the Almightie will witnesse for me: though mine aduersary should write a booke against me,
36 Woulde not I take it vpon my shoulder, and binde it as a crowne vnto me?
37 I will tell him the nomber of my goings, and goe vnto him as to a prince.
38 If my lande cry against me, or the furrowes thereof complayne together,
39 If I haue eaten the fruites thereof without siluer: or if I haue grieued the soules of the masters thereof,
40 Let thistles growe in steade of wheate, and cockle in the stead of Barley. The wordes of Iob are ended.