Job31
New Living Translation
1“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman.
2For what has God above chosen for us? What is our inheritance from the Almighty on high?
3Isn’t it calamity for the wicked and misfortune for those who do evil?
4Doesn’t he see everything I do and every step I take?
5“Have I lied to anyone or deceived anyone?
6Let God weigh me on the scales of justice, for he knows my integrity.
7If I have strayed from his pathway, or if my heart has lusted for what my eyes have seen, or if I am guilty of any other sin,
8then let someone else eat the crops I have planted. Let all that I have planted be uprooted.
9“If my heart has been seduced by a woman, or if I have lusted for my neighbor’s wife,
10then let my wife serve another man; let other men sleep with her.
11For lust is a shameful sin, a crime that should be punished.
12It is a fire that burns all the way to hell. It would wipe out everything I own.
13“If I have been unfair to my male or female servants when they brought their complaints to me,
14how could I face God? What could I say when he questioned me?
15For God created both me and my servants. He created us both in the womb.
16“Have I refused to help the poor, or crushed the hopes of widows?
17Have I been stingy with my food and refused to share it with orphans?
18No, from childhood I have cared for orphans like a father, and all my life I have cared for widows.
19Whenever I saw the homeless without clothes and the needy with nothing to wear,
20did they not praise me for providing wool clothing to keep them warm?
21“If I raised my hand against an orphan, knowing the judges would take my side,
22then let my shoulder be wrenched out of place! Let my arm be torn from its socket!
23That would be better than facing God’s judgment. For if the majesty of God opposes me, what hope is there?
24“Have I put my trust in money or felt secure because of my gold?
25Have I gloated about my wealth and all that I own?
26“Have I looked at the sun shining in the skies, or the moon walking down its silver pathway,
27and been secretly enticed in my heart to throw kisses at them in worship?
28If so, I should be punished by the judges, for it would mean I had denied the God of heaven.
29“Have I ever rejoiced when disaster struck my enemies, or become excited when harm came their way?
30No, I have never sinned by cursing anyone or by asking for revenge.
31“My servants have never said, ‘He let others go hungry.’
32I have never turned away a stranger but have opened my doors to everyone.
33“Have I tried to hide my sins like other people do, concealing my guilt in my heart?
34Have I feared the crowd or the contempt of the masses, so that I kept quiet and stayed indoors?
35“If only someone would listen to me! Look, I will sign my name to my defense. Let the Almighty answer me. Let my accuser write out the charges against me.
36I would face the accusation proudly. I would wear it like a crown.
37For I would tell him exactly what I have done. I would come before him like a prince.
38“If my land accuses me and all its furrows cry out together,
39or if I have stolen its crops or murdered its owners,
40then let thistles grow on that land instead of wheat, and weeds instead of barley.” Job’s words are ended.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Job 31.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: 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).
vv1-8
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!
vv9-15
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.
vv16-23
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.
Key Words
כָּרַת: to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces)
בְּרִית: a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)
עַיִן: an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
מָה: properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senses
בִּין: to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand
בְּתוּלָה: a virgin (from her privacy); sometimes (by continuation) a bride; also (figuratively) a city or state
חֵלֶק: properly, smoothness (of the tongue); also an allotment
אֱלוֹהַּ: a deity or the Deity
מַעַל: properly, the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc.
נַחֲלָה: properly, something inherited, i.e. (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion
Cross References
Job 31Christ's teaching on checking the heart's lustful look matches Job's covenant with his eyes.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Appeals to one common Creator in the womb as the basis for treating servants justly.
Supported by JFB
Equates covetousness and trust in wealth directly with idolatry, linking Job 31:24 to v26-28.
Supported by JFB
Contrasts Job's integrity with those who cover their transgressions rather than confessing.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels the terminology of 'portion' and 'inheritance' appointed by God to the wicked.
Supported by JFB
The precise curse of sowing seed in vain while enemies eat the harvest.
Supported by JFB
Grinding at the mill as a poetic depiction of the most abject, humiliated service.
Supported by JFB
Demonstrates that adultery was recognized as a heinous crime worthy of judgment in patriarchal times.
Supported by JFB
Adultery described as taking fire to the bosom, matching Job's description of a consuming fire.
Supported by JFB
New Testament call to hospitality without grudging, echoing Job opening his doors to travelers.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Job reiterates his self-description as a father to the poor and needy.
Supported by JFB
Joseph's refusal of adultery due to his fear of sinning against God.
Supported by JFB
The explicit Pentateuchal warning against looking to the sun and moon to worship them.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Alludes to Adam attempting to hide his transgression from God in the garden.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The agricultural cries of withheld wages and abused land reaching the ears of God.
Supported by Matthew Poole