1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
2 For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
3 Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?
4 Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?
5 If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;
6 Let me be weighed in an even balance that God may know mine integrity.
7 If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;
8 Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.
9 If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;
10 Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.
11 For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.
12 For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.
13 If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;
14 What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?
15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?
16 If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
17 Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;
18 (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;)
19 If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;
20 If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:
22 Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.
23 For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.
24 If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;
25 If I rejoice because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;
26 If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;
27 And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:
28 This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.
29 If I rejoice at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:
30 Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.
31 If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.
32 The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.
33 If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:
34 Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?
35 Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.
36 Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.
37 I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.
38 If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;
39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:
40 Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.
1 I made H3772 a covenant H1285 with mine eyes; H5869 why then should I think H995 upon a maid? H1330
2 For what portion H2506 of God H433 is there from above? H4605 and what inheritance H5159 of the Almighty H7706 from on high? H4791
3 Is not destruction H343 to the wicked? H5767 and a strange H5235 punishment to the workers H6466 of iniquity? H205
4 Doth not he see H7200 my ways, H1870 and count H5608 all my steps? H6806
5 If I have walked H1980 with vanity, H7723 or if my foot H7272 hath hasted H2363 to deceit; H4820
6 Let me be weighed H8254 in an even H6664 balance, H3976 that God H433 may know H3045 mine integrity. H8538
7 If my step H838 hath turned out H5186 of the way, H1870 and mine heart H3820 walked H1980 after H310 mine eyes, H5869 and if any blot H3971 hath cleaved H1692 to mine hands; H3709
8 Then let me sow, H2232 and let another H312 eat; H398 yea, let my offspring H6631 be rooted out. H8327
9 If mine heart H3820 have been deceived H6601 by a woman, H802 or if I have laid wait H693 at my neighbour's H7453 door; H6607
10 Then let my wife H802 grind H2912 unto another, H312 and let others H312 bow down H3766 upon her.
11 For this is an heinous crime; H2154 yea, it is an iniquity H5771 to be punished by the judges. H6414
12 For it is a fire H784 that consumeth H398 to destruction, H11 and would root out H8327 all mine increase. H8393
13 If I did despise H3988 the cause H4941 of my manservant H5650 or of my maidservant, H519 when they contended H7379 with me;
14 What then shall I do H6213 when God H410 riseth up? H6965 and when he visiteth, H6485 what shall I answer H7725 him?
15 Did not he that made H6213 me in the womb H990 make H6213 him? and did not one H259 fashion H3559 us in the womb? H7358
16 If I have withheld H4513 the poor H1800 from their desire, H2656 or have caused the eyes H5869 of the widow H490 to fail; H3615
17 Or have eaten H398 my morsel H6595 myself alone, and the fatherless H3490 hath not eaten H398 thereof;
18 (For from my youth H5271 he was brought up H1431 with me, as with a father, H1 and I have guided H5148 her from my mother's H517 womb;) H990
19 If I have seen H7200 any perish H6 for want of clothing, H3830 or any poor H34 without covering; H3682
20 If his loins H2504 have not blessed H1288 me, and if he were not warmed H2552 with the fleece H1488 of my sheep; H3532
21 If I have lifted up H5130 my hand H3027 against the fatherless, H3490 when I saw H7200 my help H5833 in the gate: H8179
22 Then let mine arm H3802 fall H5307 from my shoulder blade, H7929 and mine arm H248 be broken H7665 from the bone. H7070
23 For destruction H343 from God H410 was a terror H6343 to me, and by reason of his highness H7613 I could H3201 not endure.
24 If I have made H7760 gold H2091 my hope, H3689 or have said H559 to the fine gold, H3800 Thou art my confidence; H4009
25 If I rejoiced H8055 because my wealth H2428 was great, H7227 and because mine hand H3027 had gotten H4672 much; H3524
26 If I beheld H7200 the sun H216 when it shined, H1984 or the moon H3394 walking H1980 in brightness; H3368
27 And my heart H3820 hath been secretly H5643 enticed, H6601 or my mouth H6310 hath kissed H5401 my hand: H3027
28 This also were an iniquity H5771 to be punished by the judge: H6416 for I should have denied H3584 the God H410 that is above. H4605
29 If I rejoiced H8055 at the destruction H6365 of him that hated H8130 me, or lifted up H5782 myself when evil H7451 found H4672 him:
30 Neither have I suffered H5414 my mouth H2441 to sin H2398 by wishing H7592 a curse H423 to his soul. H5315
31 If the men H4962 of my tabernacle H168 said H559 not, Oh that we had H5414 of his flesh! H1320 we cannot be satisfied. H7646
32 The stranger H1616 did not lodge H3885 in the street: H2351 but I opened H6605 my doors H1817 to the traveller. H734
33 If I covered H3680 my transgressions H6588 as Adam, H121 by hiding H2934 mine iniquity H5771 in my bosom: H2243
34 Did I fear H6206 a great H7227 multitude, H1995 or did the contempt H937 of families H4940 terrify H2865 me, that I kept silence, H1826 and went not out H3318 of the door? H6607
35 Oh that H5414 one would hear H8085 me! behold, my desire H8420 is, that the Almighty H7706 would answer H6030 me, and that mine adversary H376 H7379 had written H3789 a book. H5612
36 Surely I would take H5375 it upon my shoulder, H7926 and bind H6029 it as a crown H5850 to me.
37 I would declare H5046 unto him the number H4557 of my steps; H6806 as a prince H5057 would I go near H7126 unto him.
38 If my land H127 cry H2199 against me, or that the furrows H8525 likewise H3162 thereof complain; H1058
39 If I have eaten H398 the fruits H3581 thereof without money, H3701 or have caused the owners H1167 thereof to lose H5301 their life: H5315
40 Let thistles H2336 grow H3318 instead of wheat, H2406 and cockle H890 instead of barley. H8184 The words H1697 of Job H347 are ended. H8552
1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; How then should I look upon a virgin?
2 For what is the portion from God above, And the heritage from the Almighty on high?
3 Is it not calamity to the unrighteous, And disaster to the workers of iniquity?
4 Doth not he see my ways, And number all my steps?
5 If I have walked with falsehood, And my foot hath hasted to deceit;
6 (Let me be weighed in an even balance, That God may know mine integrity);
7 If my step hath turned out of the way, And my heart walked after mine eyes, And if any spot hath cleaved to my hands:
8 Then let me sow, and let another eat; Yea, let the produce of my field be rooted out.
9 If my heart hath been enticed unto a woman, And I have laid wait at my neighbor's door;
10 Then let my wife grind unto another, And let others bow down upon her.
11 For that were a heinous crime; Yea, it were an iniquity to be punished by the judges:
12 For it is a fire that consumeth unto Destruction, And would root out all mine increase.
13 If I have despised the cause of my man-servant or of my maid-servant, When they contended with me;
14 What then shall I do when God riseth up? And when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?
15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?
16 If I have withheld the poor from `their' desire, Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
17 Or have eaten my morsel alone, And the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;
18 (Nay, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And her have I guided from my mother's womb);
19 If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, Or that the needy had no covering;
20 If his loins have not blessed me, And if he hath not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, Because I saw my help in the gate:
22 Then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, And mine arm be broken from the bone.
23 For calamity from God is a terror to me, And by reason of his majesty I can do nothing.
24 If I have made gold my hope, And have said to the fine gold, `Thou art' my confidence;
25 If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gotten much;
26 If I have beheld the sun when it shined, Or the moon walking in brightness,
27 And my heart hath been secretly enticed, And my mouth hath kissed my hand:
28 This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have denied the God that is above.
29 If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, Or lifted up myself when evil found him;
30 (Yea, I have not suffered by mouth to sin By asking his life with a curse);
31 If the men of my tent have not said, Who can find one that hath not been filled with his meat?
32 (The sojourner hath not lodged in the street; But I have opened my doors to the traveller);
33 If like Adam I have covered my transgressions, By hiding mine iniquity in my bosom,
34 Because I feared the great multitude, And the contempt of families terrified me, So that I kept silence, and went not out of the door-
35 Oh that I had one to hear me! (Lo, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me); And `that I had' the indictment which mine adversary hath written!
36 Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder; I would bind it unto me as a crown:
37 I would declare unto him the number of my steps; As a prince would I go near unto him.
38 If my land crieth out against me, And the furrows thereof weep together;
39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, Or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:
40 Let thistles grow instead of wheat, And cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.
1 A covenant I made for mine eyes, And what -- do I attend to a virgin?
2 And what `is' the portion of God from above? And the inheritance of the Mighty from the heights?
3 Is not calamity to the perverse? And strangeness to workers of iniquity?
4 Doth not He see my ways, And all my steps number?
5 If I have walked with vanity, And my foot doth hasten to deceit,
6 He doth weigh me in righteous balances, And God doth know my integrity.
7 If my step doth turn aside from the way, And after mine eyes hath my heart gone, And to my hands cleaved hath blemish,
8 Let me sow -- and another eat, And my products let be rooted out.
9 If my heart hath been enticed by woman, And by the opening of my neighbour I laid wait,
10 Grind to another let my wife, And over her let others bend.
11 For it `is' a wicked thing, and a judicial iniquity;
12 For a fire it `is', to destruction it consumeth, And among all mine increase doth take root,
13 If I despise the cause of my man-servant, And of my handmaid, In their contending with me,
14 Then what do I do when God ariseth? And when He doth inspect, What do I answer Him?
15 Did not He that made me in the womb make him? Yea, prepare us in the womb doth One.
16 If I withhold from pleasure the poor, And the eyes of the widow do consume,
17 And I do eat my morsel by myself, And the orphan hath not eat of it,
18 (But from my youth He grew up with me as `with' a father, And from the belly of my mother I am led.)
19 If I see `any' perishing without clothing, And there is no covering to the needy,
20 If his loins have not blessed me, And from the fleece of my sheep He doth not warm himself,
21 If I have waved at the fatherless my hand, When I see in `him' the gate of my court,
22 My shoulder from its blade let fall, And mine arm from the bone be broken.
23 For a dread unto me `is' calamity `from' God, And because of His excellency I am not able.
24 If I have made gold my confidence, And to the pure gold have said, `My trust,'
25 If I rejoice because great `is' my wealth, And because abundance hath my hand found,
26 If I see the light when it shineth, And the precious moon walking,
27 And my heart is enticed in secret, And my hand doth kiss my mouth,
28 It also `is' a judicial iniquity, For I had lied to God above.
29 If I rejoice at the ruin of my hater, And stirred up myself when evil found him,
30 Yea, I have not suffered my mouth to sin, To ask with an oath his life.
31 If not -- say ye, O men of my tent, `O that we had of his flesh, we are not satisfied.'
32 In the street doth not lodge a stranger, My doors to the traveller I open.
33 If I have covered as Adam my transgressions, To hide in my bosom mine iniquity,
34 Because I fear a great multitude, And the contempt of families doth affright me, Then I am silent, I go not out of the opening.
35 Who giveth to me a hearing? lo, my mark. The Mighty One doth answer me, And a bill hath mine adversary written.
36 If not -- on my shoulder I take it up, I bind it a crown on myself.
37 The number of my steps I tell Him, As a leader I approach Him.
38 If against me my land doth cry out, And together its furrows weep,
39 If its strength I consumed without money, And the life of its possessors, I have caused to breathe out,
40 Instead of wheat let a thorn go forth, And instead of barley a useless weed! The words of Job are finished.
1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; and how should I fix my regard upon a maid?
2 For what would have been [my] portion of +God from above, and what the heritage of the Almighty from on high?
3 Is not calamity for the unrighteous? and misfortune for the workers of iniquity?
4 Doth not he see my ways, and number all my steps?
5 If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot hath hasted to deceit,
6 (Let me be weighed in an even balance, and +God will take knowledge of my blamelessness;)
7 If my step have turned out of the way, and my heart followed mine eyes, and if any blot cleaveth to my hands;
8 Let me sow, and another eat; and let mine offspring be rooted out.
9 If my heart have been enticed unto a woman, so that I laid wait at my neighbour's door,
10 Let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down upon her.
11 For this is an infamy; yea, it is an iniquity [to be judged by] the judges:
12 For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.
13 If I have despised the cause of my bondman or of my bondmaid, when they contended with me,
14 What then should I do when ùGod riseth up? and if he visited, what should I answer him?
15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not One fashion us in the womb?
16 If I have withheld the poor from [their] desire, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
17 Or have eaten my morsel alone, so that the fatherless ate not thereof,
18 (For from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and I have guided the [widow] from my mother's womb;)
19 If I have seen any perishing for want of clothing, or any needy without covering;
20 If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my lambs;
21 If I have lifted up my hand against an orphan, because I saw my help in the gate:
22 [Then] let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone!
23 For calamity from ùGod was a terror to me, and by reason of his excellency I was powerless.
24 If I have made gold my hope, or said to the fine gold, My confidence!
25 If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much;
26 If I beheld the sun when it shone, or the moon walking in brightness,
27 And my heart have been secretly enticed, so that my mouth kissed my hand:
28 This also would be an iniquity for the judge, for I should have denied the ùGod who is above.
29 If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, and exulted when evil befell him;
30 (Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by asking his life with a curse;)
31 If the men of my tent said not, Who shall find one that hath not been satisfied with his meat? --
32 The stranger did not lodge without; I opened my doors to the pathway.
33 If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom,
34 Because I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and went not out of the door, ...
35 Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold my signature: let the Almighty answer me! And let mine opponent write an accusation!
36 Would I not take it upon my shoulder? I would bind it on to me [as] a crown;
37 I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I come near to him.
38 If my land cry out against me, and its furrows weep together;
39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have tormented to death the souls of its owners:
40 Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and tares instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.
1 "I made a covenant with my eyes, How then should I look lustfully at a young woman?
2 For what is the portion from God above, And the heritage from the Almighty on high?
3 Is it not calamity to the unrighteous, And disaster to the workers of iniquity?
4 Doesn't he see my ways, And number all my steps?
5 "If I have walked with falsehood, And my foot has hurried to deceit
6 (Let me be weighed in an even balance, That God may know my integrity);
7 If my step has turned out of the way, If my heart walked after my eyes, If any defilement has stuck to my hands,
8 Then let me sow, and let another eat; Yes, let the produce of my field be rooted out.
9 "If my heart has been enticed to a woman, And I have laid wait at my neighbor's door;
10 Then let my wife grind for another, And let others sleep with her.
11 For that would be a heinous crime; Yes, it would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges:
12 For it is a fire that consumes to destruction, And would root out all my increase.
13 "If I have despised the cause of my man-servant Or of my maid-servant, When they contended with me;
14 What then shall I do when God rises up? When he visits, what shall I answer him?
15 Didn't he who made me in the womb make him? Didn't one fashion us in the womb?
16 "If I have withheld the poor from their desire, Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
17 Or have eaten my morsel alone, And the fatherless has not eaten of it
18 (No, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, Her have I guided from my mother's womb);
19 If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, Or that the needy had no covering;
20 If his heart hasn't blessed me, If he hasn't been warmed with my sheep's fleece;
21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, Because I saw my help in the gate:
22 Then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, And my arm be broken from the bone.
23 For calamity from God is a terror to me, By reason of his majesty I can do nothing.
24 "If I have made gold my hope, And have said to the fine gold, 'You are my confidence;'
25 If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gotten much;
26 If I have seen the sun when it shined, Or the moon moving in splendor,
27 And my heart has been secretly enticed, My hand threw a kiss from my mouth:
28 This also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have denied the God who is above.
29 "If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, Or lifted up myself when evil found him;
30 (Yes, I have not allowed my mouth to sin By asking his life with a curse);
31 If the men of my tent have not said, 'Who can find one who has not been filled with his meat?'
32 (The foreigner has not lodged in the street; But I have opened my doors to the traveler);
33 If like Adam I have covered my transgressions, By hiding my iniquity in my heart,
34 Because I feared the great multitude, And the contempt of families terrified me, So that I kept silence, and didn't go out of the door--
35 Oh that I had one to hear me! (Behold, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me); Let the accuser write my indictment!
36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; And I would bind it to me as a crown.
37 I would declare to him the number of my steps. As a prince would I go near to him.
38 If my land cries out against me, And the furrows of it weep together;
39 If I have eaten the fruits of it without money, Or have caused the owners of it to lose their life:
40 Let briars grow instead of wheat, And stinkweed instead of barley." The words of Job are ended.
1 I made an agreement with my eyes; how then might my eyes be looking on a virgin?
2 For what is God's reward from on high, or the heritage given by the Ruler of all from heaven?
3 Is it not trouble for the sinner, and destruction for the evil-doers?
4 Does he not see my ways, and are not my steps all numbered?
5 If I have gone in false ways, or my foot has been quick in working deceit;
6 (Let me be measured in upright scales, and let God see my righteousness:)
7 If my steps have been turned out of the way, or if my heart went after my eyes, or if the property of another is in my hands;
8 Let me put seed in the earth for another to have the fruit of it, and let my produce be uprooted.
9 If my heart went after another man's wife, or if I was waiting secretly at my neighbour's door;
10 Then let my wife give pleasure to another man and let others make use of her body.
11 For that would be a crime; it would be an act for which punishment would be measured out by the judges:
12 It would be a fire burning even to destruction, and taking away all my produce.
13 If I did wrong in the cause of my man-servant, or my woman-servant, when they went to law with me;
14 What then will I do when God comes as my judge? and what answer may I give to his questions?
15 Did not God make him as well as me? did he not give us life in our mothers' bodies?
16 If I kept back the desire of the poor; if the widow's eye was looking for help to no purpose;
17 If I kept my food for myself, and did not give some of it to the child with no father;
18 (For I was cared for by God as by a father from my earliest days; he was my guide from the body of my mother;)
19 If I saw one near to death for need of clothing, and that the poor had nothing covering him;
20 If his back did not give me a blessing, and the wool of my sheep did not make him warm;
21 If my hand had been lifted up against him who had done no wrong, when I saw that I was supported by the judges;
22 May my arm be pulled from my body, and be broken from its base.
23 For the fear of God kept me back, and because of his power I might not do such things.
24 If I made gold my hope, or if I ever said to the best gold, I have put my faith in you;
25 If I was glad because my wealth was great, and because my hand had got together a great store;
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;
37 I would make clear the number of my steps, I would put it before him like a prince! The words of Job are ended.
38 If my land has made an outcry against me, or the ploughed earth has been in sorrow;
39 If I have taken its produce without payment, causing the death of its owners;
40 Then in place of grain let thorns come up, and in place of barley evil-smelling plants.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Job 31
Commentary on Job 31 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 31
Job 31:1-40.
1. Job proceeds to prove that he deserved a better lot. As in the twenty-ninth chapter, he showed his uprightness as an emir, or magistrate in public life, so in this chapter he vindicates his character in private life.
1-4. He asserts his guarding against being allured to sin by his senses.
think—rather, "cast a (lustful) look." He not merely did not so, but put it out of the question by covenanting with his eyes against leading him into temptation (Pr 6:25; Mt 5:28).
2. Had I let my senses tempt me to sin, "what portion (would there have been to me, that is, must I have expected) from (literally, of) God above, and what inheritance from (literally, of) the Almighty," &c. [Maurer] (Job 20:29; 27:13).
3. Answer to the question in Job 31:2.
strange—extraordinary.
4. Doth not he see? &c.—Knowing this, I could only have expected "destruction" (Job 31:3), had I committed this sin (Pr 5:21).
5. Job's abstinence from evil deeds.
vanity—that is, falsehood (Ps 12:2).
6. Parenthetical. Translate: "Oh, that God would weigh me … then would He know," &c.
7. Connected with Job 31:6.
the way—of God (Job 23:11; Jer 5:5). A godly life.
heart … after … eyes—if my heart coveted, what my eyes beheld (Ec 11:9; Jos 7:21).
hands—(Ps 24:4).
8. Apodosis to Job 31:5, 7; the curses which he imprecates on himself, if he had done these things (Le 26:16; Am 9:14; Ps 128:2).
offspring—rather, "what I plant," my harvests.
9-12. Job asserts his innocence of adultery.
deceived—hath let itself be seduced (Pr 7:8; Ge 39:7-12).
laid wait—until the husband went out.
10. grind—turn the handmill. Be the most abject slave and concubine (Isa 47:2; 2Sa 12:11).
11. In the earliest times punished with death (Ge 38:24). So in later times (De 22:22). Heretofore he had spoken only of sins against conscience; now, one against the community, needing the cognizance of the judge.
12. (Pr 6:27-35; 8:6-23, 26, 27). No crime more provokes God to send destruction as a consuming fire; none so desolates the soul.
13-23. Job affirms his freedom from unfairness towards his servants, from harshness and oppression towards the needy.
despise the cause—refused to do them justice.
14, 15. Parenthetical; the reason why Job did not despise the cause of his servants. Translate: What then (had I done so) could I have done, when God arose (to call me to account); and when He visited (came to enquire), what could I have answered Him?
15. Slaveholders try to defend themselves by maintaining the original inferiority of the slave. But Mal 2:10; Ac 17:26; Eph 6:9 make the common origin of masters and servants the argument for brotherly love being shown by the former to the latter.
16. fail—in the vain expectation of relief (Job 11:20).
17. Arabian rules of hospitality require the stranger to be helped first, and to the best.
18. Parenthetical: asserting that he did the contrary to the things in Job 31:16, 17.
he—the orphan.
guided her—namely, the widow, by advice and protection. On this and "a father," see Job 29:16.
19. perish—that is, ready to perish (Job 29:13).
20. loins—The parts of the body benefited by Job are poetically described as thanking him; the loins before naked, when clad by me, wished me every blessing.
21. when—that is, "because."
I saw—that I might calculate on the "help" of a powerful party in the court of justice—("gate"), if I should be summoned by the injured fatherless.
22. Apodosis to Job 31:13, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21. If I had done those crimes, I should have made a bad use of my influence ("my arm," figuratively, Job 31:21): therefore, if I have done them let my arm (literally) suffer. Job alludes to Eliphaz' charge (Job 22:9). The first "arm" is rather the shoulder. The second "arm" is the forearm.
from the bone—literally, "a reed"; hence the upper arm, above the elbow.
23. For—that is, the reason why Job guarded against such sins. Fear of God, though he could escape man's judgment (Ge 39:9). Umbreit more spiritedly translates, Yea, destruction and terror from God might have befallen me (had I done so): mere fear not being the motive.
highness—majestic might.
endure—I could have availed nothing against it.
24, 25. Job asserts his freedom from trust in money (1Ti 6:17). Here he turns to his duty towards God, as before he had spoken of his duty towards himself and his neighbor. Covetousness is covert idolatry, as it transfers the heart from the Creator to the creature (Col 3:5). In Job 31:26, 27 he passes to overt idolatry.
26. If I looked unto the sun (as an object of worship) because he shined; or to the moon because she walked, &c. Sabaism (from tsaba, "the heavenly hosts") was the earliest form of false worship. God is hence called in contradistinction, "Lord of Sabaoth." The sun, moon, and stars, the brightest objects in nature, and seen everywhere, were supposed to be visible representatives of the invisible God. They had no temples, but were worshipped on high places and roofs of houses (Eze 8:16; De 4:19; 2Ki 23:5, 11). The Hebrew here for "sun" is light. Probably light was worshipped as the emanation from God, before its embodiments, the sun, &c. This worship prevailed in Chaldea; wherefore Job's exemption from the idolatry of his neighbors was the more exemplary. Our "Sun-day," "Mon-day," or Moon-day, bear traces of Sabaism.
27. enticed—away from God to idolatry.
kissed … hand—"adoration," literally means this. In worshipping they used to kiss the hand, and then throw the kiss, as it were, towards the object of worship (1Ki 19:18; Ho 13:2).
28. The Mosaic law embodied subsequently the feeling of the godly from the earliest times against idolatry, as deserving judicial penalties: being treason against the Supreme King (De 13:9; 17:2-7; Eze 8:14-18). This passage therefore does not prove Job to have been subsequent to Moses.
29. lifted up myself—in malicious triumph (Pr 17:5; 24:17; Ps 7:4).
30. mouth—literally, "palate." (See on Job 6:30).
wishing—literally, "so as to demand his (my enemy's) soul," that is, "life by a curse." This verse parenthetically confirms Job 31:30. Job in the patriarchal age of the promise, anterior to the law, realizes the Gospel spirit, which was the end of the law (compare Le 19:18; De 23:6, with Mt 5:43, 44).
31. That is, Job's household said, Oh, that we had Job's enemy to devour, we cannot rest satisfied till we have! But Job refrained from even wishing revenge (1Sa 26:8; 2Sa 16:9, 10). So Jesus Christ (Lu 9:54, 55). But, better (see Job 31:32), translated, "Who can show (literally, give) the man who was not satisfied with the flesh (meat) provided by Job?" He never let a poor man leave his gate without giving him enough to eat.
32. traveller—literally, "way," that is, wayfarers; so expressed to include all of every kind (2Sa 12:4).
33. Adam—translated by Umbreit, "as men do" (Ho 6:7, where see Margin). But English Version is more natural. The very same word for "hiding" is used in Ge 3:8, 10, of Adam hiding himself from God. Job elsewhere alludes to the flood. So he might easily know of the fall, through the two links which connect Adam and Abraham (about Job's time), namely, Methuselah and Shem. Adam is representative of fallen man's propensity to concealment (Pr 28:13). It was from God that Job did not "hide his iniquity in his bosom," as on the contrary it was from God that "Adam" hid in his lurking-place. This disproves the translation, "as men"; for it is from their fellow men that "men" are chiefly anxious to hide their real character as guilty. Magee, to make the comparison with Adam more exact, for my "bosom" translates, "lurking-place."
34. Rather, the apodosis to Job 31:33, "Then let me be fear-stricken before a great multitude, let the contempt, &c., let me keep silence (the greatest disgrace to a patriot, heretofore so prominent in assemblies), and not go out," &c. A just retribution that he who hides his sin from God, should have it exposed before man (2Sa 12:12). But Job had not been so exposed, but on the contrary was esteemed in the assemblies of the "tribes"—("families"); a proof, he implies, that God does not hold him guilty of hiding sin (Job 24:16, contrast with Job 29:21-25).
35. Job returns to his wish (Job 13:22; 19:23). Omit "is"; "Behold my sign," that is, my mark of subscription to the statements just given in my defense: the mark of signature was originally a cross; and hence the letter Tau or T. Translate, also "Oh, that the Almighty," &c. He marks "God" as the "One" meant in the first clause.
adversary—that is, he who contends with me, refers also to God. The vagueness is designed to express "whoever it be that judicially opposes me"—the Almighty if it be He.
had written a book—rather, "would write down his charge."
36. So far from hiding the adversary's "answer" or "charge" through fear,
I would take it on my shoulders—as a public honor (Isa 9:6).
a crown—not a mark of shame, but of distinction (Isa 62:3).
37. A good conscience imparts a princely dignity before man and free assurance in approaching God. This can be realized, not in Job's way (Job 42:5, 6); but only through Jesus Christ (Heb 10:22).
38. Personification. The complaints of the unjustly ousted proprietors are transferred to the lands themselves (Job 31:20; Ge 4:10; Hab 2:11). If I have unjustly acquired lands (Job 24:2; Isa 5:8).
furrows—The specification of these makes it likely, he implies in this, "If I paid not the laborer for tillage"; as Job 31:39, "If I paid him not for gathering in the fruits." Thus of the four clauses in Job 31:38, 39, the first refers to the same subject as the fourth, the second is connected with the third by introverted parallelism. Compare Jas 5:4, which plainly alludes to this passage: compare "Lord of Sabaoth" with Job 31:26 here.
39. lose … life—not literally, but "harassed to death"; until he gave me up his land gratis [Maurer]; as in Jud 16:16; "suffered him to languish" by taking away his means of living [Umbreit] (1Ki 21:19).
40. thistles—or brambles, thorns.
cockle—literally, "noxious weeds."
The words … ended—that is, in the controversy with the friends. He spoke in the book afterwards, but not to them. At Job 31:37 would be the regular conclusion in strict art. But Job 31:38-40 are naturally added by one whose mind in agitation recurs to its sense of innocence, even after it has come to the usual stopping point; this takes away the appearance of rhetorical artifice. Hence the transposition by Eichorn of Job 31:38-40 to follow Job 31:25 is quite unwarranted.