31:1-4Job had not only avoided committing the great sin of adultery; he had not even taken the first step toward that sin by looking at a woman with lust. Job said he was innocent of both outward and inward sins. In chapter 29, Job reviewed his good deeds. Here in chapter 31 he listed sins he had not committed— in his heart (31:1-12), against his neighbors (31:13-23), or against God (31:24-34).
Life Application Study BibleJobChapter 31
Job 31
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 823, 824
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
31Job 31
1What is our inheritance from the Almighty on high?
3Isn't it calamity for the wickedand misfortune for those who do evil?
4Doesn't he see everything I doand every step I take?
5“Have I lied to anyoneor deceived anyone?
6Let God weigh me on the scales of justice,for he knows my integrity.
7If Ihave strayed from his pathway,or if my heart has lusted for what my eyes have seen,or if lam guilty of any other sin,8 then 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,10 then let my wife belong to* 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 [have been unfair to my male or female servantswhen they brought their complaints to me,14 how could I face God?What could I say when he questioned me?1S For 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 foodand refused to share it with orphans?
18No, from childhood I have cared for orphans like a father,and ail my life I have cared for widows.
19Whenever I saw the homeless without clothesand the needy with nothing to wear,20 did they not praise mefor providing wool clothing to keep them warm?
21“Tf T raised my hand against an orphan, knowing the judges would take my side, 22 then 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 moneyor felt secure because of my gold?
25Have I gloated about my wealthand all that I own?
26“Have I looked at the sun shining in the skies,or the moon walking down its silver pathway,27 and been secretly enticed in my heartto 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 anyoneor by asking for revenge.
31“My servants have never said,‘He let others go hungry.’
32T have never turned away a strangerbut 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 crowdor 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, 39 or if I have stolen its crops or murdered its owners, 40 then let thistles grow on that land instead of wheat, and weeds instead of barley.” Job's words are ended. Cc. A YOUNG MAN ANSWERS JOB (32:1—37:24) Young Elihu rebukes the three friends for being unable to give Job a reasonable answer for why he was suffering. But he only gives a partial answer to Job’s question by saying that people cannot understand all that God allows but must trust him. This was the best answer that a human could give, yet it was incomplete. Often the best human answers are incomplete because we do not have ail the facts.
Elihu Responds to Job’s Friends
3 Job’s three friends refused to reply further to him because he kept insisting on his innocence.
Textual footnotes
- 31:10 Hebrew grind for.
- 31:12 Hebrew fo Abaddon.
Life Application Notes 3 notes
31:24-28Job affirmed that depending on wealth for happiness is idolatry and denies the God of heaven. We excuse our society’s obsession with money and possessions as a necessary evil or “the way it works” in the modern world. But every society in every age has valued the power and prestige that money brings. True believers must purge themselves of the deep-seated desire for more power, prestige, and possessions. They must also not withhold their resources from neighbors near and far who have desperate physical needs.
31:33,34Job declared that he did not try to hide his sin as people often do. The fear that our sins will be discovered leads us to patterns of deception. We cover up with lies so that we will appear good to others. But we cannot hide from God. Do you try to keep people from seeing the real you? When you acknowledge your sins, you free yourself to receive forgiveness and a new life.