The Verses

“I have made a covenant with my eyes;
How then could I look at a virgin?
And what is the portion of God from above,
Or the inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
Is it not disaster to the criminal,
And misfortune to those who practice injustice?
Does He not see my ways,
And count all my steps?

If I have walked with deception,
And my foot has hurried after deceit,
Let Him weigh me with accurate scales,
And let God know my integrity.
If my step has turned from the way,
Or my heart followed my eyes,
Or if any spot has stuck to my hands,
Let me sow and another eat,
And let my crops be uprooted.

If my heart has been enticed by a woman,
Or I have lurked at my neighbor’s doorway,
May my wife grind grain for another,
And may others kneel down over her.
For that would be a lustful crime;
Moreover, it would be wrongdoing punishable by judges.
For it would be fire that consumes to Abaddon,
And it would uproot all my increase.

If I have rejected the claim of my male or female slaves
When they filed a complaint against me,
What then could I do when God arises?
And when He calls me to account, how am I to answer Him?
Did He who made me in the womb not make him,
And the same one create us in the womb?

If I have kept the poor from their desire,
Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
Or have eaten my morsel alone,
And the orphan has not shared it
(But from my youth he grew up with me as with a father,
And from my mother’s womb I guided her),
If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,
Or a needy person without a covering,
If his waist has not thanked me,
And if he has not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep,
If I have lifted up my hand against the orphan
Because I saw that I had support in the gate,
May my shoulder fall from its socket,
And my arm be broken off at the elbow.
For disaster from God is a terror to me,
And because of His majesty I can do nothing.

If I have put my confidence in gold,
And called fine gold my trust,
If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great,
And because my hand had obtained so much,
If I have looked at the sun when it shone,
Or the moon going in splendor,
And my heart was secretly enticed,
And my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,
That too would have been a guilty deed calling for judgment,
For I would have denied God above.

If I have rejoiced at the misfortune of my enemy,
Or become excited when evil found him,
I have not even permitted my mouth to sin
By asking for his life with a curse.

If the people of my tent have not said,
“Who can find one who has not been satisfied with his meat?”
The stranger has not spent the night outside,
For I have opened my doors to the traveler.

If I have covered my wrongdoing like a man,
By hiding my guilt in my shirt pocket,
Because I feared the great multitude
And the contempt of families terrified me,
And I kept silent and did not go outside,
Oh, that I had one to hear me!
Here is my signature;
Let the Almighty answer me!
And the indictment which my opponent has written,
I would certainly carry it on my shoulder,
I would tie it to myself like a garland.
I would declare to Him the number of my steps;
Like a prince, I would approach Him.

If my land cries out against me,
And its furrows weep together,
If I have eaten its fruit without money,
Or have caused its owners to lose their lives,
May the thorn-bush grow instead of wheat,
And stinkweed instead of barley.’

The words of Job are ended.”

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Context and Meaning

In Job 31, Job makes his final defense of his innocence. He lists various sins and injustices, declaring that if he had committed them, he would deserve punishment. But since he has lived righteously, he maintains that his suffering must not be due to sin.

Key Themes:

1. A Life of Integrity: Job rejects lust, dishonesty, injustice, greed, and idolatry, showing his commitment to righteousness (v. 1-12).
2. Justice for the Oppressed: He insists that he has treated his servants, the poor, widows, and orphans with kindness (v. 13-23).
3. Rejecting Wealth and Idolatry: Job never trusted gold or the stars, knowing that worship belongs to God alone (v. 24-28).
4. Love for Enemies: Unlike many, Job did not rejoice in his enemies’ downfall or seek vengeance (v. 29-30).
5. A Final Plea for Justice: Job invites God to examine him, confident in his integrity, before closing his speech (v. 35-40).

Job does not claim to be sinless but asserts that he has lived a life of righteousness and justice, disproving his friends’ accusations.

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Reflection and Impact

Job’s speech is a powerful model of godly character, showing how to live with integrity before God and others:

• Integrity is More Than Just Avoiding Sin: Job actively helped the needy, treated his servants with dignity, and resisted greed and idolatry.
• Righteousness Extends to the Heart: Job controlled his eyes, heart, and thoughts, knowing that sin begins internally.
• Confidence in God’s Judgment: Job is so certain of his integrity that he invites God to judge him, willing to accept any deserved consequences.

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Application

• Live a Life of Integrity: Honor God in thoughts, actions, and relationships, not just outwardly but in the heart (Psalm 15:1-2).
• Practice Justice and Mercy: True righteousness is not just avoiding sin but actively helping those in need (Micah 6:8).
• Seek God’s Approval, Not Man’s: Job’s confidence came from knowing that God was his judge, not his friends or society (Galatians 1:10).

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Closing Thought

Job’s final speech is a declaration of a life well-lived—not free of mistakes, but marked by integrity, justice, and trust in God. His challenge to God is bold, but it reflects deep faith and confidence in God’s justice. His words invite us to examine our own lives and pursue righteousness, not for human approval, but before the eyes of God alone.