Job 31

me, that they have put me into the greatest commotion and disorder: my bowels boil without the least intermission. It was possible his friends might make quite another use than Job intended of the relation he had made of his miserable condition, in the chapter foregoing: and therefore, lest it should harden them in their old error, and they should take what he had said to be an argument of his guilt, he gives in this chapter a large and particular account of his integrity, which in general he had so often asserted; laying his very soul, and the roost secret inclinations of it open before them; together with the actions of his whole life, in his private capacity, (for of his public he had spoken before, chap, xxix.) both in respect of his neighbours, of all sorts, and in respect of God; to whom he again most solemnly appeals, in the conclusion of this discourse, that he did not boast of more virtues than he had; but would most gladly be tried before him, by some impartial judge. I need not here enumerate his virtues, because they are plainly and distinctly expressed in the paraphrase; and I do not pretend to give the entire contents, but the design only, of each chapter.

Job 31:1

JL MADE a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?. But do not, I beseech you, any longer look upon these sufferings as an argument that I am not innocent; for I protest to you, I have been very resolute, and careful to avoid even the occasions of lasciviousness: and therefore how should I ever so much as deliberate to corrupt a virgin?

Job 31:2

For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?. For I know there is a God in heaven, an Almighty Being, who rules over all: and what could I expect from him, as the reward of such impurity?

Job 31:3

Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the tvorkers of iniquity?. Doth it not lead to destruction? nay, do not strange and horrible punishments fall upon the workers of that iniquity?

Job 31:4

Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?. Is it possible to commit it so secretly that it shall not be known by him, who observes every motion, and tells every step I take?

Job 31:5

If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit. If I have broke my promises, or have been forward to deceive and cheat my neighbour;

Job 31:6

Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity. I refuse not to be tried: but rather desire my actions may be scrupulously weighed and examined; for God, I am sure, will approve of my upright dealing.

Job 31:7

If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to my hands. If I have turned aside from the rules of justice for fear or favour; if I have coveted the goods of other men, or my hands have taken any bribes:

Job 31:8

Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out. Let me be served in my kind, and let other men eat the corn which I have sowed, and pluck up the trees (roots and all) which I have planted.

Job 31:9

If mine heart have been deceived by a xvoman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour’s door. If my heart hath been seduced to filthy desires after another man’s wife; if 1 have watched for his absence, or some fair opportunity to enter into his house and defile his bed;

Job 31:10

Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her. Then let others take away my wife from me, and make her the vilest slave, whom they may use at their pleasure.

Job 31:11

For this is a heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges. I ever thought this a crime of the highest nature, an iniquity to be corrected by the severity of the public justice.

Job 31:12

For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, an$ tvould root out all mine increase. For it is a fire, which, if it be not extinguished, consumes men and their estates; yea, destroys whole families and kingdoms; and so incenses the Divine displeasure, that, should it escape the magistrates’ punishment, I could never hope that any thing of mine (were I guilty of it) should thrive, but all come to utter ruin.

Job 31:13

If I did despise the cause of my man-servant, or of my maid-servant, when they contended with me. So far was I from doing such foul injuries to my neighbours, that I never extended my power to the oppression of my slaves: but was content to wave the privilege the law gave me, of using them as I pleased; and to allow them a fair hearing when they had any difference with me.

Job 31:14

Wliat then shall I do when Godriscth tip? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?. For I thought with myself, that though men could not punish me for my rigour towards them, yet I should never be able to excuse it to God when he came to judge me; nor tell what to answer when he called me to an account for my ill usage of them.

Job 31:15

Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?. I often also called to mind that there was no such a difference in our estates as there was an equality in our births: and that we having one’ common Creator, my slave was as nearly related to God as myself.

Job 31:16

If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail. Nor have the Digitized, by Microsoft ® [chap, xxxii. poor any reason to complain ofmc: for if I ever denied to satisfy their desire, or let the widow in vain expect ray relief; Vcr. 17. Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof] Or havo sitten down at my table alone, without the company of fatherless children: Vcr. 18. (For from my youth he was brought tip with me as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother’s womb).] (For whom I have always had a natural compassion from my very youth; I brought it into the world with me, and it hath been my companion ever since:)

Job 31:19

If J have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering. If I have suffered any to perish for want of clothing, or let the poor go naked without a covering;

Job 31:20

If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep. If his loins did not admonish him to bless me as oft as he girded on his garment, and he were not kept warm with the cloth made of my wool:

Job 31:21

If I have lifted tip my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate. If I ever have beaten the fatherless, because I knew I should be too strong for him in the court, in case he complained there of the injustice;

Job 31:22

Tlien let mine arm fall from my shoulder-blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone. Then let that guilty arm fall off from my shoulder, or be broken in two in the midst.

Job 31:23

For destructionfrom God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure. For I never thought I could escape the Divine vengeance; the dread of which affrighted me, when men could not, from all such insolence; for I knew I could not support myself against his majesty:

Job 31:24

If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence. Whose favour I do not desire, if I have put my trust in riches, and thought myself safe and secure, because I was furnished with the noblest treasures:

Job 31:25

If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much. Or, if I was vainly elevated and puffed up with the large possessions left me by my ancestors, or with the great increase I had made to them by my own industry. Ver. 2G. If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon tvalking in brightness.] If when I beheld the sun arise, or the moon appear in her full lustre,

Job 31:27

And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand. I ever entertained an opinion in my mind that they were gods, or kissed my hand in token of worship and reverence to them:

Job 31:28

I went mourning ivithout the sun; I stood up, and I cried in the congregation. My affliction is so constant, without any glimpse of joy, that I am a perpetual mourner; and am not able to lie still, nor to refrain" from shrieks and cries in the greatest assemblies. This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.] This also were a fearful crime, which God’s vicegerents should punish; because it were to put those stars in the placo of him who is above all heavens.

Job 31:29

I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. I can do nothing but lament myself, as if I were one, of those mournful creatures which make such doleful noises in desert places. If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him.’] Whom I do not wish to be my friend, if I ever was glad at the ruin of mine enemy, or insulted over him, when any mischief befel him:

Job 31:30

My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burnt with heat. The boiling heat of my body hath so parched me, that my skin looks black; and the marrow in my bones, and all my vital moisture, is dried up. (Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin, by wishing a curse to his soul).] (No, I w^s not so much as guilty of making any imprecations against him, nor was provoked by his malice to wish him dead:) Vcr. 31. If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! wc cannot be satisfied.] Though the people of my family were so enraged at him, that, if I would have yielded to their passion, they were ready to eat him up with an insatiable anger:

Job 31:31

My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep. And, to say no more, all mirth is banished my house, the musical instruments are laid aside, and nothing but mourning and weeping come in their room;

Job 31:32

(The stranger did not lodge in the street; but I opened my doors to the traveller). (Much less was I guilty of unkindness to strangers, whom I never suffered to lodge in the streets: for the door of my house stood open, that any traveller might turn in there if he pleased:)

Job 31:33

If I covered my transgressions as Adam, byhiding mine iniquity in my bosom. If I have studied to" seem better than I am, and have not now made a free con-’ fession; but, like our first parent, have concealed or excused my faults, and out of self-love have hidden mine iniquity:

Job 31:34

(Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out ofthedoor?^ (Because 1 dread what the people will say of me, or am terrified by the contempt into which the knowledge of my guilt may bring me with the neighbouring families: then I am content my mouth should be stopped, and that I never stir out of my door any more.

Job 31:35

Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book. Oh that the truth of all this might be examined by some equal judge! Behold, I continue still to desire of God this favour; and let him that can accuse me, bring in his libel in writing against me.

Job 31:36

Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me. Surely I would not endeavotir to obscure it, but openly expose it to be read by all; nay, wear it as a singular ornament, which would turn to my honour, when the world saw it disproved.

Job 31:37

I would declare unto him thenumber of my steps; as a prince wouldlgo near unto him.). Imyself would assist him to draw up his charge, by declaring to him freely every action of my life: I would approach him as undauntedly as a prince, who is assured of the goodness of his cause:)

Job 31:38

If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain. For if so much as a bit of my land was unjustly gotten, or I have defrauded those who ploughed it of their wages;

Job 31:39

If I have eaten the fruits thereof xcithont money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life. If I have taken the fruits of it from my tenants, and paid nothing for them; or let them such hard bargains, that it broke their heart:

Job 31:40

Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. Tliewordsof Job are ended. Thenletcorn never grow there any more; but let it be overrun with thistles and the most stinking weeds. Here Job ended his defence.