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< Chapter 31 >

 
I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
31:2
 
For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
31:3
 
Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?
31:4
 
Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?
31:5
 
If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;
31:6
 
Let me be weighed in an even balance that God may know mine integrity.
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 mine hands;
31:8
 
Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.
31:9
 
If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;
31:10
 
Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.
31:11
 
For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.
31:12
 
For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.
31:13
 
If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;
31:14
 
What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?
31:15
 
Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?
31:16
 
If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
31:17
 
Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;
31:18
 
(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;)
31:19
 
If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;
31:20
 
If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
31:21
 
If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:
31:22
 
Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.
31:23
 
For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.
31:24
 
If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;
31:25
 
If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;
31:26
 
If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;
31:27
 
And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:
31:28
 
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.
31:29
 
If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:
31:30
 
Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.
31:31
 
If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.
31:32
 
The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.
31:33
 
If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:
31:34
 
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?
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.
31:36
 
Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.
31:37
 
I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.
31:38
 
If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;
31:39
 
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:
31:40
 
Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.

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John Wesley's Notes
Explanation posted by John Wesley on 2007-01-01 00:00:00
Job's protestation of his innocence, with regard to wantonness, ver. 1-4. Fraud and injustice, ver. 5-8. Adultery, ver. 9-12. Haughtiness and severity toward his servants, ver. 13-15. Unmercifulness to the poor, ver. 16-23. Confidence in his wealth, ver. 24, 25. Idolatry, ver. 26-28. Revenge, ver. 29-31. Neglect of poor strangers, ver. 32 Hypocrisy, or not reproving others, ver. 33, 34. He wishes God would answer and that his words might be recorded, ver. 35-37. Protests his innocence, as to oppression, ver. 38-40.
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