Job31

Job 31 presents Job's final, extensive oath of integrity before God and his friends. He meticulously lists various sins he has abstained from, including lust, injustice towards servants, lack of charity, idolatry, and malice towards enemies. Job asserts his blameless conduct, invoking severe self-curses if he has committed any of these transgressions. He concludes by expressing a fervent desire for God to answer his plea and acknowledge his righteousness.

Job’s Oath of Integrity: Purity of the Eyes

1
I made a couenant with mine eyes: why then should I thinke on a mayde?
2
For what portion should I haue of God from aboue? and what inheritance of the Almightie from on hie?
3
Is not destruction to the wicked and strange punishment to the workers of iniquitie?
4
Doeth not he beholde my wayes and tell all my steps?

Honesty and Uprightness in Conduct

5
If I haue walked in vanitie, or if my foote hath made haste to deceite,
6
Let God weigh me in the iust balance, and he shall know mine vprightnes.
7
If my steppe hath turned out of the way, or mine heart hath walked after mine eye, or if any blot hath cleaued to mine handes,
8
Let me sowe, and let another eate: yea, let my plantes be rooted out.

Commitment to Marital Fidelity

9
If mine heart hath bene deceiued by a woman, or if I haue layde wayte at the doore of my neighbour,
10
Let my wife grinde vnto another man, and let other men bow downe vpon her:
11
For this is a wickednes, and iniquitie to bee condemned:
12
Yea, this is a fire that shall deuoure to destruction, and which shall roote out al mine increase,

Justice in Dealing with Servants

13
If I did contemne the iudgement of my seruant, and of my mayde, when they did contend with me,
14
What then shall I do when God standeth vp? and when he shall visit me, what shall I answere?
15
He that hath made me in the wombe, hath he not made him? hath not he alone facioned vs in the wombe?

Generosity to the Poor and Vulnerable

16
If I restrained the poore of their desire, or haue caused the eyes of the widow to faile,
17
Or haue eaten my morsels alone, and the fatherles hath not eaten thereof,
18
(For from my youth hee hath growen vp with me as with a father, and from my mothers wombe I haue bene a guide vnto her)
19
If I haue seene any perish for want of clothing, or any poore without couering,
20
If his loynes haue not blessed me, because he was warmed with the fleece of my sheepe,
21
If I haue lift vp mine hande against the fatherlesse, when I saw that I might helpe him in the gate,
22
Let mine arme fal from my shoulder, and mine arme be broken from the bone.
23
For Gods punishment was fearefull vnto me, and I could not be deliuered from his highnes.

Rejection of Materialism and Idolatry

24
If I made gold mine hope, or haue sayd to the wedge of golde, Thou art my confidence,
25
If I reioyced because my substance was great, or because mine hand had gotten much,
26
If I did behold the sunne, when it shined, or the moone, walking in her brightnes,
27
If mine heart did flatter me in secrete, or if my mouth did kisse mine hand,
28
(This also had bene an iniquitie to be condemned: for I had denied the God aboue)

Ethics toward Enemies and Strangers

29
If I reioyced at his destruction that hated me, or was mooued to ioye when euill came vpon him,
30
Neither haue I suffred my mouth to sinne, by wishing a curse vnto his soule.
31
Did not the men of my Tabernacle say, Who shall giue vs of his flesh? we can not bee satisfied.
32
The stranger did not lodge in the streete, but I opened my doores vnto him, that went by the way.

Refusing to Hide Sin

33
If I haue hid my sinne, as Adam, concealing mine iniquitie in my bosome,
34
Though I could haue made afraid a great multitude, yet the most contemptible of the families did feare me: so I kept silence, and went not out of the doore.
35
Oh that I had some to heare me! beholde my signe that the Almightie will witnesse for me: though mine aduersary should write a booke against me,
36
Woulde not I take it vpon my shoulder, and binde it as a crowne vnto me?
37
I will tell him the nomber of my goings, and goe vnto him as to a prince.

Justice Regarding the Land

38
If my lande cry against me, or the furrowes thereof complayne together,
39
If I haue eaten the fruites thereof without siluer: or if I haue grieued the soules of the masters thereof,
40
Let thistles growe in steade of wheate, and cockle in the stead of Barley. The wordes of Iob are ended.
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