1“I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I gaze with desire at a virgin? 2For what is the allotment of God from above, or the heritage from the Almighty on high? 3Does not disaster come to the unjust and calamity to the workers of iniquity? 4Does He not see my ways and count my every step? 5If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit, 6let God weigh me with honest scales, that He may know my integrity. 7If my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has followed my eyes, or if impurity has stuck to my hands, 8then may another eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted. 9If my heart has been enticed by my neighbor’s wife, or I have lurked at his door, 10then may my own wife grind grain for another, and may other men sleep with her. 11For that would be a heinous crime, an iniquity to be judged. 12For it is a fire that burns down to Abaddon; it would root out my entire harvest. 13If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they made a complaint against me, 14what will I do when God rises to judge? How will I answer when called to account? 15Did not He who made me in the womb also make them? Did not the same One form us in the womb? 16If I have denied the desires of the poor or allowed the widow’s eyes to fail, 17if I have eaten my morsel alone, not sharing it with the fatherless— 18though from my youth I reared him as would a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow— 19if I have seen one perish for lack of clothing, or a needy man without a cloak, 20if his heart has not blessed me for warming him with the fleece of my sheep, 21if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless because I saw that I had support in the gate, 22then may my arm fall from my shoulder and be torn from its socket. 23For calamity from God terrifies me, and His splendor I cannot overpower. 24If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security, 25if I have rejoiced in my great wealth because my hand had gained so much, 26if I have beheld the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor, 27so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand threw a kiss from my mouth, 28this would also be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have denied God on high. 29If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin, or exulted when evil befell him— 30I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse— 31if the men of my house have not said, ‘Who is there who has not had his fill?’— 32but no stranger had to lodge on the street, for my door has been open to the traveler— 33if I have covered my transgressions like Adam by hiding my guilt in my heart, 34because I greatly feared the crowds and the contempt of the clans terrified me, so that I kept silent and would not go outside— 35(Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment. 36Surely I would carry it on my shoulder and wear it like a crown. 37I would give account of all my steps; I would approach Him like a prince.)— 38if my land cries out against me and its furrows weep together, 39if I have devoured its produce without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants, 40then let briers grow instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley.” Thus conclude the words of Job.
Matthew Henry's Commentary
Job declares his uprightness. (1-8) His integrity. (9-15) Job merciful. (16-23) Job not guilty of covetousness or idolatry. (24-32) Job not guilty of hypocrisy and violence. (33-40) 1-8 Job did not speak the things here recorded by way of boasting, but in answer to the charge of hypocrisy. He understood the spiritual nature of God's commandments, as reaching to the thoughts and intents of the heart. It is best to let our actions speak for us; but in some cases we owe it to ourselves and to the cause of God, solemnly to protest our innocence of the crimes of which we are falsely accused. The lusts of the flesh, and the love of the world, are two fatal rocks on which multitudes split; against these Job protests he was always careful to stand upon his guard. And God takes more exact notice of us than we do of ourselves; let us therefore walk circumspectly. He carefully avoided all sinful means of getting wealth. He dreaded all forbidden profit as much as all forbidden pleasure. What we have in the world may be used with comfort, or lost with comfort, if honestly gotten. Without strict honestly and faithfulness in all our dealings, we can have no good evidence of true godliness. Yet how many professors are unable to abide this touchstone! 9-15 All the defilements of the life come from a deceived heart. Lust is a fire in the soul: those that indulge it, are said to burn. It consumes all that is good there, and lays the conscience waste. It kindles the fire of God's wrath, which, if not quenched by the blood of Christ, will consume even to eternal destruction. It consumes the body; it consumes the substance. Burning lusts bring burning judgments. Job had a numerous household, and he managed it well. He considered that he had a Master in heaven; and as we are undone if God should be severe with us, we ought to be mild and gentle towards all with whom we have to do. 16-23 Job's conscience gave testimony concerning his just and charitable behaviour toward the poor. He is most large upon this head, because in this matter he was particularly accused. He was tender of all, and hurtful to none. Notice the principles by which Job was restrained from being uncharitable and unmerciful. He stood in awe of the Lord, as certainly against him, if he should wrong the poor. Regard to worldly interests may restrain a man from actual crimes; but the grace of God alone can make him hate, dread, and shun sinful thoughts and desires. 24-32 Job protests, 1. That he never set his heart upon the wealth of this world. How few prosperous professors can appeal to the Lord, that they have not rejoiced because their gains were great! Through the determination to be rich, numbers ruin their souls, or pierce themselves with many sorrows. 2. He never was guilty of idolatry. The source of idolatry is in the heart, and it corrupts men, and provokes God to send judgments upon a nation. 3. He neither desired nor delighted in the hurt of the worst enemy he had. If others bear malice to us, that will not justify us in bearing malice to them. 4. He had never been unkind to strangers. Hospitality is a Christian duty, #1Pe 4:9|. 33-40 Job clears himself from the charge of hypocrisy. We are loth to confess our faults, willing to excuse them, and to lay the blame upon others. But he that thus covers his sins, shall not prosper, #Pr 28:13|. He speaks of his courage in what is good, as an evidence of his sincerity in it. When men get estates unjustly, they are justly deprived of comfort from them; it was sown wheat, but shall come up thistles. What men do not come honestly by, will never do them any good. The words of Job are ended. They end with a bold assertion, that, with respect to accusation against his moral and religious character as the cause for his sufferings, he could appeal to God. But, however confident Job was, we shall see he was mistaken, chap. #40:4,5; 1Jo 1:8|. Let us all judge ourselves; wherein we are guilty, let us seek forgiveness in that blood which cleanseth from all sin; and may the Lord have mercy upon us, and write his laws in our hearts!