Job Expounded, Commentary on Job · Chapter 31
¶ THE SVMME AND ORDER of the 31. Chapter.
IOB in this Chapter is driuen in moste ample sorte to defend and particularlie to approoue his integritie, by making a catalogue, as it were, and bedrole of all his life past, being thereunto enforced, as it should seeme, by those false accusations and crimes, which Eliphaz had (before from the beginning of the 22. Chap. to the 11. vers.) in particular manner obiected against him. And first of all, euen to the 35. verse, he vseth a most substantiall denyall, and that in verie excellent good order, beginning in the foure first verses with whoredome and vncleannesse of the bodie. Next in the 5. and 6. verses he intreateth of deceits and couin in bargaining: in the 7. and 8. verses of Theft: in the 9.10.11. & 12. of Adulterie: in the 13, 14. & 15. verses, of the abusing of the authoritie of a master: in the 16. & 17. and so foorth to the 28. vers. of the contempt of the poore, and especiallie of widowes and fatherlesse children: in the 29. & 30. of desire to reuenge iniuries receiued: in the 32. of Hospitalitie: in the 33. of cloaking and couering iniquitie. But afterward to the 39. verse he appealeth vntounto God as witnesse and iudge, and so shutteth vp the whole defence of his innocencie, inserting here and there most fearfull imprecations & cursings vntounto him selfe, if he shall be found a lyar. And that Iob was not one that vsed leasings, God him selfe doeth testifie in the beginning of this historie, as also vvee shall heare in the ende hereof. The cheefest profite therefore that wee are to gather out of this place, is not to know that Iob was iniured and wronged; to which euill none are more subiect then those who follow Iobs example: but by this example euerie one in particular, and those especiallie, who hauehave wherewithall they may in great aboundance shew their virtuous dispositions, are taught how to iudge of the duties of a holie and honest conuersation both at home and abroad. For I may trulie say and affirme this, Christian reader, that there are moe substantiall and certen precepts concerning a godly and most iust life, comprized in this one Chapter, then are in all the bookes of Philosophers or Historiographers else where to be found.
CHAPTER XXXI.
Vers. 1. I hauehave made a couenant with mine eyes: and what had I beheld in a maide?
2 For what portion is there of God from aboue, and what inheritance of the almightie from on hie?
3 Is not destruction (prepared) for the wicked? and extraordinarie affliction for the workers of iniquitie?
4 Doth not he behold my waies, and hath he not numbred all my steppes?
1. BVt these things (I knowe well enough yee will say) belong nothing vntounto Iob, whome thou, Eliphaz, hast dared to rebuke and taunt, as if hee were one, who had alreadie beene manifestly conuinced of notorious wickednes. But I, as ere while I protested, will not for al this as yet leaue off to defend mine innocencie. First therefore I protest, I hauehave so ordered my life, as that I hauehave as it were, made a bargaine and couenant with mine eies, that neither they shall entice mee to any filthinesse, neither that I shall abuse them in beholding anie such thing. Farre bee it therefore from mee, that I should in anie impure manner cast mine eies vponupon any maiden. For howe should I dare doe this thing, seeing I am not ignorant, howsoeuer I may easilie auoid the hand of man, what reward such sinne and wickednesse is woont to hauehave of God, who dwelleth in the heauens: and what vengeance the almightie, beholding and iudging all things from on hie, doeth repay into their bosomes, who are guiltie of this heynous offence? 3 For it is certen that he hath prepared a scourge and moste horrible and grieuous punishments, which cannot possiblie be auoided, for those who nourish and cherish their abhominable iniquitie? 4. And doth not he, I pray you, throughly know me, who, which way soeuer I walke, doth number and tell euen euerie one of my steppes almost, which I doe make.
5 If I hauehave walked in falshood and my foot hath mooued it selfe to deceit:
6 Let him weigh me in the iust balances, and let God knowe my vprightnesse.
If in buying and selling I hauehave behaued my selfe deceitfullie, and of set purpose hauehave gone about to beguile other men; let God examine all these things straightly, and weigh them in an euen ballance, and then let him be iudge whether I hauehave carryed my selfe vprightly or no.
7 Jf my foote hath turned from the way, and my heart hath walked after mine eyes, and a blot hath cleaved vntounto my handes:
8 Let me sowe, and let another eate: and let my plants be rooted out.
If I hauehave swarued from that, which I ought to hauehave followed, and hauehave not preferred iust & righteous dealing before greedie desire: in a worde, if I hauehave touched any thing which might defile my handes, then let God, who is a iust iudge, cause that which I sowe to be eaten vp of straungers: yea, and let all things whatsoeuer I hauehave, that do spring and shoote out young braunches, be destroyed and pulled vp by the rootes.
9 If mine heart hath bene deceiued by a woman, and if I hauehave laid waite at the doore of my friend:
10 Let my wife grinde vntounto another man, and let other men bowe downe them selues vponupon her.
11 For it is an heinous offence, and a wickednesse belonging to the iudges (that is, to be presented before magistrates, and by them to be condemned.)
12 For it is a fire, which would hauehave devoured euen to a consuming, and hauehave rooted out all mine encrease.
9. and 10 If being entised and allured by the faire beautie of my neighbours wife, I hauehave waited before his gates, for a fit opportunitie to obtaine my desire of her: then let my wife, according as I hauehave iustly deserued, be subiect vntounto the lust of another man. 11. and 12 For this is a verie notorious crime, and most worthie to be openly condemned by the iudge: which, albeit no magistrate should punish, yet would the same, like a fire, vtterly consume both me my selfe and all that I hauehave.
12 Jf J hauehave turned away from the right of my manservant or maid seruant, when they hauehave contended with me:
14 For what should I hauehave done, God rising vp? and what should J hauehave answered him, visiting (that is, enquiring into this matter.)
15 Did not he who made me in the wombe, make him? and hath not he fashioned vsus in one wombe?
13 If abusing the authoritie, which as a master I hauehave ouer my menseruants and maidseruants, I did at any time make light account of them, when they either vponupon iust cause or otherwise, made their complaints vntounto me; then I would I might my selfe be so dealt withall from heauen. 14 and 15 For albeit there is a difference to be made betweene the master and his servant: yet forsomuch as both I & he hauehave one and the same maker, of whom we were either of vsus framed and fashioned in the wombe, after one manner, albeit not in the wombe of one and the same woman; if I had committed any such thing, what answere should I be able to make vntounto God sitting in iudgement, and taking knowledge of that fact?
16 If J hauehave (any thing) restrained the poore of their wish, and hauehave caused the eyes of widowes to faile:
17 If I hauehave eaten my morsell alone, neither the fatherlesse hauehave eaten thereof:
18 Verely from my youth they hauehave growen vp with me, as with a father: and these euen from my wombe I hauehave guided.
19 If I hauehave seene any perish without clothing, and the poore had no covering:
20 If his loynes hauehave not blessed me, and he hath bene warme with the fleece of my sheepe:
21 If seeing my helpe in the gate, I hauehave lifted vp mine hande against the fatherlesse:
22 Let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and mine arme (being pulled) from itts ioynt, be broken.
23 Nay, destruction from him (was) trembling vntounto me: and (because) I could not (escape) from his highnesse.
16 If I hauehave disappointed the needie of their desire, and hauehave suffered the poore widowes to looke for somewhat at my handes, euen till their eyes aked: 17 If, according to the manner of covetous and churlish persons, I eate my meate alone, and giuegive no parte thereof vntounto the hungrie orphan: 18 Vnlesse contrariwise, I hauehave euen of a child taken into my companie, and so neerely ioyned vntounto me the fatherlesse, that we grewe vp together in my fathers house: and as concerning poore widowes, vnlesse I hauehave from my childhoode cherished them; yea, and taking them by the hande, guided and conducted them home: 19 If I hauehave lighted vponupon any one, who was like to perish for want of clothing, and did not couer him with apparell: 20 Nay, vnlesse the poore hauehave prayed for me, when as their very loyns which were clothed warme with the fleece of my sheepe, did testifie, and as it were speake what I had done for them: 21 If vponupon pride & confidence of my authoritie, as also because there were alwayes some readie, who would not sticke to defende me in a false cause, I hauehave lifted vp mine hand against the weake, that were not able to make any resistance. 22 Then let this my scapple bone or shoulder blade suddenly fall off from my shoulder, and this arme of mine being torne and rent from the joynt, be broken all to pieces. 23 Nay, I hauehave alwayes trembled to thinke of that destruction, which should hauehave come vponupon me, if I had committed any such heinous offence: yea, and I was sure that I could not possibly be deliuered from that highest Maiestie of almightie God.
24 If I hauehave made golde my hope: and hauehave said vntounto golde (thou art) my trust:
25 If I reioyced when my wealth was encreased: and when my hand had gotten much.
24 Let God testifie and iudge, if I hauehave placed my hope in golde: if, I say, I hauehave so farre accounted of golde, as that I thought any confidence was to be put therein, whereupon I might rest. 25 If I hauehave after the manner of those, who whollie bend their mindes to heape vp riches, leaped for ioy to see my substance encreased, and hauehave thought them to hauehave bene gotten, both by mine owne industrie, and for mine owne selfe alone.
26 If I did beholde the light when it shined, and the moone walking bright:
27 And my heart privily withdrew it selfe, and my hand hath kissed my mouth,
28 This also had bene an iniquitie belonging to iudges (that is, worthie to be put to the iudges, and by them to be punished) because I had denyed God (who is) aboue.
26. and 27 Let me be accursed, if beholding the glittering face of the Sun, or looking vponupon the Moone shining in her brightnes, I hauehave, being deceiued, so much as privily in my heart, much lesse openly, consented vntounto idolaters, and after the manner of their superstitious custome, by mooving and putting my hand to my mouth, yeelded any worshippe vntounto those bodyes. 28 For this is a most heinous sinne, as by which I had flatly denyed that God, who is aboue the sunne and the verie starres them selues, and therefore deserued most horrible and fearfull punishments.
29 If I reioyced at the fall of mine enemie, and leaped for ioye when calamitie caught hold of him.
30 (Nay) I hauehave not so much as giuen the palate of my mouth to sinne, and to pray for a curse vntounto his soule.
31 Vnlesse the men of my tabernacle did say, Who shall giuegive vsus of his flesh? we should not be satisfied.
29 Yea, and I pray God I dye, if euer I tooke it as an occasion to be merrie, when I saw the destruction of them that hated me, no, though their miseries were neuer so great. 30 Nay, I neuer so much as once opened my mouth, with intent to abuse the same, by vttering most bitter imprecations and cursings against them. 31 And yet I protest, that I wanted not setters on, euen among my owne houshold servants, who still perswaded me to requite those injuries which I receiued, with most bitter reuenge: nay, their mindes were so incensed, that they cryed out, that they should neuer be satisfied on them, no not though they had eaten them vp quicke.
32 The straunger did not lodge abroad in the night: I set open my gate in the high way.
And I was so farre from liking and commending those those enraged stomackes of my seruants, that I would not suffer straungers to lodge in the night season abroade in the fieldes, and it was my will, that that part of my house, which bounded vponupon the high way side, should alwayes lye open to harbour passengers.
33 If as man (that it, as any man is wont to doe) J hauehave hid my transgressions, that I might conceale mine iniquitie in my bosome.
Why then Iob (will ye say) diddest thou neuer offende? Truely God forbidde I shoulde denie, that I hauehave sinned, which thing I hauehave also before protested verie often, albeit I am not any such manner of man, as ye by your accusations woulde make me seeme to be. But so often as I hauehave offended, I call GOD to recorde, whether I hauehave, according to the common custome of most men, dissembled and cloaked mine iniquities, or euen against mine owne conscience, hauehave concealed and kept them close in my heart.
34 Certenly, J might hauehave daunted a great multitude, but the most contemptible of the families did feare me: and J helde my peace, neither did I goe out of the doore.
And yet truely such was my power and authoritie, that I could with ease hauehave conquered and brought vnderunder my obeysance, howe many soeuer they were that had set them selues against me: notwithstanding, if any man, albeit he had bene but one of the basest sort of the people, began to striue & lift vp his heele against me, I made such a consciēce to make triall of my force against them, that I did neuer so much as once stirre my foot out of the doors for the matter.
35 Who will giuegive me one that may heare me? behold, my signe, The Almightie (who) shall answere for me▪ and the title, which the man of strife (that is, my aduersarie) hath written.
36 Vnlesse J shall carrie the same vponupon my shoulders & bind it as crowne vntounto me.
57 I will tell him the number of my steps, and will cause him to come as it were to a prince.
35 I know truely, that ye will giuegive no credite vntounto these things which I hauehave spoken. But I would to God, that I had here present some indifferent man, who would with equitie heare and decide my cause. For beholde, this is the onelyonly marke, whereby I desire to hauehave mine innocencie knowen: to witte, Almightie God, who, I knowe, will by his answere allowe of those thinges, which I ere while vttered: as also the very bill it selfe of complaintes, which my aduersarie hath framed and laide in against me. 36 Nay, let me be accounted as one that is alreadie convinced and found guiltie, if, rather then my cause shall goe vntryed, I doe not vponupon mine owne shoulders carrie that scroule of accusations deuised against me, yea, and binde the same like a crowne about my head for all men to behold. 37 Moreouer, that my aduersarie may knowe, howe farre I am from hiding my head in this matter: euen I my selfe in mine own person, am ready to render an account before that iudgement seat, of all the whole course of my life passed. Neither will I stay, till I am cited thither by mine aduersarie: nay, I will my selfe appeale vntounto that Iudge, who hath power and authoritie ouer all men.
38 But if my land crie against mee, and the furrowes thereof weepe,
39 Jf I hauehave eaten the fruite thereof without money, and hauehave caused the soule of the masters thereof to breath out:
40 Let the thistle growe in steade of wheate, and the cockle in steade of barley.
Finally, that I may comprize all thinges in fewe wordes, If I shall be founde so to hauehave abused my landes and possessions, that albeit men keepe silence, yet the very earth may frame an accusation against me, and the furrowes of my fieldes complaine of my dealing: 39 If liuing vponupon the fruites of them, I hauehave either cozened the labourers of their hyre, or violently oppressed and vtterly famished to death the husbandmen that tilled the same; 40 Then let it bring foorth for me thistles in steade of wheate, and cockle in steade of barley.