Job 31:33,34

Adam was the first man. He refused to obey God’s command. Then Adam hid from God (Genesis 3:8). But the second line of verse 33 could also mean, ‘I do not hide my evil deeds, like other men do.’

Job did not hide. He allowed his friends to accuse him. In fact, he was outside (Job 2:13). So anybody could speak to him. The youths laughed at Job. But nobody could come with evidence of Job’s evil deeds.

Job did not pretend to be better than he really was. Later God would show Job’s errors to him. And Job confessed his mistakes (Job 40:2-5; Job 42:1-6).

This should be our attitude too. We should not try to hide our evil deeds. We should confess these things to God (Proverbs 28:13). And God will forgive us (1 John 1:9).

But Job does not know who accuses him

v35 But I wish that someone would hear me. I record this evidence for my judge.

God, please answer me! If you are my accuser, write your words in a book. v36 That book would be more important to me than anything else. I would want everybody to see it. v37 And I would explain all my actions to God. I would be like a prince, and God would be my king. So, I could meet God.

v38 Surely the ground does not accuse me. I did not cause my farm workers to cry because their work was too hard. v39 I paid the people who harvested my crops. I was not cruel to the farmers who worked on my land. v40 But if I did these evil things, I deserve to suffer. If I did these things, I deserve to harvest weeds instead of wheat. If I did such things, then I deserve nothing good.

Job’s speeches finish here.