Job 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; 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;
The verse stands in the second of the four parts of the book, the debate between Job and his three friends on his afflictions, found in chapters 3-31 and described as chapters 4 to 31, and conducted in three circles of speeches by each. That section is the arguments or colloquies on the cause and object of human suffering, a discussion continued ever since that time. The book of Job is the oldest book in the Bible and the oldest poetical book that has come down. The chapter containing the verse closes the argument between Job and his friends, and next Elihu steps in, believing his superior wisdom will correct Job, but he follows much the same line as the others and receives no answer.
The verse belongs to Job's defense of himself and protestation of his integrity, in which he maintains he has committed no open sins against God. It is offered as a stronger proof of honesty than merely being free of debt to other people. In it he asserts his integrity by calling judgment on himself if his step has turned out of the way, if his heart has walked after his eyes, or if any blot has cleaved to his hands. Thereby he challenges his friends to find a blot on his moral character, which they are unable to do to convict him of sin.
In getting and using wealth the verse shows his integrity in refusing to turn aside, to let his heart follow his eyes, or to let a stain cleave to his hands. Though one of the richest men of his day he did not trust in his riches nor rejoice because his wealth was great, but trusted in the living God who gives power to get wealth. He viewed wealth only as a means of blessing the poor, the needy, the fatherless, and the widow. The sin is not in being rich or in having much, but in loving riches, trusting in them, putting confidence in them, rejoicing in them, and being proud and highminded because of them, which denies the God that is above. Job was afterward reproved for asserting his own righteousness, came to recognize that God understood his character and case better than he did, and repented.