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Having secured no justice from God and having no support of his claim of innocence from his friends, Job now (ch. 31) asserts his innocence in such a way that God is forced to act. He uses the oath of clearance. This oath was taken by the accused of the OT but was invoked only after all rational means of proof had been exhausted. This use of nonrational proof brought the Deity into the process, which is precisely what Job wanted.
The format of the oath is this: If I have done X, let Y happen to me. So forceful are the if clauses and so frightening are the then clauses that the then clause is generally omitted. In this chapter Job omits most of the then clauses but does retain a few (vv.8, 10, 22, 40).
The list of sins is not exhaustive nor is their sequence systematic. Job denies lust (vv.1-4), dishonesty (vv.5-8), adultery (vv.9-12), oppression (vv.13-15), miserliness (vv.16-23), avarice (vv.24-25), idolatry (vv.26-28), vindictiveness (vv.29-30), parsimony (vv.31-32), hypocrisy (vv.33-34), and exploitation (vv.38-40).
He is so confident of his innocence that he calls for an indictment in writing—a bill of particulars (v.35). He knows he can respond to any charge and establish his innocence.
The debate is now ended. No significant progress has been made. In the prologue Job’s integrity was asserted. Here it is reaffirmed. Claims of the comforters that Job’s sufferings were due to wickedness have been dismissed. Job stands innocent. But why does he suffer? The book continues.