Albert Barnes Commentary Job 31:35

"Oh that I had one to hear me! (Lo, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me); And [that I had] the indictment which mine adversary hath written!" — Job 31:35 (ASV)

O that one would hear me! - This refers undoubtedly to God. It is, literally, “Who will give to me one hearing me;” and the wish is the one he has so often expressed, that he might get his cause fairly before God. He feels assured that there would be a favorable verdict if there could be a fair judicial investigation; compare the notes on Job 13:3.

Behold, my desire is - Margin, “Or, my sign is that ‘the Almighty will answer me.’” The word rendered in the text desire, and in the margin sign, (תו tâv), properly means a mark or sign, and is also the name of the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Then the word means, according to Gesenius (Lex.), a mark or cross, as subscribed to a bill of complaint; hence, the bill itself, or, as we would say, the pleading.

According to this, Job means to say that he was ready for trial and that this was his bill of complaint, his pleading, or his bill of defense. So Herder renders it, “See my defense.” Coverdale, “Lo, this is my cause.” Miss Smith renders it, “Behold my gage!” Umbreit, Meinel Kagschrift - My accusation.

There can be no doubt that it refers to the forms of a judicial investigation, and the idea is that Job was ready for the trial. “Here,” he says, “is my defense, my argument, my pleading, my bill!”

“I wait for my adversary to come to the trial.” The name used here for the bill or pleading (תו tâv — mark, or sign), probably originated from the fact that some mark was affixed to it—with a significance like that of a seal—by which it was certified as the party's real bill, and by which he acknowledged it as his own. This might have been done by signing his name or by some conventional mark common in those times.

That the Almighty would answer me - That is, answer me as if on trial, so that the cause might be fairly brought to an issue. He had frequently expressed this wish.

And that mine adversary - God, regarded as the opposite party in the suit.

Had written a book - Or, would write down his charge. The wish is that what God had against him should similarly be entered in a bill or pleading, so that the charge might be fairly investigated. On the word “book,” compare the notes on Job 19:23.

It means here a pleading in court, a bill, or charge against anyone. There is no irreverence in this language. Job is anxious that his true character should be investigated and that the great matter at issue should be determined; and he draws his language and illustrations from well-known practices in courts of law.