At the conclusion of his arguments, Job fiercely defends his moral record, highlighting the deep compassion he once showed to the weakest members of society. He contrasts his past kindness with the unexplained suffering he now endures. He expresses this defense with absolute certainty, though the exact nature of his statement is viewed in two ways. Some interpret his words as a binding oath, swearing that he truly shed tears and identified with the suffering of the poor [רמב״ן, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Others read his defense as a powerful rhetorical question, asking how anyone could doubt that he wept and shared in the sorrow of those facing hardship [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד]. In either case, Job testifies that he constantly offered mercy and tears to anyone experiencing a bitter day, burdened by poverty, trouble, or misfortune [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד, תקות אנוש].
Beyond shedding physical tears, Job describes a deep inner sorrow, noting that his very soul grieved and worried for the less fortunate [רלב״ג, מצודת ציון]. This declaration reveals his profound frustration over the injustice of his current situation. He argues that if he had been a cruel man who ignored doing good and refused to cry for others, it would be entirely fair for him to experience evil instead of good. However, because he always shared the pain of the poor and naturally expected a good outcome for his moral actions, he is completely baffled as to why this disaster has fallen upon him [רמב״ן, מלבי״ם, תקות אנוש].
The specific mention of both outward weeping and inward grief serves an additional purpose, anticipating a potential criticism. One might argue that Job only sympathized with the poor in his thoughts and feelings without ever taking physical action, and therefore God punished him with physical afflictions. To counter this, Job emphasizes that his soul did not just ache privately; he actively and physically wept. By expressing his sorrow for the needy in a tangible, bodily way, he insists that his current physical torments are completely unjustified [אלשיך].