There are always things that puzzle us: Why do good people end up the way they do? Why does this kind of thing happen to me? When a man lacks wisdom, it is difficult to understand these questions, which is also the root cause of many problems in the world. Today, let us follow Pastor Liu to seek true wisdom!

Questions for Reflection

Everything has its origin, and we must seek wisdom. How can we obtain wisdom?

Through Job's experience, do you think Job was a wise man? Where did his wisdom come from?

Nothing can withstand disaster, but wisdom can lead us to escape all impending disasters. Are you willing to acquire such wisdom?

Seeking True Wisdom

The things of this world can dazzle you. Even Job, in this chapter, does not understand why a good man would end up in such a state today. When you carefully examine the things of this world, you will find that without wisdom from God, it is simply dazzling and impossible to understand the situation.

We live in an era of fighting tigers and flies (referring to those who are corrupt). When the flies and tigers are caught, they all think: How could it be me? They have been living in glory, and suddenly they become prisoners, and then they slowly wait to die in this world.

In my youth, the Gang of Four was overthrown. Recently, there was news that someone from the Gang of Four had passed away. I think the affairs of a person’s life are confusing. Those who became prisoners, from being arrested in 1976 until their miserable death today, what have they been thinking all these years? They should have been able to see television and newspapers in prison, but I think they may not have understood the meaning of life even when they died.

Everything Has an Origin

Wisdom Has an Origin

People are eager to seek true wisdom. The lack of true wisdom is the root cause of many problems in the world. Let us look at this passage of Scripture:

Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold that they refine. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore. Man puts an end to darkness and searches out to the farthest recess the ore in gloom and deep shadow. He opens shafts in a valley away from human habitation; they are forgotten by travelers; they hang in the air, far away from mankind; they swing to and fro. As for the earth, out of it comes bread, but underneath it is turned up as by fire. Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold. That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon's eye has not seen it. The proud beasts have not trodden it; the lion has not passed over it. Man puts his hand to the flinty rock and overturns mountains by their roots. He cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing. He dams up the streams so that they do not trickle, and brings forth to light what is hidden (Job 28:1-11).

Job is summarizing the laws of things in this world. If the occurrence of these things has an origin, then there must be a place where true wisdom can be found.

Seeking with a Thirsting Heart Will Find It

Job is eager to obtain this true wisdom. I encourage everyone to have a seeking heart. I ask you: As you live day after day in busyness, have you truly obtained this true wisdom? If we have not obtained true wisdom, then let us earnestly seek the Lord!

We must know in our lives that many things have an origin. Where does this come from? And where exactly is wisdom? I think this question is not far from you, and it is very important to both you and me. If we have true wisdom, I think when we have power in our hands, we should not become corrupt officials; it is because they lack true wisdom that they become greedy.

I have a friend who said something very interesting (if there are any of you from farming families, please do not blame me for quoting her). Her husband said: If my son wants to marry a wife, do not marry someone from the countryside. This is not necessarily entirely accurate, but he said: Those who come from the countryside have something very bad at their roots. Because people who come from such an environment of fearing poverty are terrifying.

So you must know that if the roots of the poor are not cut off, they will always want to take shortcuts to get rich here and make a fortune there. There is no true wisdom in them. Even if a golden phoenix crawls out of a chicken coop and is admitted to Peking University and Tsinghua University, the root of that impoverished thinking is still there.

True Wisdom Requires Exploration and Digging

Thank God, you and I both believe in the Lord. After believing in the Lord, let us seek this true wisdom together. What exactly is it? People are observing that the things in this world have an origin, and some are very subtle. Everything must be dug out. If you find a gold mine but do not dig it, you will not get gold; if you encounter a copper mine but do not dig it, you will not get copper. Everything must be dug out and explored.

I think Job began to find a law, that true wisdom is to be explored and sought! I think the suffering of life needs wise eyes to see clearly. The things we observe are not so superficial.

You will never see that when it is first dug out of the ground, it is 24k gold. It is all a large pile of sand with a little gold mixed in. Therefore, when refining gold mines, tons and tons of sand are crushed and then panned for gold. The gold is in the countless sands! True wisdom is like gold hidden in ore, and we need to find it little by little. Our God sees people in the same way. God refines us as gold is refined. God refines people's hearts, and after refining, He sees if you are a piece of gold (Job 20:10, Proverbs 17:3).

Similarly, many things today are not so obvious. Do not use superficial phenomena to look at the situation Job is in. Job did not understand that God and the devil were using him as a bet (Job 1:6-12). Although he was really innocent, it was precisely because this happened to Job that Job wanted to figure it out. He was digging and exploring there.

The process of suffering can become a benefit in our lives. People will think about many problems in suffering. It is right when people feel very painful, because this way you will think. Therefore, the Bible says: Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise (James 5:13).

Job is Talking About the Value of Wisdom

This is in Job 28:13-19. Job began to realize: I have no way to understand the reason for what happened. I cannot solve it with my friends. I do not know what is going on with this suffering today. Although I was once rich, I need wisdom!

Job's family was very wealthy and was the richest man of that generation. However, abundant wealth cannot stop the arrival of disaster. The speed of disaster is very fast. Today, you see what Job has experienced, you must know that nothing can stop disaster unless you have true wisdom.

Today, Job began to summarize: I used to have money, but money is really useless when it is useless. True wisdom cannot be bought with gold, and gems cannot be compared with it.

What is Esteemed Among Men is an Abomination in the Sight of God

You must remember what Jesus said in Luke 16:15: What is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. If you suddenly feel: It is so good to have so much money, it is probably what God does not like. In fact, until today, I feel that living with God is really especially good. If you live without God, you really do not know how to live. Obtaining true wisdom is more precious than all the precious things in this world.

There was a Chinese official named Lin Zexu, who hoped that he would have a smart son. He once said: What is the use of leaving a sum of money to my foolish son? It will only bring disaster. If I have a son who is as smart as me, what do I need to give him money for? Because he can create value himself.

Today, if you are willing, do not look up to the money in this world in anything, because it is useless and cannot stop anything. Seek true wisdom, because true wisdom is the answer to our problems.

Do you know how many foolish people there are in this world? Collecting antiques is a high-risk profession, because some of those antiques are stolen from tombs, and many are cursed objects. But people do not know and collect them as treasures.

I often see this kind of documentary. There is a watch made in the 1880s, the only gold watch made by a famous craftsman, and the current price has soared to hundreds of millions of dollars. But he said that although this watch is really valuable, whoever buys this watch will go bankrupt. If you look at it with spiritual eyes, you will know that it is a cursed thing, a thing devoted to destruction. Do you understand? If you do not have this wisdom, you will think that the value of this antique will double in the future.

For example, speculating in stocks, some people’s hearts rise and fall with the rise and fall of the stock. You know that when the Chinese stock market crashes, it may recover a little, but the worst situation is 1 trillion RMB, and later it was calculated that there would be 100 billion left, that is, ten yuan becomes one yuan. I tell you how many people are depressed because of this, and then they go to the hospital for examination, and there are problems with their liver and problems with their heart. Because they are worried about external things, do you think this person is not very strange?

Today I want to tell you that these smog are far worse than being depressed. Being depressed at home for a day is worse than breathing smog for ten days outside! But if a person has true wisdom, he knows that a joyful heart is good medicine.

The eyes of people and God are very different, so many things need to be clarified today. This is a process of struggle between the flesh and the spirit! If you have a carnal eye, then what you hate is what God treasures; what you treasure is what God hates. If your vision is contrary to God's, you cannot obtain abundant life.

Today, God uses the foolishness of preaching to save people, which is the cross of Jesus! Until today, many people still cannot understand God's wisdom, but that is true wisdom. For example, if someone strikes you on your left cheek, turn the other also, can you understand it? But when you really do this, you get something beyond your imagination. So today I want to tell you: Everything has an origin, but you must seek wisdom, because the value of wisdom is incomparable, and nothing is more valuable than wisdom.

Today I remind you that being busy is definitely not wisdom. Do you know how to write the word busy in Chinese? It is a vertical heart next to death. If the heart dies, it will die! People are so busy that they die in the end. Is it not sad?

Sister YX's Testimony

Today I will tell you a short testimony. Before my sister, Sister YX, believed in the Lord with me, she worked for a company, often working until late at night, doing this every day. After believing in the Lord with me, she began to pray more, and found that she could finish her work in six or seven hours a day, and spend the rest of the time praying. Then after praying, she found that six or seven hours were not needed, and two or three hours a day were enough. After that, she found that she only worked for three days a month, and did not even need two or three hours, and then she prayed every day.

So if you need remote assistance, go to Sister YX for prayer, she always has time. I also hope that you can experience the same things as Sister YX. Why did Sister YX experience these things? Because she was willing to choose to put down her busyness and desperately pray when she was busy.

Where did she actually start praying? Because I am her younger brother, she wanted to help me build the church, probably out of this mentality. You say that this simple mentality has benefited her.

Where is Wisdom?

But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? The deep says, 'It is not in me,' and the sea says, 'It is not with me' (Job 28:12, 14).

People cannot see through when they see the sea. Standing by the sea, they will feel very small. You do not know what is contained in the sea. Until today, many people go to the sea to salvage treasures. Some people salvaged an ancient ship carrying gold, with many tons of gold inside.

Until today, there are still many people writing proposals, which are suggestions for salvaging sea treasures. Many rich people invest in it, and then search in the sea. Because many things are hidden inside. Until today, no one can see through the sea! A Malaysia Airlines plane is being searched for in the sea, and it is still being searched for today. I think it is because of this that such profound things in the world are not there.

Seek and You Will Find, Knock and the Door Will be Opened

God gives us a promise: Seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you (Luke 11:9). God has been waiting for you there, as long as you are willing to seek, He will give you true wisdom.

In the matter of seeking and knocking, God needs you to have a heart of urgent entreaty. If you really feel that the wisdom given by God is more precious than this world, then start seeking God with this kind of urgent entreaty. When you truly seek, God will surely do marvelous things and make you find it.

Urgent Entreaty in Prayer

I hope that our brothers and sisters all have this kind of urgent entreaty. You know how many people rushed to pan for gold one after another during the American gold rush! How many people turned into piles of bones while panning for gold, until the road to panning for gold was full of bones. People risked their lives to pan for gold, and even today, there are corpses everywhere on this road. I think everyone today has the same ambition. If you have the ambition to start a business, and you use the ambition to work hard to seek God's wisdom, God will definitely let you seek it.

This is a matter of value system. How much value you think it has in your heart determines your attitude. One sister tossed around from 2012 to this year, and finally returned to the original point, used up all her past savings, and started seeking the Lord again. Thank God, she is seeking the Lord again. In the next few years, she can hold on to God's true wisdom to move forward. It is too wonderful!

I think this value system must be established. The logic is very simple. If there is a true God in heaven and on earth who created all things in the universe, and then we establish a father-child relationship with Him, then how important it is to please Him. If He pleases me and gives me a little wisdom, those knowledge can be worth a lot of money.

Today, if we trust God well, we can definitely live out God's glory in our lives and will never live miserably. Wisdom can also lead us to escape all impending disasters.

Job is a Person of Practicing Faith and Fearing God

God's Wisdom

The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding (Job 28:28).

I have a classmate who does a good job and has a lot of power in his hands. Sometimes our brothers and sisters say: Pastor, your classmates are very impressive. Among these classmates of mine, there are some people who, although they do not believe in the Lord, have a heart of reverence in their hearts. I do not sin.

Some classmates have the heart to commit crimes. If that power falls into his hands, it will be terrible. He said: You, you have ruined this job. You have done this position for nothing. (The implication is: Why not give yourself some?) Thank God, after he believed in the Lord with me, I said, old classmate, this is called true wisdom. But I do not know what will happen to those things he did in his position before? Do not think that if his crimes are dug out in ten years, he cannot be put in prison. He will still be put in prison after he retires.

Today we must know: The fear of God is true wisdom, and turning away from evil is intelligence. Living a life is a very simple matter. Sleeping on a bed, whether big or small, can sleep. The needs of a person's life are not many, and you do not need to worry about what will happen tomorrow, just move forward.

Living happily every day is a happy life. Why start worrying so much, and get so much money and finally get yourself into prison? That is not called true wisdom.

The Mark of Fearing God

Job's life is a practice of fearing God. He feared God when he was wealthy, and he still feared God when he was down.

There are several signs of fearing God: First, control your mouth; second, control your eyes; third, do not make anything your god.

Never sin with your tongue. It is not a good thing to talk nonsense. If you talk nonsense, bad things will happen. Even if you bite off your tongue, you must firmly resolve not to let evil words come out of your mouth. Job controlled his heart. My lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will not utter deceit (Job 27:4).

Spiritual Truth: Manage the Feelings in Your Heart

Job would never walk according to his feelings. Job was once the richest man in the world, but his eyes were determined not to look lustfully at a virgin. He made a covenant with his eyes. Who does not like to see treasures? But when Job saw those beautiful women, he controlled his eyes. Why? Because he feared God. He thought: I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin (Job 31:1)?

Joseph is also an example: Why should I commit this great wickedness and sin against God? It is because of a simple reason, fearing God. If you fear God, you have wisdom. Job came this way. He did not replace God with anything.

If I have put my hope in gold or have said to pure gold, 'You are my security,' if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great or and because my hand had found much, if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor, and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand, this also would be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have been false to God above (Job 31:24-28).

Job did not rely on his money. In fact, he had the capital to rely on his money. In fact, Job was very close to true wisdom, but he still could not explain the suffering he encountered. Job has been practicing such a faith, I want to fear God and never sin. I make a covenant with my eyes, a covenant with my mouth, and a covenant with my tongue, so his heart does not condemn himself. How good it is when a person's heart does not condemn himself!

If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him… if I have concealed my transgressions as others do, by hiding my iniquity in my heart (Job 31:29, 33)

Job could also say bad things about others, but he did not. You must know that Job is telling the truth. Why did he do this? In fact, that is not far from the heart of wisdom, which is fearing God!

Summary: Fear of God

I encourage everyone not to deviate from the path of God. If you are about to stray from the path of God, quickly pull yourself back. A person who fears God lives a life of wisdom. Amen!

Job 27:1 Job continued his discourse, and said,
Job 27:2 As God lives, who has taken away my judgment, and the Almighty, who has vexed my soul;
Job 27:3 All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;
Job 27:4 My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.
Job 27:5 God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove my integrity from me.
Job 27:6 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.
Job 27:7 Let my enemy be as the wicked, and he that rises up against me as the unrighteous.
Job 27:8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he has gained, when God takes away his soul?
Job 27:9 Will God hear his cry when trouble comes upon him?
Job 27:10 Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?
Job 27:11 I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.
Job 27:12 Behold, all of you have seen it yourselves; why then are you altogether vain?
Job 27:13 This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty.
Job 27:14 If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.
Job 27:15 Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep.
Job 27:16 Though he heaps up silver as the dust, and prepares raiment as the clay;
Job 27:17 He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.
Job 27:18 He builds his house as a moth, and as a booth that the keeper makes.
Job 27:19 The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he opens his eyes, and he is not.
Job 27:20 Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest steals him away in the night.
Job 27:21 The east wind carries him away, and he departs: and as a storm hurls him out of his place.
Job 27:22 For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.
Job 27:23 Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.
Job 28:1 Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they refine it.
Job 28:2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone.
Job 28:3 He sets an end to darkness, and searches out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.
Job 28:4 The flood breaks out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.
Job 28:5 As for the earth, out of it comes bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.
Job 28:6 The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it has dust of gold.
Job 28:7 There is a path which no fowl knows, and which the vulture's eye has not seen:
Job 28:8 The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.
Job 28:9 He puts forth his hand upon the rock; he overturns the mountains by the roots.
Job 28:10 He cuts out rivers among the rocks: and his eye sees every precious thing.
Job 28:11 He binds the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid brings he forth to light.
Job 28:12 But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?
Job 28:13 Man knows not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.
Job 28:14 The depth says, It is not in me: and the sea says, It is not with me.
Job 28:15 It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.
Job 28:16 It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
Job 28:17 The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.
Job 28:18 No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.
Job 28:19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.
Job 28:20 From where then comes wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
Job 28:21 Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.
Job 28:22 Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.
Job 28:23 God understands the way thereof, and he knows the place thereof.
Job 28:24 For he looks to the ends of the earth, and sees under the whole heaven;
Job 28:25 To make the weight for the winds; and he weighs the waters by measure.
Job 28:26 When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:
Job 28:27 Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yes, and searched it out.
Job 28:28 And to man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
Job 29:1 Job continued his discourse, and said,
Job 29:2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
Job 29:3 When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
Job 29:4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
Job 29:5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
Job 29:6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
Job 29:7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
Job 29:8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the old arose, and stood up.
Job 29:9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
Job 29:10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
Job 29:11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
Job 29:12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
Job 29:13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
Job 29:14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
Job 29:15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
Job 29:16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
Job 29:17 And I broke the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
Job 29:18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.
Job 29:19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
Job 29:20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
Job 29:21 To me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
Job 29:22 After my words they spoke not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
Job 29:23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
Job 29:24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
Job 29:25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforts the mourners.
Job 30:1 But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.
Job 30:2 Yes, what might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished?
Job 30:3 For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.
Job 30:4 Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meat.
Job 30:5 They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after them as after a thief;)
Job 30:6 To dwell in cliffs of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.
Job 30:7 Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together.
Job 30:8 They were children of fools, yes, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.
Job 30:9 And now am I their song, yes, I am their byword.
Job 30:10 They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.
Job 30:11 Because he has loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me.
Job 30:12 On my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction.
Job 30:13 They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper.
Job 30:14 They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me.
Job 30:15 Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passes away as a cloud.
Job 30:16 And now my soul is poured out upon me: the days of affliction have taken hold upon me.
Job 30:17 My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews take no rest.
Job 30:18 By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: it binds me about as the collar of my coat.
Job 30:19 He has cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes.
Job 30:20 I cry to you, and you do not hear me: I stand up, and you regard me not.
Job 30:21 You are become cruel to me: with your strong hand you oppose yourself against me.
Job 30:22 You lift me up to the wind; you cause me to ride upon it, and dissolve my substance.
Job 30:23 For I know that you will bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.
Job 30:24 However he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction.
Job 30:25 Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?
Job 30:26 When I looked for good, then evil came to me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.
Job 30:27 My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me.
Job 30:28 I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the congregation.
Job 30:29 I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.
Job 30:30 My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.
Job 30:31 My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.
Job 31:1 I made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
Job 31:2 For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
Job 31:3 Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?
Job 31:4 Does not he see my ways, and count all my steps?
Job 31:5 If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot has hastened to deceit;
Job 31:6 Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know my integrity.
Job 31:7 If my step has turned out of the way, and my heart walked after my eyes, and if any blot has cleaved to my hands;
Job 31:8 Then let me sow, and let another eat; yes, let my offspring be rooted out.
Job 31:9 If my heart has been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbor's door;
Job 31:10 Then let my wife grind to another, and let others bow down upon her.
Job 31:11 For this is an heinous crime; yes, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.
Job 31:12 For it is a fire that consumes to destruction, and would root out all my increase.
Job 31:13 If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;
Job 31:14 What then shall I do when God rises up? and when he visits, what shall I answer him?
Job 31:15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?
Job 31:16 If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
Job 31:17 Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless has not eaten thereof;
Job 31:18 (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;)
Job 31:19 If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;
Job 31:20 If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
Job 31:21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:
Job 31:22 Then let my arm fall from my shoulder blade, and my arm be broken from the bone.
Job 31:23 For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.
Job 31:24 If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, You are my confidence;
Job 31:25 If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much;
Job 31:26 If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;
Job 31:27 And my heart has been secretly enticed, or my mouth has kissed my hand:
Job 31:28 This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.
Job 31:29 If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:
Job 31:30 Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.
Job 31:31 If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.
Job 31:32 The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveler.
Job 31:33 If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom:
Job 31:34 Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?
Job 31:35 Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.
Job 31:36 Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it to me as a crown.
Job 31:37 I would declare to him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near to him.
Job 31:38 If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;
Job 31:39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:
Job 31:40 Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.