Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.
The verse stands in the debate between Job and his three friends over his afflictions, which runs from chapter 4 through chapter 31 in three rounds of speeches. It is Job's claim that he had not allowed his mouth to sin by wishing a curse upon another person. That claim belongs to his appeal that no moral stain could be found in his conduct. It is part of his protestation of integrity, which proves honesty more strongly than merely paying debts and owing nothing.
True honesty is integrity and whiteness of character and not only freedom from liability to others. The surrounding chapter shows that though he was one of the richest men of his day, he did not trust in his riches or rejoice because his wealth was great. He trusted in the living God, remembered that God gave him power to get wealth, and viewed wealth only as a means to bless the poor, the needy, the fatherless, and the widow. Being rich is not itself sin; the sin lies in trusting in riches, putting confidence in them, rejoicing in them, and becoming proud and high-minded because of them, which denies the God above.
The verse stands in the debate between Job and his three friends over his afflictions, which runs from chapter 4 through chapter 31 in three rounds of speeches. It is Job's claim that he had not allowed his mouth to sin by wishing a curse upon another person. That claim belongs to his appeal that no moral stain could be found in his conduct. It is part of his protestation of integrity, which proves honesty more strongly than merely paying debts and owing nothing.
True honesty is integrity and whiteness of character and not only freedom from liability to others. The surrounding chapter shows that though he was one of the richest men of his day, he did not trust in his riches or rejoice because his wealth was great. He trusted in the living God, remembered that God gave him power to get wealth, and viewed wealth only as a means to bless the poor, the needy, the fatherless, and the widow. Being rich is not itself sin; the sin lies in trusting in riches, putting confidence in them, rejoicing in them, and becoming proud and high-minded because of them, which denies the God above.