Job 31:13-15

Often a wealthy man does not respect his servants. That man might be very proud. He might think that he is more important than other people. James warned that such attitudes are very evil (James 5:1-5).

Job was fair to his servants. If they complained, he listened. He was their employer. But he did not imagine that he was more important than them. And Job himself was a servant of God (Job 2:3). Jesus taught that only a wicked servant would be cruel to other servants (Matthew 24:48-51).

Job’s attitude with regard to poor people

v16 I was not cruel to poor people. I did not make widows cry. v17 I shared my food. I fed the child who had no father. v18 In fact, I brought up that child, as if I were his father. And I have always looked after widows.

v19 Sometimes I saw a poor man who was very cold, without enough clothing. v20 So, I gave a coat to that man. The coat was wool, and the wool came from my own sheep. And the man blessed me.

v21 I did not oppose the child who had no father. Instead, I helped him in court. v22 Anyone who opposes that child should suffer. If a man uses his hand to cause trouble for that child, then that man should lose his arm. v23 I knew that God punishes an evil man. So I respected God and I did not do evil things.