Let's try to find someone with wisdom and listen "in quiet." Maybe it is just me, but I feel weary of the "shouting of a ruler among fools."

Ecclesiastes 9:13-18
I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me.
There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it.
But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man.
But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.
The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.
Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
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As David knew, the soul needs to be reminded every once in while who it belongs to and why.

Psalm 103:1-5
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good 
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
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I don't think the author here was talking about marriage, but I think this would be a great verse for a wedding ceremony. Marriage makes us so much stronger. It also makes the world a better place. I think it is what God had in mind for his children.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.
For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!
Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?
And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
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I've always been a worker, physical labor is my favorite but I think any of our work is an offering to God. So make your work a joy instead of a burden and offer it up to Christ.

Ecclesiastes 3:9-13
What gain has the worker from his toil?
I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live;
also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.
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The author is seriously disillusioned. (I like to think he is old Solomon although Bible scholars dispute this.) "All is vanity." I agree, which is why the only way to live is to turn your life over to Christ and let him use you daily. "What is crooked cannot be made straight." But with God all things are possible.

Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.
I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
What is crooked cannot be made straight,and what is lacking cannot be counted.
I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”
And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.
For in much wisdom is much vexation,and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
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Job humbly responds to God and God asks Job to pray for his misguided friends. Suffering is over, prosperity restored and we readers will never be the same. God puts us in our place and yet his mercy abounds. We really don't know what we're doing, or more importantly what He is doing. We need to trust Him in both our misery and our joy.

Job 42:1-13
Then Job answered the Lord and said:
“I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
‘Hear, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.’
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.”
After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.
Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.”
So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what the Lord had told them, and the Lord accepted Job's prayer.
And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece of money and a ring of gold.
And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys.
He had also seven sons and three daughters.
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I've always loved the poetry of this as well as the questions. God is rebuking Job. But it is not just Job. We know almost nothing despite all our education. God knows all. He created it all. Who DO we think we are?

Job 39:1-4
“Do you know when the mountain goats give birth?
Do you observe the calving of the does?
Can you number the months that they fulfill,
and do you know the time when they give birth,
when they crouch, bring forth their offspring,
and are delivered of their young?
Their young ones become strong; they grow up in the open;
they go out and do not return to them.

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Job has had it with the misery and bad advice from his friends, and God has had it with Job. "Dress for action like a man:" How about it, let's stop whining and get on with it. God is God and he has his purpose, just look around at how little you know. You may have a part to play, but it is not all about you!

Job 38:1-7

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
Dress for action like a man;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.

Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone,
when the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

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"Every knee shall bow to me." Every knee! We will all get there. We can't even imagine all the ways that people find Christ. Let them. If they need help, help. But no stumbling blocks. Incidentally prayer is very effective and not intrusive, it just may not have its effect on your timetable.

Romans 14:10-13
Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;
for it is written,
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess to God.”
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.
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I'm dedicating this to my dear mother. She has given me so much: wisdom, instruction, understanding, I don't deserve it but I do hope she who bore me rejoices.

Proverbs 23:22-25
Listen to your father who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.

Mom with Brit

Buy truth, and do not sell it;
buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;
he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.
Let your father and mother be glad;
let her who bore you rejoice.
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We don't need to understand our pain and we can't earn our way to salvation. It is grace. We need to believe and obey no matter how bad it gets. God will NEVER abandon us. It is a promise ALWAYS kept.

Job 30:26-28

But when I hoped for good, evil came,
and when I waited for light, darkness came.
My inward parts are in turmoil and never still;
days of affliction come to meet me.
I go about darkened, but not by the sun;
I stand up in the assembly and cry for help.
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Salvation! And in such beautiful Psalmic poetry. I'm feeling peace and gratitude. Thank you for your prayers.

Psalm 96:1-9
Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!

Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless His name;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples.
For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the Lord made the heavens.
Honor and majesty are before Him;
Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.
Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
Give to the Lord glory and strength.
Give to the Lord the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come into His courts.
Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
Tremble before Him, all the earth.
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I'm hijacking Paul's plea in this little bit of scripture to ask for your prayers. I know it is not about me, but I've been in unrelieved pain for weeks now because of an old back injury. I'm frustrated to tears. Please pray for me.

Romans 15:30

Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me,
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These few words can change lives. Read the Bible, it is how God speaks to us.

Romans 15:4
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
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Ah, the basics! We are told over and over again what works in life. How about it? Let's try.

Romans 13:8-10

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

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I'm told Job is one of the oldest books in the Bible. Think of all the centuries between then and now and yet today our hearts yearn within us, as Job's did, for exactly the same thing.

Job 19:25-27
For I know that my Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on the earth;
And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
That in my flesh I shall see God,
Whom I shall see for myself,
And my eyes shall behold, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
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Such a prescription for life! Sometimes I find Romans so difficult. Not in these verses. I wish the world were required to read this every day!

Romans 12:15-18

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

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Think how many of our thoughts are taken up by unwarranted fear. There is freedom in not being afraid. Be free! Dwell in his shelter, find refuge under his wings.

Psalm 91:1-6
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
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Who are we to question God's justice? He OWNS the big picture. How many times have I said, "This is unbearable, I'm not going to survive this." Then looked back on it and said, "that was bad, but it turned out to be one the best things that ever happened to me."

Romans 9:14-15

What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means!
For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

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I find this so comforting. I've come to believe that I really never know what I'm doing. The idea that the Spirit knows my innermost pain and intercedes for me is one of the most hopeful things I've ever read.

Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
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How about you, aren't there times you just wish you could mow the "grass" and it would stay mowed? It's not our job though. This is one of God's promises and He will keep it.

Psalm 92:5-7
How great are your works, O Lord!
Your thoughts are very deep!
The stupid man cannot know;
the fool cannot understand this:
that though the wicked sprout like grass 
and all evildoers flourish,
they are doomed to destruction forever;
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The last thing a good man needs is to be undermined by his wife. We are so powerful as wives and we often take and hold the moral high ground over our husbands. We are sometimes just wrong. God has the moral high ground and He distributes it as He will.

Job 2:7-10
So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes.

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.”
But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
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He wanders to and fro on the earth looking for opportunities. Just when I think I've got my life under control he spots an opening. The only shield I've ever found is turning my life over to God every day.

Job 1:7

The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”

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The one thing I'm willing to become addicted to is God. All the other things I was a slave to were leading to death. This promises eternal life. That I'll take.

Romans 6:22-23

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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Our children need to know this: "Suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character" Hope is the reward, the opposite of despair. Whatever it takes to have hope, I'll do it.

Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
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