Job
1Then Job replied:
2‘Doubtless you are the only people who matter,
and wisdom will die with you!
3But I have a mind as well as you;
I am not inferior to you.
Who does not know all these things?
4‘I have become a laughing-stock to my friends,
though I called on God and he answered –
a mere laughing-stock, though righteous and blameless!
5Those who are at ease have contempt for misfortune
as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
6The tents of marauders are undisturbed,
and those who provoke God are secure –
those whom God has in his hand.12:6 Or those whose god is in their own hand
7‘But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
8or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
or let the fish in the sea inform you.
9Which of all these does not know
that the hand of the Lord has done this?
10In his hand is the life of every creature
and the breath of all mankind.
11Does not the ear test words
as the tongue tastes food?
12Is not wisdom found among the aged?
Does not long life bring understanding?
13‘To God belong wisdom and power;
counsel and understanding are his.
14What he tears down cannot be rebuilt;
those he imprisons cannot be released.
15If he holds back the waters, there is drought;
if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.
16To him belong strength and insight;
both deceived and deceiver are his.
17He leads rulers away stripped
and makes fools of judges.
18He takes off the shackles put on by kings
and ties a loincloth12:18 Or shackles of kings / and ties a belt round their waist.
19He leads priests away stripped
and overthrows officials long established.
20He silences the lips of trusted advisors
and takes away the discernment of elders.
21He pours contempt on nobles
and disarms the mighty.
22He reveals the deep things of darkness
and brings utter darkness into the light.
23He makes nations great, and destroys them;
he enlarges nations, and disperses them.
24He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason;
he makes them wander in a trackless waste.
25They grope in darkness with no light;
he makes them stagger like drunkards.
1And Job answered and said, 2No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you. 3But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?12.3 understanding: Heb. an heart12.3 I am…: Heb. I fall not lower than you12.3 who…: Heb. with whom are not such as these? 4I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn. 5He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
6The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly. 7But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: 8Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. 9Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? 10In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.12.10 soul: or, life12.10 all…: Heb. all flesh of man 11Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?12.11 mouth: Heb. palate
12With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding. 13With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.12.13 With…: that is, With God 14Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.12.14 up: Heb. upon 15Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth. 16With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his. 17He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools. 18He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle. 19He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty. 20He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.12.20 speech…: Heb. lip of the faithful 21He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.12.21 weakeneth…: or, looseth the girdle of the strong 22He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death. 23He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.12.23 straiteneth: Heb. leadeth in 24He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way. 25They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.12.25 stagger: Heb. wander
