God's New Bible

The Book of Job

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- Chapter 12 -

Job answers his critics

1
Then Job, answering, said:
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Are you, therefore, alone among men, and will wisdom die with you?
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And I have a heart just as you also do, and I am not inferior to you. For who is ignorant of these things, which you know?
4
He who is mocked by his friends as I am, will call upon God, and he will listen to him because it is the sincerity of the just that is being mocked.
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The lamp that is despised in the thoughts of the rich is ready for the appointed time.
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The tabernacles of robbers are numerous, and they provoke God boldly; whereas, it is he who has given all things into their hands.
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In truth, ask the mules, and they will teach you, and the birds of the sky, and they will reveal to you.
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Speak with the earth, and it will respond to you, and the fish of the sea will explain.
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Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord has made all these things?
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In his hand is the soul of all the living and the spirit of all the flesh of mankind.
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Does not the ear perceive words, and the palate, when eating, perceive flavor?
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In old age is wisdom, and in length of days is prudence.
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With him is wisdom and strength, he has counsel and understanding.
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If he tears down, there is no one who can build up; if he encloses a man, there is no one who can open.
15
If he restrains the waters, everything will dry up; and if he sends them forth, they will subdue the land.
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With him is strength and wisdom; he knows both the deceiver and he who is deceived.
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He leads advisors to a foolish end and judges to stupidity.
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He removes the belt of kings and encircles their waist with a rope.
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He leads away priests in dishonor and displaces nobles,
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altering the lips of those who speak the truth and sweeping away the teaching of the aged.
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He pours disdain upon the leaders, relieving those who had been oppressed.
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He reveals the depths of the darkness, and he brings the shadow of death into the light.
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He multiplies peoples, and destroys them, and, having been overthrown, he restores them anew.
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He transforms the heart of the leaders of the people on earth, and misleads those who in vain advance upon the inviolable.
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They will grope as in the darkness, not the light, and he will make them stagger like drunkards.

Job answers his critics

1
Then Job answered,
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“No doubt, but you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.
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But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Yes, who doesn’t know such things as these?
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I am like one who is a joke to his neighbor, I, who called on God, and he answered. The just, the blameless man is a joke.
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In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for them whose foot slips.
6
The tents of robbers prosper. Those who provoke God are secure, who carry their god in their hands.
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“But ask the animals now, and they will teach you; the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.
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Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you. The fish of the sea will declare to you.
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Who doesn’t know that in all these, the LORD’s hand has done this,
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in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?
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Doesn’t the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?
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With aged men is wisdom, in length of days understanding.
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“With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.
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Behold, he breaks down, and it can’t be built again. He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.
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Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up. Again, he sends them out, and they overturn the earth.
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With him is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his.
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He leads counselors away stripped. He makes judges fools.
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He loosens the bond of kings. He binds their waist with a belt.
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He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.
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He removes the speech of those who are trusted, and takes away the understanding of the elders.
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He pours contempt on princes, and loosens the belt of the strong.
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He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.
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He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.
24
He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
25
They grope in the dark without light. He makes them stagger like a drunken man.
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