God's New Bible

The Book of Job

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 12 -

Job answers his critics

1
And Job answers and says:
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“Truly—you [are] the people, and wisdom dies with you.
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I also have a heart like you, I am not fallen more than you, || And with whom is there not like these?
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I am a laughter to his friend: He calls to God, and He answers him, || A laughter [is] the perfect righteous one.
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A torch—despised in the thoughts of the secure || Is prepared for those sliding with the feet.
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The tents of spoilers are at peace, || And those provoking God have confidence, || Into whose hand God has brought.
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And yet, now ask [one of] the beasts, || And it shows you, || And a bird of the heavens, || And it declares to you.
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Or talk to the earth, and it shows you, || And fishes of the sea recount to you:
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Who has not known in all these, || That the hand of YHWH has done this?
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In whose hand [is] the breath of every living thing, || And the spirit of all flesh of man.
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Does the ear not try words? And the palate taste food for itself?
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With the very aged [is] wisdom, || And [with] length of days [is] understanding.
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With Him [are] wisdom and might, || To Him [are] counsel and understanding.
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Behold, He breaks down, and it is not built up, || He shuts against a man, || And it is not opened.
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Behold, He keeps in the waters, and they are dried up, || And He sends them forth, || And they overturn the land.
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With Him [are] strength and wisdom, || His the deceived and deceiver.
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Causing counselors to go away [as] a spoil, || Indeed, He makes fools of judges.
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He has opened the bands of kings, || And He binds a girdle on their loins.
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Causing ministers to go away [as] a spoil || And strong ones He overthrows.
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Turning aside the lip of the steadfast, || And the reason of the aged He takes away.
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Pouring contempt on princes, || And the girdle of the mighty He made feeble.
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Removing deep things out of darkness, || And He brings out to light death-shade.
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Magnifying the nations, and He destroys them, || Spreading out the nations, and He quiets them.
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Turning aside the heart || Of the heads of the people of the land, || And He causes them to wander || In vacancy—no way!
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They feel darkness, and not light, || He causes them to wander as a drunkard.”
Copyright © 2020 Covenant Press and the CCC - licensed under CC BY-SA

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.
3
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.
5
In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for them whose foot slips.
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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.
15
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.
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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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