Job Chapter 12 to 13 : English Standard Version   | SearchSearch | Next Version | Previous Page | Next Page |

Other Versions12 Job Replies: The Lord Has Done This

12:1 Then Job answered and said:

2“No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you. 3But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these? 4I am a laughingstock to my friends; I, who called to God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock. 5In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for those whose feet slip. 6The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hand.[1]

7“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; 8or the bushes of the earth,[2] and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. 9Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? 10In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. 11Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food? 12Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.

13“With God[3] are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding. 14If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open. 15If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land. 16With him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his. 17He leads counselors away stripped, and judges he makes fools. 18He looses the bonds of kings and binds a waistcloth on their hips. 19He leads priests away stripped and overthrows the mighty. 20He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment of the elders. 21He pours contempt on princes and loosens the belt of the strong. 22He uncovers the deeps out of darkness and brings deep darkness to light. 23He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away. 24He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth and makes them wander in a pathless waste. 25They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them stagger like a drunken man.

[1] The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain  [2] Or speak to the earth  [3] Hebrew him 


13 Job Continues: Still I Will Hope in God

13:1 “Behold, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it. 2What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. 3But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God. 4As for you, you whitewash with lies; worthless physicians are you all. 5Oh that you would keep silent, and it would be your wisdom! 6Hear now my argument and listen to the pleadings of my lips. 7Will you speak falsely for God and speak deceitfully for him? 8Will you show partiality toward him? Will you plead the case for God? 9Will it be well with you when he searches you out? Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man? 10He will surely rebuke you if in secret you show partiality. 11Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you? 12Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.

13“Let me have silence, and I will speak, and let come on me what may. 14Why should I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hand? 15Though he slay me, I will hope in him;[4] yet I will argue my ways to his face. 16This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before him. 17Keep listening to my words, and let my declaration be in your ears. 18Behold, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be in the right. 19Who is there who will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die. 20Only grant me two things, then I will not hide myself from your face: 21withdraw your hand far from me, and let not dread of you terrify me. 22Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you reply to me. 23How many are my iniquities and my sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin. 24Why do you hide your face and count me as your enemy? 25Will you frighten a driven leaf and pursue dry chaff? 26For you write bitter things against me and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth. 27You put my feet in the stocks and watch all my paths; you set a limit for[5] the soles of my feet. 28Man[6] wastes away like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.

[4] Or Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope  [5] Or you marked  [6] Hebrew He

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