Hiob 12 | King James Version

1 And Job answered and said,

2 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

4 I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

5 He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.

6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly .

7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:

8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?

10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

11 Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?

12 With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.

13 With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

14 Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.

15 Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.

16 With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.

17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.

18 He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.

19 He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.

20 He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.

21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.

22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.

23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again .

24 He 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.

25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man .

King James Bible (1769). Public Domain. Please note the following exceptions for use and publication in the United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press

English Standard Version

Job Replies: The Lord Has Done This

1 Then Job answered and said:

2 “No doubt 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. Who does not know such things as these?

4 I am a laughingstock to my friends; I, who called to God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock.

5 In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for those whose feet slip.

6 The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hand.*

7 “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;

8 or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you;* and the fish of the sea will declare to you.

9 Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?

10 In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.

11 Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food?

12 Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.

13 “With God* are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.

14 If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open.

15 If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.

16 With him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his.

17 He leads counselors away stripped, and judges he makes fools.

18 He looses the bonds of kings and binds a waistcloth on their hips.

19 He leads priests away stripped and overthrows the mighty.

20 He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment of the elders.

21 He pours contempt on princes and loosens the belt of the strong.

22 He uncovers the deeps out of darkness and brings deep darkness to light.

23 He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away.

24 He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth and makes them wander in a trackless waste.

25 They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them stagger like a drunken man.

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