Job 12
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1Then Job answered and said:1Then Job replied:
2“No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.2"Doubtless you are the only people who matter, 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?3But I have a mind as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know all these things?
4I am a laughingstock to my friends; I, who called to God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock.4"I have become a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God and he answered-- a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!
5In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for those whose feet slip.5Those who are at ease have contempt for misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
6The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hand.6The tents of marauders are undisturbed, and those who provoke God are secure-- those God has in his hand.
7“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;7"But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
8or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you.8or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.
9Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?9Which of 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.10In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.
11Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food?11Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food?
12Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.12Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?
13“With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.13"To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.
14If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open.14What he tears down cannot be rebuilt; those he imprisons cannot be released.
15If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.15If he holds back the waters, there is drought; if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.
16With him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his.16To him belong strength and insight; both deceived and deceiver are his.
17He leads counselors away stripped, and judges he makes fools.17He leads rulers away stripped and makes fools of judges.
18He looses the bonds of kings and binds a waistcloth on their hips.18He takes off the shackles put on by kings and ties a loincloth around their waist.
19He leads priests away stripped and overthrows the mighty.19He leads priests away stripped and overthrows officials long established.
20He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment of the elders.20He silences the lips of trusted advisers and takes away the discernment of elders.
21He pours contempt on princes and loosens the belt of the strong.21He pours contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty.
22He uncovers the deeps out of darkness and brings deep darkness to light.22He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings utter darkness into the light.
23He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away.23He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them.
24He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth and makes them wander in a trackless waste.24He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; he makes them wander in a trackless waste.
25They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them stagger like a drunken man.25They grope in darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like drunkards.
ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.New International Version (NIV)

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Job 11
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