Job 12
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New King James VersionHolman Christian Standard Bible
1Then Job answered and said:1Then Job answered:
2“No doubt you are the people, And wisdom will die with you!2No 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. Indeed, who does not know such things as these?3But I also have a mind; I am not inferior to you. Who doesn't know the things you are talking about?
4“I am one mocked by his friends, Who called on God, and He answered him, The just and blameless who is ridiculed.4I am a laughingstock to my friends, by calling on God, who answers me. The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock.
5A lamp is despised in the thought of one who is at ease; It is made ready for those whose feet slip.5The one who is at ease holds calamity in contempt and thinks it is prepared for those whose feet are slipping.
6The tents of robbers prosper, And those who provoke God are secure— In what God provides by His hand.6The tents of robbers are safe, and those who provoke God are secure; God's power provides this.
7“But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; And the birds of the air, and they will tell you;7But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.
8Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; And the fish of the sea will explain to you.8Or speak to the earth, and it will instruct you; let the fish of 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 whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind?10The life of every living thing is in His hand, as well as the breath of all mankind.
11Does not the ear test words And the mouth taste its food?11Doesn't the ear test words as the palate tastes food?
12Wisdom is with aged men, And with length of days, understanding.12Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life.
13“With Him are wisdom and strength, He has counsel and understanding.13Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.
14If He breaks a thing down, it cannot be rebuilt; If He imprisons a man, there can be no release.14Whatever He tears down cannot be rebuilt; whoever He imprisons cannot be released.
15If He withholds the waters, they dry up; If He sends them out, they overwhelm the earth.15When He withholds the waters, everything dries up, and when He releases them, they destroy the land.
16With Him are strength and prudence. The deceived and the deceiver are His.16True wisdom and power belong to Him. The deceived and the deceiver are His.
17He leads counselors away plundered, And makes fools of the judges.17He leads counselors away barefoot and makes judges go mad.
18He loosens the bonds of kings, And binds their waist with a belt.18He releases the bonds put on by kings and fastens a belt around their waists.
19He leads princes away plundered, And overthrows the mighty.19He leads priests away barefoot and overthrows established leaders.
20He deprives the trusted ones of speech, And takes away the discernment of the elders.20He deprives trusted advisers of speech and takes away the elders' good judgment.
21He pours contempt on princes, And disarms the mighty.21He pours out contempt on nobles and disarms the strong.
22He uncovers deep things out of darkness, And brings the shadow of death to light.22He reveals mysteries from the darkness and brings the deepest darkness into the light.
23He makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations, and guides them.23He makes nations great, then destroys them; He enlarges nations, then leads them away.
24He takes away the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth, And makes them wander in a pathless wilderness.24He deprives the world's leaders of reason, and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.
25They grope in the dark without light, And He makes them stagger like a drunken man.25They grope around in darkness without light; He makes them stagger like drunken men.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
Job 11
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