Job's Response to Zophar
1And Job answered and said,
2No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
3But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
4I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.
5He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
6The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.
7But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
8Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
9Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
10In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
11Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
12With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
13With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
14Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
15Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
16With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.
17He leadeth counsellers away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
18He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
19He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
20He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
21He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.
22He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
23He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.
24He 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.
25They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Job Presents His Case
1 Then Job answered,
2 “No doubt, but you are the people, and wisdom shall 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?
4 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.
6 The tents of robbers prosper. Those who provoke God are secure, who carry their God in their hands.
7 “But ask the animals, now, and they shall teach you; the birds of the sky, and they shall tell you.
8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you. The fish of the sea shall declare to you.
9 Who doesn’t know that in all these, the hand of Yahweh has done this,
10 in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?
11 Doesn’t the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?
12 With aged men is wisdom, in length of days understanding.
13 “With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.
14 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.
16 With him is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his.
17 He leads counselors away stripped. He makes judges fools.
18 He loosens the bond of kings. He binds their waist with a belt.
19 He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.
20 He removes the speech of those who are trusted, and takes away the understanding of the elders.
21 He pours contempt on princes, and loosens the belt of the strong.
22 He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.
23 He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.
24 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.
Job Presents His Case
1 Then Job answered:
2 “Truly then you are the people
with whom wisdom itself will die!
3 But I also have a mind;
I am not inferior to you.
Who does not know such things as these?
4 I am a laughingstock to my friends,
though I called on God, and He answered.
The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock.
5 The one at ease scorns misfortune
as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
6 The tents of robbers are safe,
and those who provoke God are secure—
those who carry their god in their hands. a
7 But ask the animals, and they will instruct you;
ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.
8 Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you;
let the fish of the sea inform you.
9 Which of all these does not know
that the hand of the LORD has done this?
10 The life of every living thing is in His hand,
as well as the breath of all mankind.
11 Does not the ear test words
as the tongue tastes its food?
12 Wisdom is found with the elderly,
and understanding comes with long life.
13 Wisdom and strength belong to God;
counsel and understanding are His.
14 What He tears down cannot be rebuilt;
the man He imprisons cannot be released.
15 If He holds back the waters, they dry up,
and if He releases them, they overwhelm the land.
16 True wisdom and power belong to Him.
The deceived and the deceiver are His.
17 He leads counselors away barefoot
and makes fools of judges.
18 He loosens the bonds placed by kings
and fastens a belt around their waists.
19 He leads priests away barefoot
and overthrows the established.
20 He deprives the trusted of speech
and takes away the discernment of elders.
21 He pours out contempt on nobles
and disarms the mighty.
22 He reveals the deep things of darkness
and brings deep shadows into light.
23 He makes nations great and destroys them;
He enlarges nations, then disperses them.
24 He deprives the earth’s leaders of reason
and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.
25 They grope in the darkness without light;
He makes them stagger like drunkards.
Footnotes:
6 a Or though God keeps them in His power
Job's Response to Zophar
1And Job answereth and saith: --
2Truly -- ye are the people, And with you doth wisdom die.
3I also have a heart like you, I am not fallen more than you, And with whom is there not like these?
4A laughter to his friend I am: 'He calleth to God, and He answereth him,' A laughter is the perfect righteous one.
5A torch -- despised in the thoughts of the secure Is prepared for those sliding with the feet.
6At peace are the tents of spoilers, And those provoking God have confidence, He into whose hand God hath brought.
7And yet, ask, I pray thee, One of the beasts, and it doth shew thee, And a fowl of the heavens, And it doth declare to thee.
8Or talk to the earth, and it sheweth thee, And fishes of the sea recount to thee:
9'Who hath not known in all these, That the hand of Jehovah hath done this?
10In whose hand is the breath of every living thing, And the spirit of all flesh of man.'
11Doth not the ear try words? And the palate taste food for itself?
12With the very aged is wisdom, And with length of days understanding.
13With Him are wisdom and might, To him are counsel and understanding.
14Lo, He breaketh down, and it is not built up, He shutteth against a man, And it is not opened.
15Lo, He keepeth in the waters, and they are dried up, And he sendeth them forth, And they overturn the land.
16With Him are strength and wisdom, His the deceived and deceiver.
17Causing counsellors to go away a spoil, And judges He maketh foolish.
18The bands of kings He hath opened, And He bindeth a girdle on their loins.
19Causing ministers to go away a spoil And strong ones He overthroweth.
20Turning aside the lip of the stedfast, And the reason of the aged He taketh away.
21Pouring contempt upon princes, And the girdle of the mighty He made feeble.
22Removing deep things out of darkness, And He bringeth out to light death-shade.
23Magnifying the nations, and He destroyeth them, Spreading out the nations, and He quieteth them.
24Turning aside the heart Of the heads of the people of the land, And he causeth them to wander In vacancy -- no way!
25They feel darkness, and not light, He causeth them to wander as a drunkard.
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