Job Replies: The Lord Has Done This

12 Then Job answered and said:

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

“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
    the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;
or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you;[b]
    and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
Who among all these does not know
    that (G)the hand of the Lord has done this?
10 In (H)his hand is the life of every living thing
    and the breath of all mankind.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 12:6 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  2. Job 12:8 Or or speak to the earth, and it will teach you

Job

12 Then Job replied:

“Doubtless you are the only people who matter,
    and wisdom will die with you!(A)
But I have a mind as well as you;
    I am not inferior to you.
    Who does not know all these things?(B)

“I have become a laughingstock(C) to my friends,(D)
    though I called on God and he answered(E)
    a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!(F)
Those who are at ease have contempt(G) for misfortune
    as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.(H)
The tents of marauders are undisturbed,(I)
    and those who provoke God are secure(J)
    those God has in his hand.[a]

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you,(K)
    or the birds in the sky,(L) and they will tell you;(M)
or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
    or let the fish in the sea inform you.
Which of all these does not know(N)
    that the hand of the Lord has done this?(O)
10 In his hand is the life(P) of every creature
    and the breath of all mankind.(Q)

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Footnotes

  1. Job 12:6 Or those whose god is in their own hand