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Job 12-14
New American Standard Bible

Job Chides His Accusers

12 Then Job responded,

2 “Truly then (A)you are the people,
And with you wisdom will die!
3 But (B)I have intelligence as well as you;
I am not inferior to you.
And [a]who does not know such things as these?
4 I am a (C)joke to [b]my friends,
The one who called on God and He answered him;
The just and (D)blameless man is a joke.
5 [c]He who is at ease holds disaster in contempt,
As prepared for those whose feet slip.
6 The (E)tents of the destroyers prosper,
And those who provoke God (F)are secure,
[d]Whom God brings (G)into their power.

7 “But just ask the animals, and have them teach you;
And the birds of the sky, and have them tell you.
8 Or speak to the earth, and have it teach you;
And have the fish of the sea tell you.
9 Who among all these does not know
That (H)the hand of the Lord has done this,
10 (I)In whose hand is the life of every living thing,
And (J)the breath of all mankind?
11 Does (K)the ear not put words to the test,
As the palate [e]tastes its food?
12 Wisdom is with the (L)aged,
And with [f]long life comes understanding.

Job Speaks of the Power of God

13 “(M)Wisdom and (N)might are with Him;
Advice and (O)understanding belong to Him.
14 Behold, He (P)tears down, and it cannot be rebuilt;
He [g](Q)imprisons a person, and [h]there is no release.
15 Behold, He (R)restrains the waters, and they dry up;
And He (S)sends them out, and they [i]inundate the earth.
16 Strength and sound wisdom are with Him.
One who (T)goes astray and one who leads astray belong to Him.
17 He makes (U)advisers walk [j]barefoot
And makes fools of (V)judges.
18 He (W)undoes the binding of kings,
And ties a loincloth around their waist.
19 He makes priests walk [k]barefoot,
And overthrows (X)the secure ones.
20 He deprives the trusted ones of speech,
And (Y)takes away the discernment of the elders.
21 He (Z)pours contempt on nobles,
And (AA)loosens the belt of the strong.
22 He (AB)reveals mysteries from the darkness,
And brings the deep darkness into light.
23 He (AC)makes the nations great, then destroys them;
He [l]enlarges the nations, then leads them away.
24 He (AD)deprives the leaders of the earth’s people of [m]intelligence
And makes them wander in a pathless wasteland.
25 They (AE)grope in darkness with no light,
And He makes them (AF)stagger like a drunken person.

Job Says His Friends’ Proverbs Are Ashes

13 “(AG)Behold, my eye has seen all this,
My ear has heard and understood it.
2 (AH)What you know I also know;
I am not inferior to you.

3 “But (AI)I would speak to [n]the Almighty,
And I desire to (AJ)argue with God.
4 But you (AK)smear me with lies;
You are all (AL)worthless physicians.
5 Oh that you would (AM)be completely silent,
And that it would become your wisdom!
6 Please hear my argument,
And give your attention to the contentions of my lips.
7 Will you (AN)speak what is unjust for God,
And speak what is deceitful for Him?
8 Will you (AO)show partiality for Him?
Will you contend for God?
9 Will it go well when He examines you?
Or (AP)will you deceive Him as one deceives a man?
10 He will certainly punish you
If you secretly (AQ)show partiality.
11 Will (AR)His [o]majesty not terrify you,
And the dread of Him fall upon you?
12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes,
Your defenses are defenses of clay.

Job Is Sure He Will Be Vindicated

13 “(AS)Be silent before me so that I may speak;
Then let come upon me what may.
14 Why should I take my flesh in my teeth,
And (AT)put my life in my [p]hands?
15 (AU)Though He slay me,
I will [q]hope in Him.
Nevertheless I (AV)will argue my ways [r]before Him.
16 This also will be my (AW)salvation,
For (AX)a godless person cannot come before His presence.
17 Listen carefully to my speech,
And let my declaration fill your ears.
18 Behold now, I have (AY)prepared my case;
I know that (AZ)I will be vindicated.
19 (BA)Who could contend with me?
For then I would be silent and (BB)die.

20 “Only two things I ask that You do not do to me,
Then I will not hide from Your face:
21 (BC)Remove Your [s]hand from me,
And may the dread of You not terrify me.
22 Then call and (BD)I will answer;
Or let me speak, then reply to me.
23 (BE)How many are my guilty deeds and sins?
Make known to me my wrongdoing and my sin.
24 Why do You (BF)hide Your face
And consider me (BG)Your enemy?
25 Will You scare away a (BH)scattered leaf?
Or will You pursue the dry (BI)chaff?
26 For You write (BJ)bitter things against me
And (BK)make me inherit the guilty deeds of my youth.
27 You (BL)put my feet in the stocks
And watch all my paths;
You [t]set a limit for the soles of my feet,
28 While [u]I am decaying like a (BM)rotten thing,
Like a garment that is moth-eaten.

Job Speaks of the Finality of Death

14 “(BN)Man, who is born of woman,
Is [v]short-lived and (BO)full of turmoil.
2 (BP)Like a flower he comes out and withers.
He also flees like (BQ)a shadow and does not remain.
3 You also (BR)open Your eyes on him
And (BS)bring [w]him into judgment with Yourself.
4 (BT)Who can make the clean out of the unclean?
No one!
5 Since his days are determined,
The (BU)number of his months is with You;
And You have [x]set his limits so that he cannot pass.
6 (BV)Look away from him so that he may [y]rest,
Until he [z]fulfills his day like a hired worker.

7 “For there is hope for a tree,
When it is cut down, that it will sprout again,
And its shoots will not [aa]fail.
8 Though its roots grow old in the ground,
And its stump dies in the dry soil,
9 At the scent of water it will flourish
And produce sprigs like a plant.
10 But (BW)a man dies and lies prostrate.
A person (BX)passes away, and where is he?
11 As (BY)water [ab]evaporates from the sea,
And a river becomes parched and dried up,
12 So (BZ)a man lies down and does not rise.
Until the heavens no longer exist,
[ac]He will not awake nor be woken from [ad]his sleep.

13 “Oh that You would hide me in [ae]Sheol,
That You would conceal me (CA)until Your wrath returns to You,
That You would set a limit for me and remember me!
14 If a man dies, will he live again?
All the days of my struggle I will wait
Until my relief comes.
15 You will call, and I will answer You;
You will long for (CB)the work of Your hands.
16 For now You (CC)number my steps,
You do not (CD)observe my sin.
17 My wrongdoing is (CE)sealed up in a bag,
And You cover over my [af]guilt.

18 “But the falling mountain [ag]crumbles away,
And the rock moves from its place;
19 Water wears away stones,
Its torrents wash away the dust of the earth;
So You (CF)destroy a man’s hope.
20 You forever overpower him and he (CG)departs;
You change his appearance and send him away.
21 His sons achieve honor, but (CH)he does not know it;
Or they become insignificant, and he does not perceive it.
22 However, his [ah]body pains him,
And his soul mourns for himself.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 12:3 Lit with whom is there not like these?
  2. Job 12:4 Lit his
  3. Job 12:5 Lit Contempt for calamity is the thought of him who is at ease
  4. Job 12:6 Or He who brings God into his hand.
  5. Job 12:11 Lit tastes food for itself
  6. Job 12:12 Lit length of days
  7. Job 12:14 Lit shuts against
  8. Job 12:14 Lit it is not opened
  9. Job 12:15 Lit overturn
  10. Job 12:17 Or stripped
  11. Job 12:19 Or stripped
  12. Job 12:23 Or spreads out
  13. Job 12:24 Lit heart
  14. Job 13:3 Heb Shaddai
  15. Job 13:11 Lit exaltation
  16. Job 13:14 Lit palm
  17. Job 13:15 Lit wait for
  18. Job 13:15 Lit to His face
  19. Job 13:21 Lit palm
  20. Job 13:27 Lit carve for
  21. Job 13:28 Lit he is
  22. Job 14:1 Lit short of days
  23. Job 14:3 As in some ancient versions; MT me
  24. Job 14:5 Lit made
  25. Job 14:6 Lit cease
  26. Job 14:6 Lit makes acceptable
  27. Job 14:7 Or cease
  28. Job 14:11 Lit disappears
  29. Job 14:12 Lit They
  30. Job 14:12 Lit their
  31. Job 14:13 I.e., the netherworld
  32. Job 14:17 Or unjust deed
  33. Job 14:18 Lit withers
  34. Job 14:22 Lit flesh
Listen to Job 12-14
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Job 12-14
New International Version

Job

12 Then Job replied:

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

4 “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)
5 Those who are at ease have contempt(G) for misfortune
    as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.(H)
6 The tents of marauders are undisturbed,(I)
    and those who provoke God are secure(J)—
    those God has in his hand.[a]

7 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you,(K)
    or the birds in the sky,(L) and they will tell you;(M)
8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
    or let the fish in the sea inform you.
9 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)
11 Does not the ear test words
    as the tongue tastes food?(R)
12 Is not wisdom found among the aged?(S)
    Does not long life bring understanding?(T)

13 “To God belong wisdom(U) and power;(V)
    counsel and understanding are his.(W)
14 What he tears down(X) cannot be rebuilt;(Y)
    those he imprisons cannot be released.(Z)
15 If he holds back the waters,(AA) there is drought;(AB)
    if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.(AC)
16 To him belong strength and insight;(AD)
    both deceived and deceiver are his.(AE)
17 He leads rulers away stripped(AF)
    and makes fools of judges.(AG)
18 He takes off the shackles(AH) put on by kings
    and ties a loincloth[b] around their waist.(AI)
19 He leads priests away stripped(AJ)
    and overthrows officials long established.(AK)
20 He silences the lips of trusted advisers
    and takes away the discernment of elders.(AL)
21 He pours contempt on nobles(AM)
    and disarms the mighty.(AN)
22 He reveals the deep things of darkness(AO)
    and brings utter darkness(AP) into the light.(AQ)
23 He makes nations great, and destroys them;(AR)
    he enlarges nations,(AS) and disperses them.(AT)
24 He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason;(AU)
    he makes them wander in a trackless waste.(AV)
25 They grope in darkness with no light;(AW)
    he makes them stagger like drunkards.(AX)

13 “My eyes have seen all this,(AY)
    my ears have heard and understood it.
2 What you know, I also know;
    I am not inferior to you.(AZ)
3 But I desire to speak to the Almighty(BA)
    and to argue my case with God.(BB)
4 You, however, smear me with lies;(BC)
    you are worthless physicians,(BD) all of you!(BE)
5 If only you would be altogether silent!(BF)
    For you, that would be wisdom.(BG)
6 Hear now my argument;
    listen to the pleas of my lips.(BH)
7 Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf?
    Will you speak deceitfully for him?(BI)
8 Will you show him partiality?(BJ)
    Will you argue the case for God?
9 Would it turn out well if he examined you?(BK)
    Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal?(BL)
10 He would surely call you to account
    if you secretly showed partiality.(BM)
11 Would not his splendor(BN) terrify you?
    Would not the dread of him fall on you?(BO)
12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
    your defenses are defenses of clay.(BP)

13 “Keep silent(BQ) and let me speak;(BR)
    then let come to me what may.(BS)
14 Why do I put myself in jeopardy
    and take my life in my hands?(BT)
15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope(BU) in him;(BV)
    I will surely[c] defend my ways to his face.(BW)
16 Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,(BX)
    for no godless(BY) person would dare come before him!(BZ)
17 Listen carefully to what I say;(CA)
    let my words ring in your ears.
18 Now that I have prepared my case,(CB)
    I know I will be vindicated.(CC)
19 Can anyone bring charges against me?(CD)
    If so, I will be silent(CE) and die.(CF)

20 “Only grant me these two things, God,
    and then I will not hide from you:
21 Withdraw your hand(CG) far from me,
    and stop frightening me with your terrors.(CH)
22 Then summon me and I will answer,(CI)
    or let me speak, and you reply to me.(CJ)
23 How many wrongs and sins have I committed?(CK)
    Show me my offense and my sin.(CL)
24 Why do you hide your face(CM)
    and consider me your enemy?(CN)
25 Will you torment(CO) a windblown leaf?(CP)
    Will you chase(CQ) after dry chaff?(CR)
26 For you write down bitter things against me
    and make me reap the sins of my youth.(CS)
27 You fasten my feet in shackles;(CT)
    you keep close watch on all my paths(CU)
    by putting marks on the soles of my feet.

28 “So man wastes away like something rotten,
    like a garment(CV) eaten by moths.(CW)

14 “Mortals, born of woman,(CX)
    are of few days(CY) and full of trouble.(CZ)
2 They spring up like flowers(DA) and wither away;(DB)
    like fleeting shadows,(DC) they do not endure.(DD)
3 Do you fix your eye on them?(DE)
    Will you bring them[d] before you for judgment?(DF)
4 Who can bring what is pure(DG) from the impure?(DH)
    No one!(DI)
5 A person’s days are determined;(DJ)
    you have decreed the number of his months(DK)
    and have set limits he cannot exceed.(DL)
6 So look away from him and let him alone,(DM)
    till he has put in his time like a hired laborer.(DN)

7 “At least there is hope for a tree:(DO)
    If it is cut down, it will sprout again,
    and its new shoots(DP) will not fail.(DQ)
8 Its roots may grow old in the ground
    and its stump(DR) die in the soil,
9 yet at the scent of water(DS) it will bud
    and put forth shoots like a plant.(DT)
10 But a man dies and is laid low;(DU)
    he breathes his last and is no more.(DV)
11 As the water of a lake dries up
    or a riverbed becomes parched and dry,(DW)
12 so he lies down and does not rise;(DX)
    till the heavens are no more,(DY) people will not awake
    or be roused from their sleep.(DZ)

13 “If only you would hide me in the grave(EA)
    and conceal me till your anger has passed!(EB)
If only you would set me a time
    and then remember(EC) me!(ED)
14 If someone dies, will they live again?
    All the days of my hard service(EE)
    I will wait for my renewal[e](EF) to come.
15 You will call and I will answer you;(EG)
    you will long for the creature your hands have made.(EH)
16 Surely then you will count my steps(EI)
    but not keep track of my sin.(EJ)
17 My offenses will be sealed(EK) up in a bag;(EL)
    you will cover over my sin.(EM)

18 “But as a mountain erodes and crumbles(EN)
    and as a rock is moved from its place,(EO)
19 as water wears away stones
    and torrents(EP) wash away the soil,(EQ)
    so you destroy a person’s hope.(ER)
20 You overpower them once for all, and they are gone;(ES)
    you change their countenance and send them away.(ET)
21 If their children are honored, they do not know it;
    if their offspring are brought low, they do not see it.(EU)
22 They feel but the pain of their own bodies(EV)
    and mourn only for themselves.(EW)”

Footnotes

  1. Job 12:6 Or those whose god is in their own hand
  2. Job 12:18 Or shackles of kings / and ties a belt
  3. Job 13:15 Or He will surely slay me; I have no hope — / yet I will
  4. Job 14:3 Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; Hebrew me
  5. Job 14:14 Or release
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Job 11
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