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Job 12-14
New King James Version
Job 12-14
New King James Version
Job Answers His Critics
12 Then Job answered and said:
2 “No doubt you are the people,
And wisdom will die with you!
3 But I have [a]understanding as well as you;
I am not (A)inferior to you.
Indeed, who does not know such things as these?
4 “I(B) am one mocked by his friends,
Who (C)called on God, and He answered him,
The just and blameless who is ridiculed.
5 A [b]lamp is despised in the thought of one who is at ease;
It is made ready for (D)those whose feet slip.
6 (E)The tents of robbers prosper,
And those who provoke God are secure—
In what God provides by His hand.
7 “But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
And the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
8 Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you;
And the fish of the sea will explain to you.
9 Who among all these does not know
That the hand of the Lord has done this,
10 (F)In whose hand is the [c]life of every living thing,
And the (G)breath of [d]all mankind?
11 Does not the ear test words
And the [e]mouth taste its food?
12 Wisdom is with aged men,
And with [f]length of days, understanding.
13 “With Him are (H)wisdom and strength,
He has counsel and understanding.
14 If (I)He breaks a thing down, it cannot be rebuilt;
If He imprisons a man, there can be no release.
15 If He (J)withholds the waters, they dry up;
If He (K)sends them out, they overwhelm the earth.
16 With Him are strength and prudence.
The deceived and the deceiver are His.
17 He leads counselors away plundered,
And makes fools of the judges.
18 He loosens the bonds of kings,
And binds their waist with a belt.
19 He leads [g]princes away plundered,
And overthrows the mighty.
20 (L)He deprives the trusted ones of speech,
And takes away the discernment of the elders.
21 (M)He pours contempt on princes,
And [h]disarms the mighty.
22 He (N)uncovers deep things out of darkness,
And brings the shadow of death to light.
23 (O)He makes nations great, and destroys them;
He [i]enlarges nations, and guides them.
24 He takes away the [j]understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth,
And (P)makes them wander in a pathless wilderness.
25 (Q)They grope in the dark without light,
And He makes them (R)stagger like a drunken man.
Job Defends Himself
13 “Behold, my eye has seen all this,
My ear has heard and understood it.
2 (S)What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
3 (T)But I would speak to the Almighty,
And I desire to reason with God.
4 But you forgers of lies,
(U)You are all worthless physicians.
5 Oh, that you would be silent,
And (V)it would be your wisdom!
6 Now hear my reasoning,
And heed the pleadings of my lips.
7 (W)Will you speak [k]wickedly for God,
And talk deceitfully for Him?
8 Will you show partiality for Him?
Will you contend for God?
9 Will it be well when He searches you out?
Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man?
10 He will surely rebuke you
If you secretly show partiality.
11 Will not His [l]excellence make you afraid,
And the dread of Him fall upon you?
12 Your platitudes are proverbs of ashes,
Your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 “Hold[m] your peace with me, and let me speak,
Then let come on me what may!
14 Why (X)do I take my flesh in my teeth,
And put my life in my hands?
15 (Y)Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.
(Z)Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
16 He also shall be my salvation,
For a (AA)hypocrite could not come before Him.
17 Listen carefully to my speech,
And to my declaration with your ears.
18 See now, I have prepared my case,
I know that I shall be (AB)vindicated.
19 (AC)Who is he who will contend with me?
If now I hold my tongue, I perish.
Job’s Despondent Prayer
20 “Only(AD) two things do not do to me,
Then I will not hide myself from You:
21 (AE)Withdraw Your hand far from me,
And let not the dread of You make me afraid.
22 Then call, and I will (AF)answer;
Or let me speak, then You respond to me.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins?
Make me know my transgression and my sin.
24 (AG)Why do You hide Your face,
And (AH)regard me as Your enemy?
25 (AI)Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro?
And will You pursue dry stubble?
26 For You write bitter things against me,
And (AJ)make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27 (AK)You put my feet in the stocks,
And watch closely all my paths.
You [n]set a limit for the [o]soles of my feet.
28 “Man[p] decays like a rotten thing,
Like a garment that is moth-eaten.
Job Speaks of Life’s Woes
14 “Man who is born of woman
Is of few days and (AL)full of [q]trouble.
2 (AM)He comes forth like a flower and fades away;
He flees like a shadow and does not continue.
3 And (AN)do You open Your eyes on such a one,
And (AO)bring [r]me to judgment with Yourself?
4 Who (AP)can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?
No one!
5 (AQ)Since his days are determined,
The number of his months is with You;
You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass.
6 (AR)Look away from him that he may [s]rest,
Till (AS)like a hired man he finishes his day.
7 “For there is hope for a tree,
If it is cut down, that it will sprout again,
And that its tender shoots will not cease.
8 Though its root may grow old in the earth,
And its stump may die in the ground,
9 Yet at the scent of water it will bud
And bring forth branches like a plant.
10 But man dies and [t]is laid away;
Indeed he [u]breathes his last
And where is (AT)he?
11 As water disappears from the sea,
And a river becomes parched and dries up,
12 So man lies down and does not rise.
(AU)Till the heavens are no more,
They will not awake
Nor be roused from their sleep.
13 “Oh, that You would hide me in the grave,
That You would conceal me until Your wrath is past,
That You would appoint me a set time, and remember me!
14 If a man dies, shall he live again?
All the days of my hard service (AV)I will wait,
Till my change comes.
15 (AW)You shall call, and I will answer You;
You shall desire the work of Your hands.
16 For now (AX)You number my steps,
But do not watch over my sin.
17 (AY)My transgression is sealed up in a bag,
And You [v]cover my iniquity.
18 “But as a mountain falls and crumbles away,
And as a rock is moved from its place;
19 As water wears away stones,
And as torrents wash away the soil of the earth;
So You destroy the hope of man.
20 You prevail forever against him, and he passes on;
You change his countenance and send him away.
21 His sons come to honor, and (AZ)he does not know it;
They are brought low, and he does not perceive it.
22 But his flesh will be in pain over it,
And his soul will mourn over it.”
Footnotes
- Job 12:3 Lit. a heart
- Job 12:5 Or disaster
- Job 12:10 Or soul
- Job 12:10 Lit. all flesh of men
- Job 12:11 palate
- Job 12:12 Long life
- Job 12:19 Lit. priests, but not in a technical sense
- Job 12:21 loosens the belt of
- Job 12:23 Lit. spreads out
- Job 12:24 Lit. heart
- Job 13:7 unrighteously
- Job 13:11 Lit. exaltation
- Job 13:13 Be silent
- Job 13:27 Lit. inscribe a print
- Job 13:27 Lit. roots
- Job 13:28 Lit. He
- Job 14:1 turmoil
- Job 14:3 LXX, Syr., Vg. him
- Job 14:6 Lit. cease
- Job 14:10 lies prostrate
- Job 14:10 expires
- Job 14:17 Lit. plaster over
Job 12-14
New International Version
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.
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)”
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.