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Resposta de Jó

12 Então Jó respondeu:

“Vocês são pessoas importantes;
    não há dúvida que quando vocês morrerem,
    morrerá também a sabedoria.
Mas eu também sou inteligente,
    mais do que vocês.
    Quem não sabe de tudo isso que vocês disseram?

“Meus amigos zombam de mim.
    Eles dizem: ‘Ele orou a Deus e recebeu a sua resposta’.
Eu, um homem bom e inocente,
    agora me tornei numa piada.
Aqueles que estão bem
    desprezam os que sofrem
    e batem nos que caem.
Mas nos lares dos ladrões está tudo bem,
    e aqueles que ofendem a Deus vivem em segurança,
    pois Deus anda com eles e os protege.

“Mas vocês dizem: ‘Pergunte aos animais para que eles ensinem você,
    e às aves do céu para que elas aconselhem você.
Fale com a terra e você aprenderá,
    e com os peixes do mar e eles também ensinarão você.
Qual de todas essas criaturas não sabe
    que foi a mão do SENHOR que as fez?
10 A vida de todo ser vivo está nas mãos de Deus.
    Dependem dele a todo momento para que lhes dê a respiração.
11 Por acaso o ouvido não distingue as palavras
    e o paladar não reconhece os sabores da comida?
12 A sabedoria chega com a idade
    e o entendimento com a longa vida’.

13 “Mas a sabedoria e o poder pertencem a Deus,
    o bom conselho e o entendimento são dele.
14 Realmente, o que ele destrói não pode ser reconstruído.
    Quem Deus prende ninguém pode libertar.
15 Quando ele retém a chuva, chega a seca;
    quando a liberta, tudo fica inundado.
16 Ele tem poder e sabedoria;
    ele controla tanto quem engana como quem é enganado.
17 Ele deixa os conselheiros sem resposta
    e faz os juízes de tolos.
18 Ele tira o poder dos reis
    e faz deles escravos.
19 Ele deixa na ruína os sacerdotes
    e derruba os poderosos.
20 Ele faz que os conselheiros fiquem sem saber o que dizer
    e tira o juízo dos idosos.
21 Ele derrama desprezo sobre os nobres
    e tira a força dos poderosos.
22 Ele revela os segredos mais profundos
    e traz à luz tudo o que está escondido.
23 Ele engrandece e derruba as nações;
    estende as suas fronteiras e depois leva-as à destruição.
24 Ele tira a inteligência dos chefes das nações,
    faz com que eles percam o caminho e entrem no deserto.
25 Andam às cegas e sem rumo pela escuridão.
    Deus faz com que eles andem tropeçando como bêbados.

12 And Job answered and said,

No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.

The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:

Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?

10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

11 Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?

12 With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.

13 With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

14 Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.

15 Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.

16 With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.

17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.

18 He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.

19 He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.

20 He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.

21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.

22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.

23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.

24 He 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.

25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.

Job Answers His Critics

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 (A)inferior to you.
Indeed, who does not know such things as these?

“I(B) am one mocked by his friends,
Who (C)called on God, and He answered him,
The just and blameless who is ridiculed.
A [b]lamp is despised in the thought of one who is at ease;
It is made ready for (D)those whose feet slip.
(E)The tents of robbers prosper,
And those who provoke God are secure—
In what God provides by His hand.

“But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
And the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you;
And the fish of the sea will explain to you.
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.

Footnotes

  1. Job 12:3 Lit. a heart
  2. Job 12:5 Or disaster
  3. Job 12:10 Or soul
  4. Job 12:10 Lit. all flesh of men
  5. Job 12:11 palate
  6. Job 12:12 Long life
  7. Job 12:19 Lit. priests, but not in a technical sense
  8. Job 12:21 loosens the belt of
  9. Job 12:23 Lit. spreads out
  10. Job 12:24 Lit. heart