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Job Replies: I Am a Laughingstock

12 Then Job answered:

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

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
    the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
ask the plants of the earth,[c] and they will teach you,
    and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
Who among all these does not know
    that the hand of the Lord has done this?(D)
10 In his hand is the life of every living thing
    and the breath of every human being.(E)
11 Does not the ear test words
    as the palate tastes food?(F)
12 Is wisdom with the aged
    and understanding in length of days?(G)

13 “With God[d] are wisdom and strength;
    he has counsel and understanding.(H)
14 If he tears down, no one can rebuild;
    if he shuts someone in, no one can open up.(I)
15 If he withholds the waters, they dry up;
    if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.(J)
16 With him are strength and wisdom;
    the deceived and the deceiver are his.(K)
17 He leads counselors away stripped
    and makes fools of judges.(L)
18 He looses the sash of kings
    and binds a waistcloth on their loins.(M)
19 He leads priests away stripped
    and overthrows the mighty.
20 He deprives of speech those who are trusted
    and takes away the discernment of the elders.(N)
21 He pours contempt on princes
    and looses the belt of the strong.(O)
22 He uncovers deep things from the darkness
    and brings deep darkness to light.(P)
23 He makes nations great, then destroys them;
    he enlarges nations, then leads them away.(Q)
24 He strips understanding from the leaders[e] of the earth
    and makes them wander in a pathless waste.(R)
25 They grope in the dark without light;
    he makes them stagger like a drunkard.(S)

Footnotes

  1. 12.5 Meaning of Heb uncertain
  2. 12.6 Or whom God brought forth by his hand; meaning of Heb uncertain
  3. 12.8 Or speak to the earth
  4. 12.13 Heb him
  5. 12.24 Heb adds of the people

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)
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)

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