1Job answered and said.2Indeed, you are the people, and with you wisdom will die.3I also have a heart like you all; I have not fallen short of you. And who does not know such things?4"I have been a laughingstock to my companions—he calls to God, and he answers him—a righteous and blameless one."5The lamp of contempt for times of security, prepared for times of footstool.6The tents of raiders are at peace, and those who provoke God are confident, those in whose hand God has brought them.7But now, please ask the beasts, and they will show you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you.8Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; or the fish of the sea.9Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?10In his hand is the nephesh of every living thing and the spirit of all human flesh.11Does not the ear test words as they enter it, and the palate taste food?12In the aged is wisdom, and length of days is understanding.13With him are wisdom and power; to him belong counsel and understanding.14Look, he tears down and does not build; he shuts up a man and does not open.15Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up; he sends them, and they turn the earth.16With him is might and sound insight, inadvertent sin and erring.17He leads counselors away stripped, and he makes judges rave.18He loosens the bonds of kings and binds a belt around their waists.19He leads away priests as spoil and causes mighty ones to stagger.20He removes the lip from the faithful and the discernment of elders.21pouring contempt on nobles and loosening the belt of the strong.22He reveals depths from darkness and brings deep shadow out to light.23He makes nations wander and destroys them; he stretches out to nations and regrets it.24He turns away the heart of the chiefs of the people of the land and causes them to wander in an empty waste, with no way.25They grope in the darkness and not the light, and they stagger like a drunk.
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Chapter 13
1Look, all this my eye has seen, my ear has heard, and I understood it.2As you know, I know also—I. I have not fallen from you.3But I will speak to Shaddai, and I will argue my case with El—I delight.4But you are daubers of falsehood, healers of worthlessness, all of you.5Who will give the deaf—you will be silent, and it will be wisdom to you.6Hear now my rebuke and the abundance of my lips—pay attention!7Will you speak injustice for God? Will you speak deceit for him?8Will you lift up his face? Will you contend with God?9Is it good if he examines you? If you deceive like deceiving a human, you deceive him.10He will surely rebuke you if you show partiality.11Does not his majesty terrify you, and his dread fall upon you?12Your memorial portions are proverbs of ashes, compared to clay on your ledges.13Be silent before me, and I will speak, and let whatever will pass over me.14On what will I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my soul in my palm?15Look, he may kill me; I will hope in him, yet I will argue my ways to his face.16He is also salvation to me, for no godless hypocrite will come before His Presence.17Hear my report, my declaration, in your ears.18Look, now I have prepared my defense. I know that I will be righteous.19Who is he who will contend with me? For now, if I am silent, I will die.