12
Job

Job on God's Power and Human Mortality (part 1)

Job 12:1-13:19
1Then Job answered and said: 2Truly you are a people, and wisdom dies with you. 3I also have a heart like yours; I am not inferior to you, and with whom is there nothing like these? 4I become laughter to his neighbor, calling upon God so that he answers him; laughter to the righteous and the blameless. 5A torch of contempt belongs to the thought of the secure, a blow prepared for the slipping of the foot. 6The tents of those who ruin prosper, and the securities of those who provoke God, to whom God brings prosperity by his hand. 7But now ask the animals, and they will teach you, and the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you. 8Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, and the fish of the sea will recount it to you. 9Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? 10In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all human flesh. 11Does not the ear test words, and does not the palate taste food? 12Wisdom is found with the aged, and understanding comes with length of days. 13With him are wisdom and might; he possesses counsel and understanding. 14Behold, he tears down and it cannot be rebuilt; he shuts a man in and it cannot be opened. 15Behold, he restrains the waters and they dry up; he sends them out and they overturn the earth. 16With him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver belong to him. 17He leads counselors away barefoot and makes judges foolish. 18He loosens the discipline of kings and binds a belt on their loins. 19He leads priests away barefoot and overthrows the mighty. 20He removes speech from the trustworthy and takes away the discernment of the elders. 21He pours contempt on princes and loosens the belt of the strong. 22He reveals the deep things out of darkness and brings the shadow of death into light. 23He makes nations great and destroys them; he enlarges nations and leads them away. 24He removes understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth and causes them to wander in a pathless waste. 25They grope in darkness without light, and he makes them stagger like a drunken man.
Chapter 13
1Behold, my eye has seen all this; my ear has heard and understood it. 2What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. 3But I will speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God. 4But you are plasterers of lies; you are worthless physicians, all of you. 5Oh that you would be completely silent; that would be wisdom for you. 6Hear now my argument, and listen to the pleadings of my lips. 7Will you speak unrighteousness for God, and deceit for him? 8Will you show partiality toward him, or will you plead the case for God? 9Will it be well when he searches you out, or can you deceive him as one deceives a man? 10He will surely rebuke you if you secretly show partiality. 11Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you? 12Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay. 13Be silent before me, and let me speak; then let come upon me what may. 14Why should I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hand? 15Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope; nevertheless I will argue my ways to his face. 16This also will be my salvation, for a godless man shall not come before him. 17Hear, hear my speech, and receive my declaration with your ears. 18Behold, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be justified. 19Who is he who will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die.
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